The Cure Discography

FireInCairo · 03-08-2009, 08:38 AM

OK finally getting around to doing the next one.

Pornography (1982)

This record is fairly well described in terms of mood, ambience, general themes and sound, by the opening line. "It doesn't matter if we all die", pronounces Robert Smith 35 seconds into the Cure's darkest and most desperate album.
While Seventeen seconds charted boredom and apathy, Faith plummed depression and hopelessness, Pornography sounds like the mutterings of someone who has lost it; finally plummeted headlong into crazy.

The bare minimalism that reached it's apex on Faith songs such as The holy hour, is replaced by more expansive arrangements and production. It makes heavy use of long instrumental vamps utilising the Bass Vi which is a bit of a trademark Dark trilogy foundation. However, while still echoey, the reverb seems to have been pared back and Smith's voice brought prominently to the forefront. More complicated production is evident with many effects, such as backwards parts and more extensive modulation have been used, along with panning that pre-echoes the psychedelic tendencies of the next few albums.
Most of arrangements feel a bit more swirly and confusing, featuring much faster tempos than the almost exclusively funereal tempos of Faith.

This album is brilliant, yet it makes for an uncomfortable listen, and for that reason, I very rarely bring it out. There is something about it that prevents me from really embracing it, it's a bit voyeuristic maybe, listening to some one elses pain so exposed. That, and the fact that it is a very album orientated affair, the only possible single here, was The Hanging garden...not to say that singles are hugely important, but it emphasises the fact that it is hard to find something to grab hold of.

It is a hugely dense, intimidating and evocative album, that said, I don't think I can give it any score that reflects how I feel about it. I suppose it's a bit like reading Patrick White, you know it's great, you enjoy it's brilliance, but it drags you down so much, that you can only bear a very limited amount of it.

?/10

Very good.

Piss Me Off · 03-08-2009, 09:14 AM

One of my favourites and i'd say it's very underrated. Just the right amount of dark and it think it's a brilliant work of production, it takes a while to notice all the layers going on.

Bulldog · 03-08-2009, 09:32 AM

It's always good to see a discography thread here and there. I've never really gotten into the Cure myself (though I did have a copy of Disintergration which I lost somewhere years ago), but I like the songs I've heard. You've officially encouraged me to bag an album or two - kudos

jackhammer · 03-08-2009, 12:29 PM

'One Hundred Years' set's the tine perfectly for this album. When I first heard this, the dense production and subject matter put me off but the more I listened, the more I got into it. Great review.

Zer0 · 03-08-2009, 04:38 PM

Yes

i've been waiting for this review for quite some time. Great review, you certainly described the mood of the album pretty accuratly. I would be interested to know your view on the title track though, since you didnt mention it.

Yeah this album was my gateway to all the early 80's goth bands like The Sisters Of Mercy and Bauhaus. One Hundred Years, The Figurehead and a Strange Day would be my highlights, the latter hints at the future direction The Cure would take.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 03-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireInCairo

?/10

That's a pretty good rating for it i'd say.

It's one of those albums that when i'm in the mood for it I love it. But if i'm not it just irritates the fuck out of me.

That doesn't apply for One Hundred Years though. I love that song no matter what.

FireInCairo · 03-10-2009, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the responses guys
Ill try and get the next one up tomorrow.

BTW: The next one will be fot The Glove's Blue sunshine record as it is next chronologically and I see it as being basically a cure record.

Urbanized · 01-30-2013, 10:50 AM

Very nice review of "FAITH". I do also love the "KISS ME" album as well, especially the tracks ( why can't I be you, and just like heaven). My favorite album though would have to be "DISINTEGRATION" with it's heaviness and psychedelic ambience tone throughout the whole work. Favorites would be (fascination street, love song, and the epic pictures of you). the Cure and especially mr. Robert Smith always seem to deliver the goods, live and on their recordings. One of the best on the planet in my opinion.

