POO: The Cure

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"A Forest", the first song I ever heard by them. Mysterious, dark and alien. I love the remix version.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

that's all folks...case closed.

― erik, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Throw Your Foot

Apologies for the wilfully obscure answer...

― Zanny Gognet, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Jumping Someone Else's Train" has some of my favorite lyrics. I've always liked that song.

"A Forest" is another cool one, it has a Neu! feel with that delayed guitar and repetitive drumline.

Staring At The Sea has to be one of the better singles compilations, right up there with Singles Going Steady for me.

― earlnash, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Charlotte Sometimes' - Is probably the best thing that they've done. Robert Smith, must have taken some acid, right? The soft 80's production and naive pyschedelia w/ echnoing SX and vocals. Spooky.

― Michael Dieter, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I too will be willfully obscure and go with "All Mine" from the CURIOUSITY compilation (the b-side of the cassette of CONCERT). The live version of "Charlotte Sometimes" on CONCERT is quite stirring as well.

And "Never Enough" kinda rocks.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because it was pretty much the first thing I ever figured out on guitar, I'd say A Forest, but all sentimental reasoning aside, it happens to be great.

― Damian, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

WOW! 'all mine' is a great choice, i love that song and used to be very sad that there was only this crap cassette version of it. the other unreleased one on that tape is good too: forever. maybe somewhere in the world, people have better recordings of those concerts? also, i really should record that cassette onto a CD (and the carnage visors tape too)

― Ron, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The willful obscurant in me says "Two People". I'd be tempted to say "All Cats Are Grey", "Lament", "The Same Deep Water As You", "Siamese Twins", "Play", "Ocean", "This Twilight Garden", "2 Late", "World War", "The Loudest Sound", "A Japanese Dream", "New Day", "Happy The Man", "Bananafishbones", "Screw" or "A Man Inside My Mouth" depending on my mood and which one I'd most recently heard.

― Dan Perry, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll say "All Cats Are Grey" because Dan Perry already blew his submission on "Two People." Also, because I never owned the Faith album until two years ago and have since decided it's one of my favorites.

― paul, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't like the Cure at all but "Close To Me" is a good pop song and uses his awful voice quite well.

― Tom, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

POO? Eh, the best Cure song is Fire in C A I R O.

― Marc, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Lovecats" I'd like to pick something dreamy like "In Between Days," but I'll go with a song that's just brimming with wacky confidence. I could choose just about any song collected on 'Staring at the Sea: The Singles' and feel comfortable with my choice.

― Tim DiGravina, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

10:15 Saturday Night

― Jeff W, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Another one of those times when it's impossible to pick just one, so:
Obscurist answer: "2 Late"
Less obscurist answer: "One Hundred Years"

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, this may be a cliché answer but "Just Like Heaven"

― Lord Custos III, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The most obvious answer is, in this case, the correct one.

Just Like Heaven

― Jm, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The live version of "The Drowning Man" from 1981 or so that I have which sounds like Mr. Smith's spirit is being choked from his body, appropriately enough.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

charlotte sometimes

― keith, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Hot Hot Hot"

― Joe, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Inbetween Days

― electric sound of jim, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Hot Hot Hot" = because the only video I can think of where Robert Smith's hair is notably short.

― Joe, Monday, 24 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Probably "Fascination Street" tied with "A Forest".

― Tim, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Inbetween Days" edging out "Just Like Heaven" - I prefer swoony romantic Cure to faux-goth post-punk Cure.

― J Blount, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"In Between Days." My intro to the Cure and high-school outsiderdoom (i.e., "You like that faggy English shit?")/cooler-than-most-everyone- else (um, "You like that faggy English shit?")

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Desperate journalist, I say.

― spaceblues, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"The Walk" - 'I saw you look / like a Japanese baby / in an instant I remembered everything' (?) sounds AWESOME played at the wrong speed. Dunno, all I have is the 12" single (one of 2 releases I still own, the other being 'Pornography' - everything else by them seems to piss me off these days and I'm not sure why)

Funny: one of my roommates, upon listening to the Cure for the first time, wrinkled his nose and sez to me "God I hate Morrissey"

― geeta, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"All Cats Are Grey" got under my radar before I developed a dislike for them.

― DeRayMi, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Remember that thread I did 'bout the Stray Cats I started not too long ago...well, they've been exiled from my subconscious indefinitely, thanks to my purchase of Boys Don't Cry.

