THE CURE - Worst to Best (1979-92)

[@shonkymusic5573]

Here's a playlist of my favourite Cure songs (so far): open.spotify.com/playlist/10ws250wGEa3RYvx4YL42h?si=P08XaDZ9S2aHw2yMD9XtcA

[@oliviernaud7529]

The Top is quintessential Cure in the sense that it brings you places where no other music in the world brings you and no one else understands unless they are a fan themselves. Even Cure fans don’t get it. you have to have lived with it and when you find the right place and time for it, it stays close to your heart

[@hanger9461]

How you weren't cast as the Joker after placing Disintegration in fifth place

[@bautistaarmada5152]

Am I the only one that really likes The Top? Like the fact that the album is one of if not the most different sounding of their records, is actually something that appeals to me. And I actually like how the record doesn’t have a concise theme, makes it unpredictable, don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t put it as their best album but it definitely is up there, for me at least.

[@johnjackson3735]

Yes I like it as well for its offbeat variety, even better than the more uniform sounding Disintegration, but Wish, Head on the Door and Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me are my favorites.

[@bautistaarmada5152]

@@johnjackson3735 lol, Head on the Foot? Yhea since I wrote that my Cure knowledge grew and I just came to leave their early works. The top is still fire tho and one of those albums I like the whole way through.

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

The Top has some very ambient sounding songs not everyones into that, i like them but not everyone has the patience

[@bautistaarmada5152]

@@finlaymcdiarmid5832 well Yhea the cure in general has an atmospheric sound and that’s what I tend to gravitate to.

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

@@bautistaarmada5152 very much like bauhaus in that way

[@rexmonster12]

One of your best videos, don’t mind watching it again!

[@ConvincingPeople]

I completely agree with your perspective on Faith, although I actually really like The Top, particularly the title track and how the bass and guitar parts remind me of an ancient grandfather clock winding down, which suits the lyrical themes quite well I think.

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

Have you read the collector? By john fowles? the top and the Caterpillar are eeriely similar to it

[@janpoelkamp4229]

Seventeen Seconds ‘A Forest and other songs’? No way, man!

[@MrMogwali1]

My favourite Cure album has to be Boys Don't Cry. For some reason Object and World War included on that album were missing from 3 Imaginary Boys. I love the bare minimalism of BDC, it's simplicity and each instrument played sounds so clean and fresh.

[@sifugurusensei]

It's hard to rank the albums. All are brilliant. I think though wish was the last great album they did, coincidentally the last album with the great boris williams.

[@themangoman9315]

I would agree it has Friday im in love which is the song that made me love the cure

[@Charlo-le1in]

Disintegration is my favorite album of all time, so I gasped when I saw that #5 spot, but hey great list and long live The Cure

[@russthompson8050]

Faith is my favorite as well! Other than your lower ranking of Disintegration, I agree with most of your ranking

[@themangoman9315]

Faith is awesome

[@thejanglingman4]

This is 4 yrs too late, but I got to say the top is a banger listen of an album, it is kind of an important album since it really dieects the sound the cure makes going forward (although kiss me does that as well) and DRESSING UP IS A BANGER TRACK WITH AMAZING INSTRUMENTALS WITH DEFTONES LIKE VOCALS

[@misate8993]

Push is a fantastic song, but surprised that Disintegration is at 5? But agree on Faith, love that album.

[@sifugurusensei]

Disintegration was great when I first heard it. It was such a magical sound. After 10 years of listening to it, it just stopped being great. But 10 years is a long time. And I didn't listen to too many other artist. It's like eating something you love for 10 years. You're bound to get sick of it.

[@tommymess]

So glad someone gives so much credit to "Faith", a generally forgotten album which actually most captures the essence of the band! It's also my first ever Cure album when I discovered the band, so it means so much to me. I very much agree on this ranking! "Pornography" also masterpiece!

[@nutballsheding8998]

LOLLL FINALLY ANOTHER PERSON WHO DGAF ABOUT CLOSE TO ME

[@sifugurusensei]

Worst 4:13 dream. That's the only album I bought of any band which I threw in the trash. I listened to it many times hoping that the music would grow on me. It didn't. The Cure is the next worst.

[@BraxtonWages]

I hate to say it cause I love The Cure but I had a similar reaction. Worst song on it The Real Snow White.

