There are certain bands that people tend to love and certain bands build up a following so big that your friends will bug and bug and bug you to review them. This band that is on the chopping block is a band that I have been putting off for the longest time. Now they have inspired countless bands, including some of my favorites and the time feels right. The band that is on the chopping block for this review is The Cure. Keep in mind I decided to put them on the Chopping Block immediately after I was done with another band. Now I am going into this review as someone who does not like this band and the only songs that I’ve heard from them are their radio songs so this is practically new ground and with that let’s take a look……..
Three Imaginary Boys- OK so I gotta say this kinda wasn’t what I was expecting. I don’t know if it’s just me, but this album kinda has an Indie rock mixed with punk kind of feel to it. Maybe it’s what would be considered Proto punk but I’m not 100% certain on that one. Perhaps those that no more can explain further. But in any event, the question remains did I enjoy this album? The answer is yes I actually did enjoy this album. Like I said, it’s not what I was expecting, but I actually like this album. Therefore I’m going to give this 9/10.
Standouts: Grinding Halt, Foxy Lady, Object
Seventeen Seconds- I guess if you wanna call this album a postpunk album then that probably would be the best way I would describe it. It’s definitely different than the last album and it’s got probably a little bit of a darker tone. It kinda also has an atmospheric feel and it’s certainly not a continuation of the previous album. I found it to be a very interesting record so I’m going to give it another 8/10.
Standouts: Play For Today, M, Secrets
Faith- it’s interesting because when I listen to this album, I’m kind of like oh yeah, I can see where this album would inspire a band like Joy Division. I don’t know I get like an almost gloomy and moody kind of vibe. Listening to it a second time I think I actually liked it more and it’s sort of feels like a continuation of the previous album but different at the same time. I can’t really explain it. But either way, I hate to admit it, but I didn’t not hate this album. I’m gonna have to give it 8.5/10.
Standouts: Other Voices, The Funeral Party, The Holy Hour
Pornography- OK so this one definitely has kind of a grander feel to it. The best way to describe this one is that this is their New Wave album. Again much like the last couple of albums it’s a dark and gloomy record so far out of the three this one is their best. I have a feeling that this one is considered to be one of their more popular releases and I can see why. It’s that good. Again, this was another one of those albums that I had to listen to a second time to appreciate it more so I’m gonna go ahead and (I have to) give this album 9/10
Standouts: One Hundred Years, A Strange Day, The Hanging Garden
The Top- so for this album, they decided to maybe not go for such a dark tone that was present on the last three maybe four albums. But this one does seem a bit more lighthearted and I kinda get some slight psychedelic vibes. I don’t know it just seems like there’s kind of a lot going on here and you can tell they’re trying to change their style up a bit. Again, this is a good album and I did not want to like it as much as I did, but I’m gonna have to give it 8/10.
Standouts: Birdmad Girl, The Caterpillar, Bananafishbones
The Head On The Door- OK so I guess we’re going for a pop record. Yeah but seriously, if the last album was kind of all over the place and the albums before that, what kind of dark, gloomy and moody and this one is their pop record. The town seems a bit lighter and it’s probably the most fun sounding record. I’m gonna give this album 9/10.
Standouts: Screw, Push, A Night Like This
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me- all right let me preface this space saying this is got to be one of the stupidest album titles ever. I don’t care what people say. This is just a really dumb record title. Now that that’s out of the way, I feel like this one is sort of a little bit of everything. Like they took elements from each other their records up to this one and decided to just mix it all together. It does make a unique record, but I just didn’t really get into this one that much. It was fine, but it didn’t really catch my ear as much as some of these other albums have. I’m gonna give this one 7/10.
Standouts: Torture, The Snakepit, Hot Hot Hot!!!
