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June 16, 2011
The Cure Is Better Than The Smiths
Joke all you want — God knows Morrissey does — but you know what The Cure has that The Smiths never did? Conviction. Where Morrissey can't get through a two-minute single without some wiseass remark, The Cure has the integrity to bring you to an emotional place and stick with it. Their sad songs are sad and their happy songs are happy. And when you're feeling low as a teenager, it feels good to have company — to have music that just sort of envelops you. The Cure is about you; The Smiths are about Morrissey and his colossal ego.
Take "Just Like Heaven." It's pure, swooning emotion; it has no wink-wink to undercut the real feeling. Is there any chance Morrissey would've gotten through writing a song like that without some juvenile, mood-breaking joke? Probably the most sincere he ever got was in "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," and even there he can't resist the goofball "if a double-decker bus crashes into us" scenario. Far more representative is the following track on The Queen Is Dead, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others," in which Moz takes a beautiful Johnny Marr guitar figure and marries it to one of the most ridiculous, flippant lyrics ever written. It's a perfect distillation of everything that's wrong with The Smiths, and even Marr was horrified.
MP3
The Smiths - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Which brings us to the next point: Morrissey is a dick. He's a preening narcissist who fucked over his own bassist and drummer for their puny royalties; when he lost his court case against them, the judge described him as "devious, truculent, and unreliable." Meanwhile, Robert Smith is a nice guy who's been married to his childhood sweetheart for decades. If you're feeling lonely, do you want his company, or the company of a greedy, self-aggrandizing smartass who thinks even his sadness is better than yours?
And finally, call The Cure monochromatic if you want, but song to song, they actually have a lot more variety than The Smiths. Yes, unlike The Smiths, they manage to stay in a mood for long enough that you actually feel it — but that doesn't mean it's the only mood they have. Disintegration might open with "Plainsong," but it also features the sweetness of "Lovesong" and the creepy come-on of "Fascination Street," among others. Each of those songs is a complete statement.
MP3
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
In fact, I think that's what Robert Smith meant about the "Friday I'm In Love" single. He didn't say he didn't want it on the album, right? You can't listen to "Friday I'm In Love" or "Plainsong" and say either is what The Cure's all about. You've got to take The Cure for their bigger picture — a picture that's broader and more deeply felt than anything The Smiths ever quipped onto tape. — Mike DiBenedetto
Tags
Morrissey
Commentarium (126 Comments)
Fuck..why can't we all just get along? I love both of these bands so damn much.
Second that. It's like choosing your favourite child!
Agreed. But, Friday I'm in Love is pretty hard to forgive. Slight edge to Moz and the boys.
What is this constant need to divide people? With me or against me crap that some people just need to level onto other people. Both are absolutely amazing in their own way.
Actually, that Smith's song sucks the big, blue, smurf bag! Horrible song.
I love both bands, as well! (But Morrissey is still a gigantic dick!)
I love the long vocal-less intros on The Cure's music...
Absolutely.
Long intro's are mint! Love 'em so much. Sets the mood.
Totally! I prefer the Cure. There's just more diversity to their style. I can keep listening to them for longer than The Smiths. Who are obviously fantastic as well.
If you don't get the feeling in The Cure - Plainsong's Intro you've got a sensitivity problem
MOZ!
the man sweats in the shape of heart.
First, the general readers that are reading this article weren't even around when these two bands were 'happening' so they shouldn't be allowed to comment. Secondly the world is going to end in 2047, so I can't say "If you jump ahead One hundred years from now which band will not sound ridiculous" but I will say if you jump ahead to 2046- and play The Cure and The Smiths- The Smiths will not sound like recycled pop tunes. The Cure, though fun, doesn't really achieve "GREATNESS". Sorry for all you kids who don't know better.
Sexy Mynx - what stupidity. I was around when these bands were 'happening' and saw The Smiths live before they even has a record deal. If a bunch of kids are now searching back in time and finding the good stuff then good for them.
wow sexy mynxs, how self righteous...just like Morrissey
Well Sexy Mynxs, i hope you never form an opinion of classical music, because you weren't around when it was happening. Oh wait music, at least good music, is timeless. so it doesnt matter when the music happened. If its good enough, the music will feel current.
