'The Cure', England's legendary alternative band released this 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, reflective and depressing masterpieces. No matter what 'The Cure' seems to do, I find their work still keeps true to their style.

I will explicitly state a problem though with this compilation album. While boasting, which it does to a degree, that it spans The Cure's career, it does in fact miss entire albums out, such as 'Pornography' and 'Blood Flowers'. It is easy to see why, as songs from these albums would not suit the commerciality of this album. After all this is for people that enjoy 'The Cure's' more commercial hits, and chances are the doom drenched "The Hanging Garden' would not fit in too well here.

The album plays in chronological order of The Cure's career, opening with "Boys Don't Cry'. From the moment this started I knew it was going to be a favourite of mine. The guitar on the intro is rather sad sounding and delicate, and then it suddenly launches in to a great 70s sounding guitar riff accompanied by some great drumming.

I originally heard this song and wasn't too affected by it, the bass line I liked, but it seemed rather monotone, apart from a select few lyrics which I thought were sang really well, and accompanied by the music created a nice (well, rather dark atmosphere, which I liked), specifically towards the end of the song where Robert calls "running towards nothing, again and again and again and again' - which continues on for a fair amount of time with the aid of echoed vocal effects. The following guitar work is exceptional also I may add.

'Let's Go To Bed' has a comical feel to it. It consists of rather 80s sounding synth effects among the drumming and guitar work, and sounds rather bizarre. I like the 'clapping' that takes place during the song, and I really enjoy Robert Smith's vocal performance during the lines of: "I don't care if you don't", which is probably also my favourite part of the song, however it definitely is not a favourite song overall. The same can probably be said for "Love Cats". A piano drives this rather happy go- lucky song which has an effective double bass backdrop and parping trumpets creating a rather light modern jazz song. It's comical, but lacks impact.

This is the shorter version of 'Pictures of You' that I prefer to the 7 minute or so version on the album 'Disintegration'. The bass appears to be toned down in this version also, and the rather Eastern like jangling of the guitars and twinkling effects are more apparent. Also, it doesn't take long to get to Robert's fantastic vocal performance which took a long time to reach on the 7 minute version due to the large instrumental part at the beginning. What I like about this song is the way it sounds so happy, yet so sad at the same time, that is one gift that The Cure seem to house, and Robert's calls of ' There was nothing that I ever wanted more, than to feel you deep in my heart' are saddening, and could be easily related to, as the song basically boils down to lost love. The solo section of this song is fantastic and probably one of my favourite parts of the entire album. The bass takes a slight back seat as the jangling guitar increases slightly in volume along side plenty of dazzling tinkling effects, before the bass takes a hold and brings this jangling section to an end as Robert delivers the final emotional few lines of the song ' there was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more, than to never be the breaking apart, my pictures of you'.

Another interesting inclusion is "Wrong Number", I didn't know I liked this song from the first hearing - I knew I liked it from the first second! This track is strangely placed on the album, as this was 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', before the disco like electro effects kick back in. This song has a fantastic chorus to it, greatly propelled by Robert's vocal performance: 'I had the best laid plans this side of America, started off in church and finished with Angelica', I especially like the last time this section sounds, because by now the song has really picked up and the guitars and electro effects increase in pitch and wail along perfectly to the sentence. This is the longest song on the album and there are definitely no complaints from me as I think this is absolutely fantastic and a definitely highlight.

'Cut Here' is a song that was added especially to this album, as was "Just Say Yes". 'Cut Here" begins with rather 'springy' guitars, and the drumming and bass then take their place. It's a rather mid-tempo song, and sounds generally happy, with a rather odd sounding chorus: 'So dizzy Mr Busy / Too much rush to talk to Billy/ All the silly frilly things have to first get done' However, the synth effects present on this track, coupled with the lyrics and the way Robert emotionally delivers them, results in a rather sad sounding song: 'and over my shoulder as I walk away I see you give that look goodbye, I still see that look in your eye/but I didn't and it's all too late, it's over and you're gone...'

The average retail price for the 'normal' version of this album is
£10.00, however you may be able to locate cheaper original copies of the CD on EBay.