Here are some songs that without a doubt, should be included on any "best of" collection from THE CURE :

"PRIMARY" (hypnotic; one of The Cure's finest songs!)
"JUMPING SOMEONE ELSE'S TRAIN" (fantastic ear grabbing tune with excellent lyrics)
"KILLING AN ARAB" (I guess they'd really get the PC scolding for this one right now!; they've already taken enough unwarranted heat in the past for this great little song. Still, it's a gem and should be on this collection)
"PLAY FOR TODAY" (Another great, catchy song that lyrically, "brings down the fakers", with a similar skill to "Jumping Someone Else's Train"
"10:15 SATURDAY NIGHT"
"OTHER VOICES"
"IN YOUR HOUSE" (This one might not be considered a "greatest hit" but in my opinion, is a terribly underrated song. The album description above, makes reference to The Blair Witch Project through the song, "A FOREST" (good analogy); Well, let this song, "IN YOUR HOUSE", be the mysterious & forboding *house* at the end of the movie.
"CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES"
"THE UPSTAIRS ROOM"
"JUST ONE KISS"
"THE TOP"
"THE BLOOD"
"A NIGHT LIKE THIS"

These are not a bunch of funeral dirges. They are well written, hook laden, "dark but fun", picture book songs that belong on any collection that reads "THE BEST OF THE CURE".

I see the Cure in two different ways: The early version(from 1979 through 1985's "The Head On The Door") where Robert Smith was mostly concerned with writing great songs that were infectious, catchy, dark & guitar driven. During those years, he seemed a guy who was very determined (a talented guitarist and songwriter who had important things to say and do.)

Then, (save for the excellent "DISINTEGRATION" album; a return to earlier form), the later version of THE CURE, where Smith came off more fragile and silly (more concerned with dishing out those *sprightly happy* but wimpy tracks like "Friday I'm In Love".) It all started with the success of those "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" singles. For me, Smith's smeared lipstick and "teased to the sky" hair became more annoyingly evident at this time ( but I prefer the "old" Robert Smith, with the short hair and electric guitar, anyway.)

The bottom line is: THE CURE was BUILT on the strength of their excellent early material and this collection does NOT do that period justice. The later songs are just the sweet and sometimes too sugary icing on "THE CAKE", which is THE CURE's first 6 years (1979-1985).

*Hey, sometimes a two disc set is required.* For now, stick with the old "Standing On A Beach" collection. And remember, if you can find a cassette copy of that one, you'll get 12 unavailable B-SIDES. (*Note: The cd version of "Standing On A Beach" has more "A-sides", but only the CASSETTE version has the "B-SIDES".)

M.L.


Hey wait.......???   January 1, 2002
 2 out of 6 found this review helpful

.....Didn't I already buy a greatest hits collection by The Cure? How many is this now???


Get the 2-CD set...   December 17, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Do yourself a favor and get the 2-cd set if you're a fan! If you're new to the cure, be aware that this was a record-company-picked list, and NOT what the band themselves would have chose (this is according to them, not my own speculation). But it's still got a lot of great songs on it... that second CD though, the acoustic versions, are like sitting in on a session with them. An absolute delight! That's what I love about them though, that no matter how huge of a success they are, we fans feel like part of a small on-line community, not faces in the crowd. Enjoy!


Wow they are good   January 7, 2003
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Too many music critics credit Nirvana with influencing all of the new modern rock artists out today. I have to disagree and say that the credit deserves to go to The Cure. Their songs define love in the dreary 80s and still are wonderful to listen to today. This cd will take you back to the time of their height, and will show why they are still so popular today. One of the best greatest hits packages I've seen in a while.