[@takodabostwick8507]

The Cure Albums Ranked 1979-1992 1. Disintegration 2. Faith 3. Pornography 4. Kiss Me * 3 5. Seventeen Seconds 6. Wish 7. Three Imaginary Boys 8. Japanese Whispers 9. The Head Over The Door 10. The Top

[@jjmnunes2]

Your opinion is as valid as any other. Me and other people will have different opinions.

[@pcamphorst]

Amen!

[@chrisandersen5635]

Yeah. Faith is my favorite as well. For decades. The song too. For me it encapsulates a time in my life that was not so great, and certain music helped me to survive, not an exaggeration, thank you. When you get around to Blood Flowers, I recommend listening to the live version straight away. Despite the title, or maybe on purpose (?), studio version is a bit bloodless. The live Trilogy version is miles and years better in my opinion. Thanks.

[@carmenfabozzi7150]

Faith and Carnage Visors are masterpieces for shure.

[@takodabostwick8507]

The Cure Albums Ranked 1996-2008 1. 4:13 Dream 2. The Cure 3. Bloodflowers 4. Mild Mood Swings

[@seanpanigel5494]

I agree on Faith, I think it's an underrated Cure album, but I don't think it's their best one. Top 4 tho, for sure.

[@Kyle_heringer]

Would you also rank Siouxsie and the Banshees albums?

[@andtheywillknowusbyourname5511]

I love watching your videos! You deserve more subscribers. Maybe you can do a Guided By Voices worst to best. Idk even know if you know them if not check them out! But I would love to see a video of that. Thank you for sharing your opinions. Wonderful content you have.

[@sonofskeletor33]

Bit harsh on Seventeen Seconds there. 'Play for Today' was one of their most memorable singles ever (and for all intents and purposes it was a single, complete with video clip and included on Standing on a Beach). Certainly fits right alongside 'A Forest' in their canon. 'Secrets' and 'M' were also well worthy of their places on the album, great late night songs with beautiful solos. Will grant you the album feels a bit light on and unfinished in places, but by no means is it a one-track album. I do wish 'Another Journey By Train' and 'I'm a Cult Hero' had been included on it though. Much prefer Disintegration over Kiss Me from that era, much more cohesive. Kiss Me is too all over the place, as double albums are wont to be. 'All I Want' is actually by far my favourite track from the latter, don't really see it as "by the numbers" at all, just a welcome injection of oomph into the album. 'The Figurehead' all the way from Pornography. Lyrics, melody, structure... everything.

[@Shelsight]

Couldn’t agree more... esp re Play for Today. And while I’m always happy to watch ‘worst-to-best’ videos, not sure someone should do it without having listened to any of the four albums released album since 1992?I mean, how long would it take? Would still like to hear his thoughts on the full back catalogue, as while I definitely disagree with some of his placings, his song and album reviews (the ones he’s heard) are well-researched, honest, thoughtful and damned articulate re both the music and lyrics... And he admitted he was talking ‘favourites’ rather than ‘best’. So that said - I loved the whole review, and hope the 1992 onwards albums come next...

[@rjonesbeau1]

I like Seventeen Seconds but it is half an album of brilliance (A Forest, M, In Your House, At Night and Play for Today) some half finished songs (Three, The Final Sound, A Reflection) and then two average songs (Secrets, Seventeen Seconds). The balance of the album is really let down by the unfinished songs. It would be a much better album if it had one more complete song.

[@sonofskeletor33]

@@rjonesbeau1 I didn't say it was their all-time best album, I merely objected to its characterisation as "A Forest plus filler" in this video. As to your specific breakdown, I'd say 'Secrets' is actually one of the best songs on the album. I wouldn't regard 'A Reflection' as unfinished, it was intended as a short opening mood piece. The problem is doubling up and having 'The Final Sound' on the same album. If 'Another Journey by Train' had been on the album instead of 'The Final Sound', the album would have felt much more rounded. Similarly Faith would have been an all-time brilliant album if 'Charlotte Sometimes' had been included, probably between 'All Cats are Grey' and 'The Funeral Party'.

[@rjonesbeau1]

@@sonofskeletor33 The problem I have with 'A Reflection' being an opening mood piece is that it doesn't really work with Play for Today as the second track. I personally feel that 'A Reflection' should have led into something moodier, like perhaps 'At Night'. The drum beat of Play For Today would have been a killer opener, imo. I quite like Secrets but it shares the same fate as Seventeen Seconds - it's not quite as interesting, unique or as fleshed out as the best 6 songs on the album. The fact that neither song as been played much live speaks volumes. Totally agree that Charlotte Sometimes should have been on Faith, although I would have been tempted to put it 2nd and move Primary after Other Voices.

