Greatest Hits - Cure

Advantages: Spans the bands career (to a degree) / Good for 'beginners'
Disadvantages: Missing lots of my favourites! / Entire albums missing

...compilation album - 'The Cure's Greatest Hits', in 2004. The band, fronted by Robert Smith has been around for well over 23 years; subsequently they have a large catalogue of songs. Ranging from 1979's Three Imaginary Boys, to 1982's 'Pornography', to the self titled album 'The Cure', (this also hit the shelves last year). Over this time, the band has created plenty of what could be classed as 'alternative pop' for all to sing along to, to dark, ...
...the only original from another greatest hits album, however, I am not complaining at all. This fast tempo song begins with tons of electro noises and wailing guitar work, soon drums kick in and the bass bumps along to the disco/rock like atmosphere. The effects stop and the song slows down on various parts, for example when Robert begins singing the odd lyrics: 'Lime green, lime green and tangerines, the sickly sweet colours of the snakes I'm seeing', ... Read review

Advantages: Good example of the Cure at their most uplifting, an excellent offering for the unfamiliar
Disadvantages: Key tracks are not present, will not satisfy the avid fan. Previous compilations give a better feel of the band.

...would purchase the original albums. Greatest Hits provides a relatively good choice of songs to get a person acquainted with the band, but if you are already aware of them, you may see this selection as a disappointment, as the longer, 'definitive' tracks are left out. For example, there is no Fascination Street, no Pictures of You (which I would have expected to be on here, in all honesty! I adore this song), no Killing an Arab, and on top of this, ...
...Perhaps the main problem with Greatest Hits is that it sways heavily towards The Cure's most commercially acceptable offerings, whereas the other two compilations showed a greater scope of material and weren't afraid to play up the darker side of the band and entwine it with the prettier peices. However, returning to my initial point and judging the CD on what IS there, it is a well selected, cleverly compiled range that makes for easy listening. ... Read review

Advantages: All the band most accessible songs on one CD, Some of the finest singles of the last twenty years, An excellent new song and a free bonus disc of acoustic versions
Disadvantages: Misses out whole albums of the bands history, A few curious ommissions, 'Mint car'

...’). Of course whether this represents a good value purchase is entirely debatable, and speaking as an owner of both the previous collection plus a fair smattering of ‘proper’ Cure albums I am still in two minds myself. Having thought up two at least partly original names for the previous two retrospectives inspiration obviously faltered in the Cure camp and this time we are stuck with the simple mantle of 'Greatest Hits', very original I'm sure you’ll agree. The commercial intentions of the release too could not be more explicit, as this is a singles collection there is no room for any inclusions from the Cure’s darkest pair of albums ‘Pornography’ and their most recent release the superb ‘Bloodflowers’. The track choices are (for the Cure) almost relentlessly upbeat, if you are seeking an appreciation of the more navel gazing, black obsessed bleak... Read review

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Advantages: The Cure...and so great, and jolly, and ace! Great lyrics. Great tunes! Woo!
Disadvantages: Not many, they're too jolly! Haha

...Cooper in 1995. The band members have now remained the same for several years and are now currently a 5 piece band: -Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) -Simon Gallup (bass) -Jason Cooper (drums) -Roger O' Donnell (keyboard) -Perry Bamonte (guitars) Due to all of the changes of band members, many of the songs are written by many different people, who were all, at one point, members of the band. The band have clearly had their ups and downs and many changes, but they have managed to keep a successful sound throughout. -----------------------The Album----------------------- This album is The Cure's latest Greatest Hits album, released in 2001. It is 73.08 minutes in length, and so a reasonably good length of album, especially for the price that it can be found at in most of the shops. It includes all of The Cure's biggest hits, and two previously... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A solid album/ Thought Provoking Songs
Disadvantages: It is quite a long listen/ Too depressing for you?

...known songs by The Cure. When I got this album and this song started I was shocked to find it sounded different to the previously downloaded version that I had. This song starts with a twinkling like effect, which soon launches in to a song mainly driven by bass and guitar. It also lasts for almost 8 minutes, unlike the 4 minute version on 'The Cure's Greatest Hits' album. The guitar work on the song is exceptional, and really creates yet again, a rather haunting atmosphere. The song basically paints the picture of somebody reminiscing over some photographs of their ex-lover. 'Remembering you, how you used to be, so , so much more than everything' The guitar solo towards the end of the song on this version is a little drowned out by the bass line, unlike on the 'Greatest Hits' version, which I actually probably prefer to this one... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful