Oh boy where do I start? I guess f*ck you for making me choose. Really I love both bands to bits and both have played a huge part in making me who I am. But looking at both bands:
The Cure: I got into The Cure before The Smiths so their music has stuck with me the longest. No two Cure albums sound the same and therefore they have an incredibly varied and colourful discography compared to some bands who churn out nearly the same album every time. While not all their albums are classics, their 80's albums (apart from The Top) certainly are. They were hit and miss after that but I still enjoy Wish and their self-titled quite a bit. Robert Smith might not have the lyrical skills and wit of Morrissey but he has a voice that's unmistakable and is responsible for some of the most amazing guitar sounds I've ever heard, and of course some of the most amazings songs I've ever heard.
The Smiths: I seem to listen to The Smiths more than The Cure these days, although that could swing around within a few months. The Smiths give me a greater sense of isolation and outsiderism that is almost comforting and romantic in a way. The combination of Morrissey's lyrics and Johnny Marr's guitar playing is a match made in heaven and made them untouchable, that kind of chemistry cannot be matched very easily. Unlike The Cure who have probably released more albums than they should have, The Smiths had that perfect career where they didn't stick around and let their music become a shadow of their glory years, their short career was their glory years.
At the moment I'm not really that biased towards either band, but The Cure have been one of my favourite bands for a long time and their music has left a deeper imprint.
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