Disintegration- so with this album, I actually reviewed this for a mix bag review thinking that I would not review the other albums for this band. When I listened to it the first time I really really wanted to hate this album, but I couldn’t. It’s too good to not hate and I can see why this one is considered to be one of the fan favorites. I’m sure in terms of this band, I’m sure people feel the same way about this album as NIN fans feel about albums like The Downward Spiral or The Fragile. My opinion really hasn’t changed much on this album, but I will say it is a damn good album (as much as I hate to admit). I’m gonna give this a score of 9/10
Standouts: Lullaby, Disintegration, Prayers For Rain
Wish- so this is the album that gave us the song Friday I’m In Love. Aside from that song, the rest of them is pretty good. It does remind me a little bit of the last album but like it feels different at the same time. I do think the songs with the violins were pretty cool and again it’s one of those albums that sort of picks up where the last album left off, but takes it in a slightly different direction. Again, I can’t hate on this album so I’m gonna have to give it 9/10.
Standouts: Open, High, Trust
Wild Mood Swings- well I guess this album has a very fitting name because there’s a lot going on here. It has songs that are rock, pop, jazzy and even one with some mariachi stuff on it. Overall, it’s kind of all over the place but it’s not bad. I’m gonna give this 8.5/10.
Standouts: Club America, The 13th, Numb
Bloodflowers- so with this one I don’t know it just seems a bit disjointed, and the songs just tend to drag. I just found myself wanting this album to end because there’s nothing really new here. I mean, I don’t know how the fans of this band receive this album or if they like it but all I know is that I did not care for this one as much as I have other albums. I’m gonna give this album 6/10.
Standouts: Out Of This World
The Cure- seems like whatever trouble they were having when they made the last album is gone. This one definitely feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the last record because I don’t wanna say this one’s a pop record but it’s just feels like a more straightforward rock album (as far as this band is concerned). I just actually really liked this record. The songs didn’t drag this album wasn’t gloomy or dark, but it just felt like a rock album. That’s the simplest way I can put it and I’m gonna give this album 8/10
Standouts: Before Three, Taking Off, The Promise
4:13 Dream- for once it feels like they actually made an album that picks up where the previous one left off. I see it a little bit softer than the last album but as far as follow ups go, it’s fine. I think I enjoyed the previous album just slightly more but again this isn’t a bad follow up. I’m gonna give this one 8/10.
Standouts: The Real Snow White, The Perfect Boy, The Only One
Songs Of A Lost World- so apparently this is their first album in like 16 years or something and I gotta say it reminds me a lot of albums like Disintegration or even albums before that. It’s kinda like they took a long break to regroup and re-energize. Like it’s got that goth feel but also that pop tone that we’ve also heard on other releases. There’s a good amount of piano work on here and you know what it only adds to this album’s charm. I’m gonna give this album 9/10.
Standouts: Drone: Nodrone, Alone, All I Ever Am
You know I really really wanted to hate this band. I really was hoping to give all of these albums, really low scores or mid scores, but I can’t. The albums are just too good now does this mean I’m gonna go out and start buying all of their albums and posters and merch and start going to their shows? No. I put them on the chopping block because they are an important band in rock music and I figure if I didn’t do it soon the incessant pestering by some people would never cease. All kidding aside, though this is a good band with some good albums and if a stubborn metal head such as myself can give this band a chance then I would encourage anybody that’s on the fence or is trying to write this band off to give their albums a chance. I think part of the reason why I didn’t want to give this band a chance was because I didn’t like their look or their whole schtick. But I guess if I’m gonna go by that logic, then I might as well not review bands such as GWAR, Band-Maid, Slipknot, etc. What I’m getting at is that just because a band looks ridiculous does not mean that they are a bad band. I can see how this band influenced so many other bands so let’s get the best part, the rankings and grade.
Final Grade: A-
Album Rankings:
- Pornography
- Disintegration
- Three Imaginary Boys
- Wish
- The Head On The Door
- Songs Of A Lost World
- Faith
- The Top
- The Cure
- Wild Mood Swings
- 4:13 Dream
- Seventeen Seconds
- Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
- Bloodflowers
Sinister Reviews 