The Cure are a band who have had a great influence on the music scene. They have evolved with time, and I am fond of them because they skillfully experiment with styles, which I suppose is to be expected of a group whose career spans over a 20-something period. They have written some incredibly uplifting pop songs, although they are generally stamped with the 'goth' tag, which the band themselves dislike; understandably so, considering the fact they are the masters of the pop-song. Musically, they are a spectrum; they can be as light or as dark, as happy or as sad as they want. They are experimental and unexpected, yet the songs they make always feel so familiar, and easy to relate to. Listening to songs such as Just Like Heaven sends you on an emotional high, and others, such as Boys Don't Cry, with its matter-of-fact recollection of mistakes, blunders, and preservation-of-pride lyrics, are very easy to relate to.

This release is a sparkling example of the band's upbeat side, though there are some examples of their deeper, darker moments, such as A Forrest and Lullaby. One of my favourites here, Lovesong, is a musical classic, insofar as it captures Love as an emotion- the lyrics tell a tale of love in its purest, happy form; 'whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again', yet the music echoes the lonliness and heartbreak that often comes with relationships. This song has been covered many times, notably by A Perfect Circle, who decided to play up the lonliness of the song, and also by Jack Off Jill and Snake River Conspiracy, though the latter wasn't a particulary credible effort. However, this is testament to the influence of the band, and when you look at their entire back-catalogue, it is easy to see how inspiration can be drawn from the raw energy that shines through the songs, and is possesed by The Cure.

In summary, it lives up to its title- it is a collection of greatest hits, and these display the more comercial-friendly side of The Cure. Yes, a lot of the songs featured here are on other compilations, which on top of these hits provided a more diverse range of The Cure's work, but still, this is a collection worth hearing. I would advise people who have heard of The Cure and want to know more to give this collection a try, as here we see the softer, smiley side of the band, and I feel it would give a good general idea of their material, though by no means is this the full picture. As a whole this is a very inviting selection, though it doesn't offer up much in terms of the darker, more introspective side of The Cure.