I am told by some musician friends of mine that rarely is a song truly finished by the time the tracks are laid and mixed for the original album recording. Often what happens is that there is a rush to produce an album in time for a release deadline. So months or even years later, after the band has had a chance to play it repeatedly in concert and fine-tune it, the song can finally reach its last transformation. Of course by then it's too late to change the debut recording.

The Cure; Mixed Up is a collection of eleven of The Cure's hits from the `80s; remixed, extended, and/or remade. Since I'm familiar with several of the originals from when they were radio hits I have a good comparison reference. There is a definite tendency to lay in more synth sounds in these versions. Some tracks are stretched out and punched up for better dancing rhythm (Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot! And Fascination Street), while others seem to be rearranged to be more full-bodied and moody for artistic purposes (the Walk, the Caterpillar, A Forest).

Whatever the intent, these remixes work very well for me. Although I love all the originals as only a longtime fan could, this album has its own merit as a different expression of the artists' visions. For instance, Never Enough conveys the tortured angst of addiction better through distorted vocals and frantic pacing; the Caterpillar has an added dimension that makes it seem fantastic in a fairy-tale way. In these cases I even find myself preferring the latter versions.

But what the heck, it's all the Cure -- reason enough to buy it!
-Andrea, aka Merribelle


HYPNOTIC, DREAMY EXPERIENCE   December 27, 2000
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Unlike most, I heard these versions before I heard the originals. Spacious, elegant and emotionally compelling, this music has been adapted for the dancefloor without sacrificing its rock appeal in the process. In fact, when I compare these magnificent versions of Pictures Of You, Inbetween Days and Close To Me to the originals, they sound almost flat and one-dimensional. I'm sure most Cure fans would disagree, but for me these extended mixes have an added charm and flow. The dance rhythms provide a hypnotic twist and do not in any way detract from the profundity of The Cure's music. Definitely my favourite Cure album.


Good mix of... well, mixes   June 15, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I didn't used to be a fan of remixes, but these kinda grew on me. I got this around the same time the Galore compilation came out, & it was nice to hear the same songs I had grown to love through the years in different forms. Like other reviewers have pointed out, there are some mixes that compliment the song, & others that you just won't like as much as the original ("A Forest). I'd say my favorite extended mixes on here are "Fascination Street" & "Hot Hot Hot". The "Pictures of You" mix gives the song (1 of my most favorite Cure songs ever) a much different groovy but relaxing vibe, but I still long for the original. Yes, some of the mixes are kinda long, but most mixes are anyway. All in all, different mixes for different occasions... whether it's for driving late at night (esp. long roadtrips), dancing in a club, or played at the end of night (aka, LEAVE) at a club. However, you are NOT complete without at least one of the other best-of compilations of the originals...I suggest Staring at the Sea & Galore (or the 1st disc of "greatest hits" if you don't want to get both), & then go for the albums if you're new to the band or just haven't gotten around to it yet.


This isn't bad.   February 28, 2000
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Mixed Up has some good moments to it. Some of the songs aren't my thing (whether these versions or the originals), but I do like a handful. "Fascination Street" and "Love Song" still sound cool remixed. The main reason I like having this album is because of "The Walk" and "A Forest." Those two songs alone are why I'm glad I got Mixed Up. They are re-recorded and are so much better than the original versions. I actually heard them on here for the first time before I heard them on Staring at the Sea in their original form. The Cure vastly improved those tunes by re-recording them (they're more layered, exciting, and colorful). Mixed Up is worth a listen.


Remixed up   May 17, 2000
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

This was my third Cure purchase. After "Disintegration" and "Staring at the sea", and eventhough it's a remix album, I've found it mostly beautiful.

Some tracks are simply extended radio mixes, like "Lullaby", "Fascination Street", "Lovesong" and "Hot Hot Hot". So basically - these are longer versions for the songs. I really liked "Lullaby" and "Fascination Street". These versions are long, but not boring.

The other songs are remixed. "Close To Me" brings a surprise by introducing a slow and funky drum machine, but this takes something out of the song (liveliness...). "Pictures of you" does the same, but sounds nicer, maybe because the original song was a lowbeat too. "The Walk" and "A Forest" are also including new vocals, and I liked them alot. I guess that many people won't like that, but I think that the versions for these songs are better than the originals!

Unfortunately, the last 4 songs are not as good as the first 7. "Inbetween Days" is simply a waste of time and the new track "Never enough" sounds more like a forgotten B side.

Mostly, this album does the job, and you will find yourself listening to it many times.

A small note : The audio cassette edition contains a version of "Why can't I be you", which does not exist on the CD. That's too bad, because it's better than few of the tracks in the CD.