When i hear "Bernadette" by the Four Tops, I don't think " boy that sounds like a 60's song." i get the singers passion for his subject and the feeling is clear and in the year 2046, some kid will be listening to his Brainboy 4000(patent pending) and feel the same.
Now this is where i start my opinion on the real matter. I listen to The Smiths, and its enjoyable, moody, sometimes effecting. Mostly I enjoy the humor, but the stories are too much about the story, and i don't connect as much with them emotionally(for the most part). I listen to The Cure, i know how Robert Smith is feeling in that song. The songs are sometimes about clever lyrics, but mostly they convey the mood and the emotion the character is feeling, and im affected by it and relate. The ultimate Emotional Litmus test for this is the music. When I'm sad, i can't hear "Friday I'm In Love." cause its too damn perky, and when I'm happy, songs like "The Same Deep Water As You" are just terrible. But The Smiths? If "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" comes on and im happy, i just enjoy the guitar and strings because they're so pretty sounding, but i ignore the lyrics. Flip the story when I'm sad. The song doesn't change, but neither do i.
Side note": Morrisey is a total douchebag. "im stopping this concert you all paid good money to see because i smell MEAT COOKING!!!! My god, somebody has a different dietary system than i, i cant sing like this!"
Hear, hear! The classical music call-out was dead on. Although I am old enough to have lived through the prime years of both these bands, you don't have to be born in a certain era to appreciate and understand music from that time.
If that's The Cure, I don't want the disease
Why are we even arguing about this? Everyone knows that The Cure is clearly better. By everyone, I mean me.
Everyone is a fuckwit pillow biter.
I don't think this one is even close. The Smiths are better. It's the songs, the body of work that matters. Theirs is vastly superior.
There's no competition. Smiths.
It is ridiculous to keep up this argument. They are not one and the same.... The Cure are far better to me, and still exist!
Smiths
I didn't listen to the Smiths for so long because Morrissey talked and acted like such a douchebag that I just couldn't bring myself to it. Then I listened, and realized I'd wasted a few years mixing the music and the asshole that (partially) makes it, which is always a mistake, I think. His public persona makes me think of Lars Von Trier's: abrasive, toeing the line, for no clear purpose but provocation.
The Cure, though, were always an obvious mood band, and it didn't matter whether or not you understood or paid attention to the lyrics. Yeah they're pretty goth, their lyrics are too. Duh. They can get creepy in ways the Smiths are completely incapable of, or possibly unwilling. Setting a mood often takes time. The Smiths are clever (not just lyrically), but they're most straight-forward pop.
The Smiths or the Cure? Why deprive oneself of either one? Gang of Four kills both of them anyway... :)
You clearly have no idea what the expression "toe the line" means".
I agree with both the pro and both the con arguments. I appreciate the Smiths for their poetry, and the Cure for their emotion/passion.
And Robert Smith is right; "Friday I'm in Love" is easily the crappiest single they ever put out. God, I hate that song. But "Spider" is a creepy, sexy delight.
Someone said the Gang of Four kicks both their asses--I don't listen to GoF, but XTC easily defeats both of these bands in terms of their poetry and their passion.
"Spider"-- by TMBG? What is "spider"? I can only assume you mean Lullaby. Though I agree with what you said : FIIL is crap and Lullaby is an excellent single, I just wish people would get the song titles right. If you don't know the subject well enough, how can you make a solid argument.
Personally, I'll never know why the two are grouped together. While I like the Smiths a lot, I don't really consider them to be anywhere near as amazing as the Cure. I know the Smith's debut album by heart and I still think a lot of the songs sound the same. But what does it matter? Each opinion is valid, so like whatever you like. Or do what I do: listen to them both.
point of fact-- Marr is a far better musician than every Cure member ever combined.
I was wondering what "Spider" was, too. Could it be a new single? It's pointless to debate, though. It's like comparing gold and diamonds. They're both they're both head and shoulders above the metaphorical dog turds of 98% of their contemporaries.
you're right, it's "Lullaby"--I rarely look at the album cover/label--though I know the whole album lyrically by heart
THE CURE - FOREVER
The Smiths for second place...