I have to say "Three Imaginary Boys" is one of the best songs I've EVER had the privilege to listen to over and over again repeatedly.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 9 February 2004 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Right now it is "Lullaby" but that is subject to change.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 9 February 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No no no, the answer is still "2 Late", a fact reconfirmed by my recent purchase of the Join the Dots compilation.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 9 February 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Walk"

― anode (anode), Monday, 9 February 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

The hitherto unreleased 'psychedelic' mix of "Hello I Love You." Trust me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 9 February 2004 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Just Like Heaven", I think. But it's been a while since I've listened to them. All my Cure stuff is on cassette.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 9 February 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Obvious: Just Like Heaven
Obscurist: 2Late

Reading the track listing for Join the Dots gave me chill bumps. I haven't heard any of the b-sides from the Standing on a Beach cassette since I switched over to CDs after graduating from high school.

― boldbury, Monday, 9 February 2004 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I just picked up the boxed set as well, but I still must go with the old standby, "Just Like Heaven."

― rainman (rainman), Monday, 9 February 2004 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I find it funny that my the first song that leapt to my mind as the "obvious" Cure POO song was "All Cats Are Grey".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Given the breadth of their material, is there really such a thing as an "obvious" Cure POO song?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Not really. Depends on the mood, I suppose.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Desintegration".

Seriously.

― Stupid (Stupid), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"All Cats Are Grey" is very obvious, not least of which for the reason that Tim F. has posted at least once of its virtues as being a song worth singing while drunk at 3 am.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I heartily suggest the rapid purchase of Richard Davenport-Hines' excellent 'GOTHIC: 400 Years of Excess, Horror and Ruination', for definitive comments on the appeal of Mr Smith and his combo.

― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:30 (twenty-two years ago)

*seems to recall reading that but can only remember a Bauhaus mention*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 9 February 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

no votes for HANGING GARDEN?????

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

actually I pick a hundred years.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Today I'll say "M", but I might say "Shake Dog Shake" or "Like Cockatoos" tomorrow, or "Sinking", or "A Strange Day", or...

― Seb (Seb), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Figurehead".

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 06:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"His writing may be sombre, morose and incosolable, but in other moods he is consumately shallow, as a pop musician must be."
aaa nice bit on Bob from the Devenport-Hines tome.

― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 07:03 (twenty-two years ago)

In other words, "London must never be taken completely seriously lest they put one over on us."

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 07:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I agree with some of you: "All Cats Are Grey."

― Kent Burt (lingereffect), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 07:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Siamese Twins, baby

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 08:44 (twenty-two years ago)

The remastered "Fear of Ghosts" is rather good. I love "To the Sky" from Join the Dots the most at the moment. Also noted that Harold and Joe was by far the superior song from the Never Enough 12".

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Boys Don't Cry

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 12:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"Inbetween Days" but that's maybe cos I love New Order so much

― Silly Sailor (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 12:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god. Impossible question.

Err... 'Lullaby'. For now.

(bonus wanky Cure geek answer - 'New Day')

― Muppet Boy, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to say the ever-unpopular "Play for Today" until Seb reminded me that it's actually "M".

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Why was "Why Can't I be You " the first hit off of Kiss Me ....?
(Is that anyone else's recollection?)

.. And "How Beautiful You Are" was the second ... Seems like it took about six months for "Just Like Heaven" to get airplay. (Although it may have only been about 2 months.)

Or maybe it was just my local station that made that decision, and the rest of the world had a different experience.

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

How Beautiful You Are wasn't a single (at least not in Britain)

The second single off the album was Catch. Then Just Like Heaven, then Hot Hot Hot (which didn't make the top 40).

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Not single .. but "Hit". Alternative radio in the 80's didn't really care about singles -vs- albums ... Anyway, does it seem strange that Just Like Heaven was not the first hit, in retrospect?

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Why was "Why Can't I be You " the first hit off of Kiss Me ....?
(Is that anyone else's recollection?)

It was the single that came out prior to the album's release. I still have the 12".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

just like heaven really is beyond all doubt the best track they ever made. mods, please lock this thread now...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Just Like Heaven" is a fine little pop song and all, but the Cure were capable of SO MUCH MORE.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoo! You've left "Catch" for me? Thanks!

― OleM (OleM), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

The remix version of "Close To Me."

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Suprising that no-one's said it yet but if I was pushed to give my fave Cure song (there are many), it'd be "Pictures of you"

― Michael B, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

(bonus wanky Cure geek answer - 'New Day')

-- Muppet Boy (muppe...) (webmail), February 10th, 2004.