03-08-2009, 08:38 AM	#21 (permalink)
FireInCairo Later on... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,235	Pornography 1982 OK finally getting around to doing the next one. Pornography (1982) This record is fairly well described in terms of mood, ambience, general themes and sound, by the opening line. "It doesn't matter if we all die", pronounces Robert Smith 35 seconds into the Cure's darkest and most desperate album. While Seventeen seconds charted boredom and apathy, Faith plummed depression and hopelessness, Pornography sounds like the mutterings of someone who has lost it; finally plummeted headlong into crazy. The bare minimalism that reached it's apex on Faith songs such as The holy hour, is replaced by more expansive arrangements and production. It makes heavy use of long instrumental vamps utilising the Bass Vi which is a bit of a trademark Dark trilogy foundation. However, while still echoey, the reverb seems to have been pared back and Smith's voice brought prominently to the forefront. More complicated production is evident with many effects, such as backwards parts and more extensive modulation have been used, along with panning that pre-echoes the psychedelic tendencies of the next few albums. Most of arrangements feel a bit more swirly and confusing, featuring much faster tempos than the almost exclusively funereal tempos of Faith. This album is brilliant, yet it makes for an uncomfortable listen, and for that reason, I very rarely bring it out. There is something about it that prevents me from really embracing it, it's a bit voyeuristic maybe, listening to some one elses pain so exposed. That, and the fact that it is a very album orientated affair, the only possible single here, was The Hanging garden...not to say that singles are hugely important, but it emphasises the fact that it is hard to find something to grab hold of. It is a hugely dense, intimidating and evocative album, that said, I don't think I can give it any score that reflects how I feel about it. I suppose it's a bit like reading Patrick White, you know it's great, you enjoy it's brilliance, but it drags you down so much, that you can only bear a very limited amount of it. ?/10 Very good. __________________ O G MUDBONE: Only You can prevent forest fires.

03-08-2009, 09:14 AM	#22 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	One of my favourites and i'd say it's very underrated. Just the right amount of dark and it think it's a brilliant work of production, it takes a while to notice all the layers going on. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

03-08-2009, 12:29 PM	#24 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	'One Hundred Years' set's the tine perfectly for this album. When I first heard this, the dense production and subject matter put me off but the more I listened, the more I got into it. Great review. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

03-08-2009, 04:38 PM	#25 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	Yes i've been waiting for this review for quite some time. Great review, you certainly described the mood of the album pretty accuratly. I would be interested to know your view on the title track though, since you didnt mention it. Yeah this album was my gateway to all the early 80's goth bands like The Sisters Of Mercy and Bauhaus. One Hundred Years, The Figurehead and a Strange Day would be my highlights, the latter hints at the future direction The Cure would take. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound

03-10-2009, 06:06 AM	#27 (permalink)
FireInCairo Later on... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,235	Thanks for the responses guys Ill try and get the next one up tomorrow. BTW: The next one will be fot The Glove's Blue sunshine record as it is next chronologically and I see it as being basically a cure record. __________________ O G MUDBONE: Only You can prevent forest fires. Last edited by FireInCairo; 03-10-2009 at 06:09 AM. Reason: additional information

03-08-2009, 09:32 AM	#23 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	It's always good to see a discography thread here and there. I've never really gotten into the Cure myself (though I did have a copy of Disintergration which I lost somewhere years ago), but I like the songs I've heard. You've officially encouraged me to bag an album or two - kudos

01-30-2013, 10:50 AM	#28 (permalink)
Urbanized Groupie Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3	Very nice review of "FAITH". I do also love the "KISS ME" album as well, especially the tracks ( why can't I be you, and just like heaven). My favorite album though would have to be "DISINTEGRATION" with it's heaviness and psychedelic ambience tone throughout the whole work. Favorites would be (fascination street, love song, and the epic pictures of you). the Cure and especially mr. Robert Smith always seem to deliver the goods, live and on their recordings. One of the best on the planet in my opinion.