[@sonofskeletor33]

@@rjonesbeau1 Agreed you could potentially toggle the play order on Seventeen Seconds, was more just a comment on the song 'A Reflection' itself, in that's it's not really unfinished (although the album does feel a little unfinished as a whole). Personally I've always rather liked the jump to the more up-beat 'Play For Today', but that's a personal preference. To use Faith as a point of comparison, I always liked the flow of the second half of the album, four songs of differing tempo - particularly the seamless jump from the meandering 'Funeral Party' to the frenetic 'Doubt'. It's also why I'd personally have inserted 'Charlotte Sometimes' between 'All Cats are Grey' and 'The Funeral Party', as they're the two slowest tempo songs on the album, back to back. Incidentally, I think the longer version of 'A Forest' on the album vaguely mimics this slow/fast dynamic between 'A Reflection/Play for Today' again to begin what is essentially the second half of the album. I don't know if it was deliberate or not, but I kinda enjoy that symmetry. 'Secrets' is a slow builder, but the melody it eventually builds up to is quite beautiful. Along with 'M', it was one of the songs that made the album worth listening to repeatedly for me personally, outside of the justifiably famous singles.

[@lisazoria2709]

Finally someone who's got the same #1 as me, how refreshing! It was between this and Pornography for the #1 spot, sometimes it still just depends on my mood, but overall Faith is it. 🖤

[@carolinescelestialasmr]

Disintegration is by far my all time favorite

[@Kyle_heringer]

The Top for me is the best album after Disintegration :(

[@grungil7570]

You forgot to review my favorite: WMS

[@P09-h7l]

Mint Car baby

[@qw000pz]

0:05 You HAVE made a video on them: the Robert Smith rolly coaster one.

[@shonkymusic5573]

I originally made this video before I made that one :p

[@mariomanno1]

I think my favourite Cure albums are pretty typical when listed from worst to best (considering I've only heard everything between the Debut and Disintegration as of writing) but my top 5 would be; 1. Disintegration (my favourite album of all time too) 2. Pornography 3. The Head on the Door 4. Faith 5. Seventeen Seconds I have to also mention that I rate all of these albums except Seventeen Seconds which would be an 8 at least a 9/10. I've been putting off Wish for a while now but I really need to get back into completing The Cure's discography because they have bloomed into one of my favourite bands over the past 18 months.

[@user-ph8gv7ld1z]

this is one of the few lists of best cure albums i actually agree with. im sick of people always putting disintegration on number 1! Faith and Pornography are the best ones! though i would put The Top at number 3 for me

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

Absolutely, i also recently changed my mind on the top since ive listened more to ambient music since last time i listened to it

[@hedvigjohansson7964]

Imagine being this wrong

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

He doesnt have any patience, i didnt immediately like some of the songs because they are well... anti pop they are supposed to take more than a halfassed listening. It sounds pretentious but im not faking my much increased like for them am i?

[@DarkturtleX]

I love this video as a huge The Cure fan and I am so glad to see a profesional worst to best list on KZbin. Were you inspirade by Crash Thompson by any chance? Since the style reminds me alot on his. Regardless its still a good video, you got my sub and keep it up.

[@shonkymusic5573]

Thanks for your support :) Interesting comparison. I've watched a few Rock Critic videos in the past but I don't regularly watch him

[@Cl4rendon]

Funny enough - THE TOP is my favourite Cure album - Dont care if it`s not for you though... It`s a very arty out the ordinary one which separates from the others as it`s known to be Roberts "Solo Album" ( He played 90% of the instruments) - Psychedelic for sure but The Top was the Zeitgeist and had a very unique mood that never got replicated again in any Cure album, contrary to what you say... "Pornography" would be my second favorite which is an entire different cup of .................. Vodka.

[@bernhl]

I really like the Top too but I've learned it's just very divisive, besides of the fact that that proves it is good musical art, it's just not for some people, it needs the listener to be in a very special mood to be able to connect with the songs. Could also be an acquired taste. I don't think he meant the songs were replicated but I do agree that the following two albums certainly continued with the sounds they got during The Top. I can connect with it and I enjoy it very much.