Aah, yes. Trip Hop before it was even invented. The 'trip' being a very scary one obviously.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Just Like Heaven" is a fine little pop song and all, but the Cure were capable of SO MUCH MORE.
-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), February 10th, 2004.

YESSSSSSS!!!!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I change my vote to "Pictures of You." (I just got Disintegration a few days ago, see)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"Killing An Arab"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

J*** L*** H*****

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

A Night Like This.

― piscesx, Monday, 1 March 2010 23:24 (sixteen years ago)

Actually, I change my vote to "Pictures of You." (I just got Disintegration a few days ago, see)
― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, February 10, 2004 5:42 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

lol @ goth in training. this is now my least favorite song on Disintegration. still like it though

― T-R-A-P-S-T-R (Curt1s Stephens), Monday, 1 March 2010 23:25 (sixteen years ago)

More like emo in training, if we're talking "Peekcharz of U," right?

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, 1 March 2010 23:32 (sixteen years ago)

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION I mean uh The Figurehead maybe? In Your House? <<<< their most underrated song by a fucken STREET

or maybe End, just because. Or The Drowning Man!

― stoke for the shawcross (acoleuthic), Monday, 1 March 2010 23:37 (sixteen years ago)

my answer is either "Plainsong," "A Forest," or "Lament" depending on what sort of mood I am in

― T-R-A-P-S-T-R (Curt1s Stephens), Monday, 1 March 2010 23:38 (sixteen years ago)

i think POO is way too much to ask, especially in the context of the cure. their music spans so many different emotions! the best answer i can give is three potential ones, based on moods i know that i get into: 'the hanging garden' because it is the darkest fucking thing i have ever heard; 'plainsong' because it is lovely and awesomely epic, and 'friday i'm in love' because it is the happiest i've ever noticed robert smith to be, and it makes me happy, too.

― marc iv, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 03:09 (sixteen years ago)

yeap, this is impossible with a group like this. a gun to my head and i'm sure i have said this before but "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" is just about perfect!

― Bee OK, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 04:05 (sixteen years ago)

That's a really good choice!

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 14:12 (sixteen years ago)

Mine would likely be "The Same Deep Water As You", "Siamese Twins" or "Like Cockatoos"

― Bunsen burner, bubbles, IT'S ALIVE! whaaaaa-? (HI DERE), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 14:15 (sixteen years ago)

Goth.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 14:36 (sixteen years ago)

right now, i'm tempte dto say 'Piggy in teh Mirro' since it kind of encapsulate a lot of the different sides of the band I like, vaguley sinister self-loathing, psychedelic excess and general wtf-ness, as well as a catchy chorus.

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:04 (sixteen years ago)

My favorite Cure is the title track from Disintegration. Especially when those tremolo (?) effects start to kick in.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:18 (sixteen years ago)

I'm pretty sure that's the incorrect musical term, but whatever. That part clicks something on in my brain.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:20 (sixteen years ago)

I could probably pick a different song every day for a month, but just now it's "A Strange Day"

― fall down with a bang (onimo), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:21 (sixteen years ago)

mine are like the ultra-depressing low-key self-immolating spirals of doom (if I had a 5th choice it would be "The Top" and a 6th "every other track on Pornography")

Couple of songs on Bloodflowers are worthy of consideration too, but not the ones Dan seems to like especially

― stoke for the shawcross (acoleuthic), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:29 (sixteen years ago)

Which one is "Two People" again? Some 'Faith' outtake?

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:31 (sixteen years ago)

"Two People" is the early, IMO superior version of "In Your House"

― Bunsen burner, bubbles, IT'S ALIVE! whaaaaa-? (HI DERE), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:33 (sixteen years ago)

ah you mean the one that's on the "Concert" cassette?

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:35 (sixteen years ago)

hang on what

― stoke for the shawcross (acoleuthic), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:36 (sixteen years ago)

this i kinda need to hear within 30 seconds of now

― stoke for the shawcross (acoleuthic), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:36 (sixteen years ago)

NOWWWWW

― stoke for the shawcross (acoleuthic), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:36 (sixteen years ago)

ah you mean the one that's on the "Concert" cassette?

Yes.

― Bunsen burner, bubbles, IT'S ALIVE! whaaaaa-? (HI DERE), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:39 (sixteen years ago)

what a great collection. Although by now, I probably have all these "curiosities" spread across the reissues, that tape B-side played really well, esp. the fantastic 'All Mine' and '84 'Forever'

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:43 (sixteen years ago)

oh God yes, that version of "Forever" is one of the greatest things ever recorded

― Bunsen burner, bubbles, IT'S ALIVE! whaaaaa-? (HI DERE), Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:43 (sixteen years ago)

The Same Deep Water As You tbh

― Turangalila, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:46 (sixteen years ago)

Especially when those tremolo (?) effects start to kick in.

