The Cure

[theraven1979]

What's the deal with The Cure? I don't mind some of their 80s stuff but they seem a tad overrated? They've just done a UK tour and the media attention they received seems incredibly generous. Everyone wanking on about them. I saw them live at a festival in the naughties and thought they were very average. What gives? They much improved live now or something?


Jim

[droopsnoot]

I don't know much of their stuff, but I did record their performance at Glastonbury a year or two back. For a set that was closing the festival (or at least the headline set for one of the nights) I thought it was very slow and plodding*. That might be what they mainly do (I only really know the popular singles stuff) but it seemed completely unsuitable to round off a night at a massive festival.

( * maybe it's atmospheric)

[aldinblack]

yeah, agree they're definitely overated. Sort of becomming one of those "national treasure" bands. I guess they're good at what they do, but I've never really gotten into them in a big way..

[RetroRocket]

A big fan here. I saw them on Monday at Wembley. Pure class

Like all bands of their vintage there are (for me) moments of sheer brilliance and stuff I can't listen to.

At their best, their intricate guitar and vocal melodies...usually very melancholic...are a joy. But you do sometimes do need to put the legwork in...their album Distintergration took a while to make sense for me.

And I do think that Robert is a sincere and honest song writer.

If you ever do take a punt on them live...do take comfy shoes or a seat...average sets are 2 hours 40 mins!

Live...Simon Gallop on bass provides all the rock god posturing!

[Yanders]

I watched the cure at Glastonbury (on tv) with my daughter, and she asked "do you really like these unironically?"

I like them, and played their first few albums to death, but they are a bit of a bucket list band now, where people who dont really like them go to their concerts.

They lost something when they kicked lol out. And theyve become a 'greatest hit in a stadium' band, rather than one that can produce anything different anymore.

But ill always have a soft spot for them.

[theraven1979]

Banged one of their albums on earlier and jeeze it really washed over me. Dunno, I'm not gonna slate them cos they are a talented bunch but I just don't get the hype. Fair play to em


Jim

[Yanders]

Like a lot of music, you have to be there at the time and probably the right age, to appreciate it. A high school kids now in california arent going like the smiths, just as i dont get buddy holly.

I do think the cure are an excellent live band. Theyve evolved their back catalogue and made songs a bit heavier.

[markorbit]

I'm in agreement Jim. They became a stadium band without me noticing. I like a handful of things but I don't get how they became so acceptably big.

As an aside one of the things that annoy me is whenever someone does a best bass player poll that Gallup fellow is always put forward as well

[jason]

They've done a few great songs but I don't know all of their stuff. Yes I agree they do seem over hyped. I thought they sounded pretty good at Glastonbury though. It made me actually wonder if it was actually all played live because it almost sounded too good!

[theraven1979]

How many original members in the band currently touring? When I saw them I'm pretty sure they had Bowie's/Tin Machine guitarist with them.

Jim

[Yanders]

Its only robert smith, simon gallup been there from early on with a bit of a gap - i dont think he was around for the lovecats era.

In my mind, the line up constantly changes, but i think its been fairly static for a number of years now.

[Greatkudu]

The Forest one of the greatest songs ever IMHO,but they became to Stadium for me, massive in USA,at least they avoided the Cowboy hats.Lt Kudu.