[@davidbellis8792]

I started listening to The Cure in 1981. So my ranking for the 9 albums from 1979 to 1992 goes like this: 1. Faith 2. Pornography 3. Seventeen Seconds 4. Three Imaginary Boys 5. The Head on the Door 6. Disintegration 7. The Top 8. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me 9. Wish

[@vikgrig8015]

What albums are also in goth trilogy?

[@shonkymusic5573]

Pornography, Disintegration and the third album is Bloodflowers (from 2000)

[@ajmwhiteside]

top 3 1 to 3 Kiss me, head on the door, the top.

[@DJ-wx2gz]

Gosh! I couldn't disagree more about "17 Seconds." I love the eerie minimalism of that record. Probably my 3rd favorite album after "Faith" (#2) and "Disintegration" (#1) "The Top" gets more rewarding over time. "Head On the Door" may be my least favorite.

[@paulphoenix1669]

Man I love the track Pornography too, first time I heard it I started freaking out with all the weird background noise, it sounds like actual hell

[@paulphoenix1669]

Also love Faith! Especially the track All Cats are Grey. Surprised you don't like the song Close to Me, one of my favourites

[@BrxIghtside]

The top is my fave album then distengration

[@BraxtonWages]

I really can’t rank the best Cure albums. It changes all the time. I appreciate you putting Faith as your top favorite. Pornography is the darkest album but this is The Cure’s most depressing album. It literally is a disintegration emotionally as you listen to it.

[@pcamphorst]

Remember: this is his worst to best. Not what we might like who were actually born with The Cure and weren’t in diapers like the guy who made this video… 😬

[@graphix6529]

Respectively disagree with most of what you've said but agree disintegration is not high on my list

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

Well at least he didnt say what everyone says aka disintegration is the best... but i dont get why he doesnt like seventeen seconds? dont get it at all

[@imd3000]

This guy’s alright. I respect his uniquely unpopular points of view (and reasoning behind it)…especially since he’s one of the very few who have the nerve to call Head On The Door out for what it is (it’s a shallow, dated, cheap/tinny sounding record; its only redeeming points are The Blood, Kyoto, and Push…and I wish Push was re-recorded to sound less tinny & one dimensional. Faith has been my fave for a long time. While I regard Pornography as technically “better,” it gets knocked back to my #3 choice because while I love it, Proper listening kinda requires being in a very specific & rare headspace… When the list first started, I was taken aback by his ranking of The Top and 17 Seconds being so low on the list WTF LOL. I think the Top is one of their most brilliant & enjoyable…it just kinda lacks something that would make it more popular, but I don’t know what exactly what that IS.

[@kisshello9101]

I don’t get it

[@lovepitchblackmelankoli]

disintegration should be at least #2 or #3 imo

[@christophemeasson5190]

The top is one of their best album your comments are nonsense and too personal there is no worst or best just good music mon ami I don’t even want to know what you consider their best we’ll probably agree I am not even a Cure fanatic . I give your reviews the best of worst marks go listen to Europe or some shit like that

[@normanthedoorman205]

Very good video! I don’t know why you like 3 imaginary boys so much but whatever. Pornography and faith at 2nd and 1st is exactly the same as how I would rate the cure though.

[@themangoman9315]

I finished all their albums in 2 days pornography is my favorite it's so heavy

[@fulviodogreenwhite9038]

..just opinions,The top is a cult! Were you born at that time?

[@dylancoleman4576]

Sounds like you became a fan recently. Here’s the breakdown of the cure. Boris Williams is 40% Robert smith is 41% Porl is 8% Simon is 9% and then all the others. The biggest problem I have with the cure today is their dumb drum kit sound. It irritates me in every song and every second. The drummer could be perfect but if every hit is lifeless junk then it’s all junk. Really surprised Robert kept that sound for so long.

[@curly_wyn]

Faith is a weird number one to have. Primary is a great song, but The Funeral Party sucks. It’s boring as hell and it just drags along at a snail’s pace. Seriously, nothing from Pornography is as slow as that song. Plus, it sounds…pretty much exactly like The Eternal by Joy Division.

[@rileyschmedeman652]

disintegration is objectively #1

[@rileyschmedeman652]

Burnt Toast how dare

[@inaminute1826]

Yup

[@anonymoususer2756]

Pornography is better