I'm actively soliciting suggestions from the more musically literate on how to describe this noise.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 16:50 (sixteen years ago)

NOWWWWW

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-CURE---CONCERT-AND-CURIOSITY-Cassette-1984_W0QQitemZ180474978529QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100301?IMSfp=TL100301172012r35679

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/kitbrash/Bj5FoHQ2kKGrHqIH-EIEs88FRNWZBLVRNI7.jpg?t=1267578850

Or it's on the second disc of the Seventeen Seconds reissue

― you live in a space battle homo cave (sic), Wednesday, 3 March 2010 01:14 (sixteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Especially when those tremolo (?) effects start to kick in.
I'm actively soliciting suggestions from the more musically literate on how to describe this noise.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, March 2, 2010 11:50 AM (7 months ago) Bookmark

In audio FX terms you would call it a (hard-cut) gated (stereo) pan. The words "tremolo" and "vibrato" are ill-defined because manufacturers have used them in reference to different effects. "Tremolo" comes out of the whammy bar being marketed as a "tremolo arm" by Fender. This arm produces the MBV/surf bend, up or down, but the name for that effect is "Vibrato".

Ampeg and other manufacturers (see below) have used "Tremolo" to describe "Vibrato", because at one point that may or may not have been a copyright issue. "Vibrato" was used in the past by Fender to describe early analog volume oscillation - "Crimson and Clover" is your reference point.

A further point of absurdity stems from BOSS, who marketed both Vibrato and Tremolo pedals: the Vibrato is a Tremolo with chorused envelope filter, the Tremolo is a Tremolo but also a pan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heB9bFbOumo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAU5dRN7cc0

Fender's official position/guilt:

In short: Vibrato deals with change in pitch. Tremolo deals with change in volume.
True vibrato is most often achieved either manually or mechanically. Manual vibrato (“hand vibrato” or “finger vibrato”) is a fingerboard technique in which the fretting hand bends the string up and down smoothly and regularly, thus producing the slight alterations in pitch by which vibrato is correctly defined. Since the mid-20th century, many electric guitars have been equipped with mechanically operated vibrato systems, most often in the form of a rocking bridge assembly operated by a hand lever.
Therein lies the confusion. When Fender introduced the Stratocaster guitar in 1954, the guitar was equipped with an ingenious mechanical bridge mechanism designed to efficiently enable string bends from subtle to swooping while maintaining accurate intonation. This was in actuality a vibrato system, but Fender billed it, in a non-standard use of the term, as a synchronized tremolo system. Indeed, one of the very first 1954 advertisements for the Stratocaster led with the headline “Tremolo Action …” (see photo).
Ever since, Fender and guitar players worldwide have referred to the mechanical vibrato systems of the Stratocaster, other Fender guitars and electric guitars by a variety of other manufacturers, as tremolo systems. The common name for the lever arm that operates these systems has long since passed into the guitar lexicon as the trem arm, and other parts are similarly labeled (i.e. trem block, trem springs, etc.). Make no mistake, however—the phenomenon these devices produce is vibrato.
“Vibrato” inputs on a present-day ’65 Twin Reverb amp; the effect provided is actually tremolo.
Further complicating matters, many guitar amps that were and still are marketed as offering built-in vibrato in reality offer built-in tremolo.

― cee-oh-tee-tee, Friday, 29 October 2010 14:38 (fifteen years ago)

Dude, you rock! Thank you so much.

― kkvgz, Friday, 29 October 2010 14:43 (fifteen years ago)

"Disintegration" is a POO candidate for me 20 years' deep in hopeless Cure fandom. Part of me wants to think that effect is guitar feedback through a PN-2-type gated pan, but it's probably a sequencer fed through an amp to develop more natural variations and feedback. Whatever the case, the nuances during the finale are incredible.

― cee-oh-tee-tee, Friday, 29 October 2010 14:56 (fifteen years ago)

a few hours after this

― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 29 October 2010 16:34 (fifteen years ago)

Play for Today

― paulhw, Friday, 29 October 2010 22:25 (fifteen years ago)

five years pass...

Inbetween Days

― flappy bird, Thursday, 16 June 2016 01:51 (ten years ago)

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