Cure - Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001
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Free Music Notes for Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001
Free Music Review: Very good collection from a legendary band.
Hit: 5 Stars
Here we are in 2004 and The Cure are still in demand and most importantly, relevant. "Join The Dots" solidifies The Cure's place in music history as if it weren't secured already. The critics were almost never kind to them for the span of their entire career. They critisized them during the Pornography-era for trying to sound like Joy Division and then when they went into the Head On The Door, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me-era they accused them of being too poppy, too happy. They rarely ever took Robert Smith seriously due to his appearance and not his music. If The Cure's career were solely based on critical praise they would have disbanded back in 1979. Obviously, they touched a nerve and did something right, they appealed to more people than the critics will ever give them credit for. With bands like The Rapture, Hot Hot Heat and Deftones citing The Cure as an influence their importance cannot be denied. While there are some songs that I'm not crazy about, it's still amazing for a band to somehow still produce excellent b-sides and compilation tracks for a span of over 20 years! The packaging is very attractive, the booklet inside has some great quotes and pictures of the band through the years with different members and hairstyles.
Songs like; This Twilight Garden, Just One Kiss, Harold & Joe, and More Than This alone are worth the purchase but it holds many more gems than those. Unfortunately it's taken all this time for the critics to truly appreciate their genius that was always there but now they seem willing to admit it now. Their influence around the world proves this. Now I know this is probably not on the same level as say "Sci-Fi Lullabies" from Suede or "Louder Than Bombs, Hatful Of Hollow" from The Smiths but it's damn close. As always the critics on NME gave this a 6/10 and Q Magazine gave it just 2 stars but in all honesty I think we know better than them.
Free Music Review: finally....the is a CURE
Hit: 5 Stars
So U LOVE the Cure, and tired of carrying all the CD's back and forth to your car? there is an answer, and here it is. This outstanding compilation of The Cure's greatest hits, some newer remixes, and the hard to find B-Sides. I have been a cure fan since there "CD Pornography" was released, I have consistantly collected over 100 12" remixes from the USA as well as from overseas with the B-sides, being JUST as important as Side A (the current single). When My best friend passed away, he left everything music related to me. He was stationed in Germany in the US Army and, we together as a team, when he moved back to the states were unstoppable. I was so happy to see these B-sides finally released. "Snow in Summer" and "Sugar Girl" are just 2 of my favorites that bring my memories back to full life of my friend Don, and I now have all my favorites on one brilliant CD compilation. The booklet enclosed is stunning, the photo's and commentary is brillant. The pure essence of the cure is visible in your heart and in your soul. You are a cure fan If you can really "FEEL" what Robert is singing about like the pain, or pleasure and sometimes just do not really know where or what is is singing about, yet is somehow touches you, Yes Robert Smith may seem a bit strange, but if you look back at history most of the great artists are a bit strange, from Picasso to Jim Morrison, they all are great talents, and mixed in the pot is "The Cure" Listening to this CD I remember, to precise detail, where I was or, what I was wearing when I first....heard that song, over and over the memories fill the spaces that were empty, some memories are great and, some sad yet, they are still there, on my B-side
Serious fan's really should look into this CD is is a portrait of art. Don This is for YOU! love always my friend.
Jason Prof. DJ
Free Music Review: A Treasure for Cure Completists
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are not a big Cure fan then go away. This is not for you. If you are keep reading.It's great to finally have all of those wonderful B-sides and rarities in 1 place. And it's about time those great songs from the b-side of the 'Staring at the Sea' tape got remastered (wasn't that outtake collection called 'Standing on a Beach'). You'll also get lots of remixes and covers. Having 3 versions of The Doors' cover "Hello I Love You" seems excessive but I'd rather have more than less - wouldn't you? They also have the Bowie cover "Young Americans". Wondering why they didn't include Hendrix' "Foxy Lady" though. Do you realize The Cure has done 3 Hendrix covers (Hey Joe, Foxy Lady and Purple Haze)?
The most pleasant surprise was the inclusion of the painfully hard-to-find "To the Sky" from the b-side of the 'Concert' live tape release. The biggest disappointment is the non-inclusion of the excellent "Forever" from that same release. Why o' why can they not release this on CD?! And I'll bet you that it doesn't find it's way onto any of the upcoming studio remasters because it wasn't a b-side from any particular release. Also missing are "Carnage Visors" and "Curiousity". Still the collection is nearly complete and long overdue.
The packaging is very nicely done. It looks like a long, thin hardcover book (I didn't just say long, thin and hard did I?) and includes loads of color photos spanning the band's history. Also includes a narrative history that I plan to read soon.
OK now, less reading... more buying.
Free Music Review: One of the best box sets I've ever purchased
Hit: 5 Stars
You might notice as you go through the myriad reviews of "Join the Dots" that different people like different discs best in this 4-CD retrospective of rarities & B sides. That is clue #1 of just how solid this set is--big time Cure fans all, and we each find something different to love in this fantastic set. How often have you plopped down the dough for a box set (especially rarities & B's) and found the majority of what you hear just interesting, in an archeological find kind of way? How many of those sets can you whole-heartidly recommend to ga-ga fans and mild fans alike (Recent Guided by Voices box comes to mind -- great set, but if you're not already into the band, I could see you grimace a bit & say, "What the hell is this stuff?"). Well, "Join the Dots" finds The Cure releasing that rare monster box of oddities that is just so immediately great, it won't matter your level of Cure fandom. Honestly, even you if just sorta like this band, I can see you getting way into this. Very few week spots, and strong tunes abound. Divided chronologically, the set takes you from the early years to present day, and each disc is full of nuggets. It seems that with each listen, each disc gets stronger & the set as a whole gels even more. So, if you're looking for a good way to suddenly feel good about those winter doldrums (doesn't this band have an odd knack for making misery feel great?), delve into this awesome box set by The Cure. Robert Smith & his boys have really delivered with something special, and you won't be sorry.Free Music Review: Nicely handled compilation
Hit: 5 Stars
"Join the Dots" is a long overdue compilation from the post punk/goth pioneers. This isn't really a surprising set, clearly being what it claims to be, a compilation of b sides and rarities. Pretty much everything is here. Only completists will previously have everything on here, which have been available on various singles, soundtracks, or collected on various bootleg compilations.
What is remarkable about this set is the quality of the output presented here. Robert Smith's remarks in the opening of the liner notes strike a chord when he says he always hoped to hear another version of the band he was listening to at the time on the b side. If your curious how a true a statement this is, listen to several tracks on the first disc, notably the Exploding Boy or A Few Hours After This to hear the Cure in full experimental mode, fooling around with a grandiose sound listeners would become more familiar with on later recordings.
There are many moments on here that find the Cure outshining the respective albums that these bsides support. To the Sky is one of the most remarkable songs they've recorded while the Wild Mood Swings era bsides are better than anything off of that album.
This is overall a great set. Aside from a few throaway remixes, it's solid. The Cure are one of the few bands (along with the Pet Shop Boys and until recently Depeche Mode) who have put as much care into the b-sides as they would on the a-sides, really giving something extra to their fans. Fantastic set.