To me both bands are amazing for different reasons. I just realized I've been listening to both for over 25 years now. I can only remember two bands that completely broke my heart when they broke up, the Smiths and the Pixies, because neither had wanked out yet and they both had so much more to say.
I don't know who you are Mr. Peter Smith, but to insult Robert Smith and the Cure, I'm sorry but "You Just Haven't Earned it Yet Baby."
I'm glad it was brought to my attention that these are bands, because I thought they were just quote resources for whiny, misunderstood straight girls in their late teens/early 20s.
Ziiiing! But yeah.
All The Cure.
In high school, having to pick between the two, I picked The Smiths because the cute girls at my school listened to them. That really is the only fair (and honest) determiner between the two.
It's a good world that has both.
What is it about people that they have to pick a favorite for absolutely everything? It's not like the world is asking us to choose forever between vanilla and chocolate, Apple or PC, Star Wars or Star Trek, The Smiths or The Cure. Why does everything have to rule or suck, with no middle ground? Embiggen yourself, keep an open mind, and there will be room for everything.
You are so right-- I really couldn't agree more. I love them both equally, but in different ways and for different reasons. I grew up listening to The Cure, since they're my mom's favorite band ever, I've been blessed to have been able to listen to them since I was born, and saw them a few years ago with her. I have to say, they really are still quite amazing. The Smiths, though my mom liked them too, didn't pass them on so-to-speak. Instead, I "found" them on my own time. Morrissey is definitely a bit on the douche-y side, but I love how he's a vegetarian and is incredibly passionate about it-- I've been a vegetarian for about 3 years now, so I think that's pretty neat. Robert Smith though, seems to be a bit more kind and has a less harsh personality (that's the best way I can describe it) or at least I perceive him to be that way. Obviously I couldn't say for sure because I've never met him, though I reeaaally wish I could! All in all though, I love them both-- neither one is better. I don't understand why I have to even choose one in the first place.
Also, why am I not allowed to like them just because I was born in '93? My mom is proud that she's been able to pass on her excellent taste in music, especially because I'm the only girl in the family who listens to music that's not Justin Bieber, Rihanna, or that current, pop crap tha's on the radio now. I know if my kids one day decide that they like The Cure, The Smiths & some of my more "current" favorites like The Drums, Animal Collective, Radiohead and Ghost Mice- I would feel like the happiest, most honored mother in the world. I can only hope.
The Cure all the way!!
If it's not love, then it's the bomb that'll bring us together.
I loved both of these bands. Yeah I heard the Cure Disintegration first, but then purchased the Staring at the Sea video Laser Disc, and heard so much more great music from them. Killing and Arab, Caterpillar, The Forest. Seeing Robert Smith with blonde hair threw me for a loop. They were so great till the became so permanently depressing. Then they brighted up a bit again with "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me". Yes the Smiths were great they reminded me the I eat death, and their music was great I can always listen to "How Soon Is Now" along with many of their tracks. The Honest truth is that The Smith can't hold a candle to the Cures voluminous catalog, and they couldn't keep it together. Morrisey had to big of an ego and went all solo. I love "Son and Heir", but The Cure wins for quantity and length of time playing. I think Old Bob Smith and the Cure are still Touring. Where are the Smiths. Oh yeah, gone.
I just searched for Robert Smith blonde-- because I had never seen that and I've been with them since 'In Orange' on VHS of course. I didn't see a pic of that but I did discover 'Not in Love' featuring Robert Smith. Going to purchase and download it now.
Music Fan - You've missed the point completely. The Cure did 13 studio albums, at least 12 of them were completely drab and boring. The Smiths did 4 amazing studio albums without one bad track. Anyone can put out countless albums full of bad songs, bad haircuts and mediocre music. It takes Marr I guess. But what difference does it make? I'm probably starting something I can't finish with this argument.
Love both bands but The Smiths beat The Cure hands down. Come on The Smiths had Johnny Marr playing guitar and the lyrics of Morrissey. Morrissey may be a bit of a dick maybe that's why his music is so great. It's like the Bruins and the Canucks. The Sedin twins sure are nice guys, but I'll take Brad Marchand any day of the week ("why were you punching him (daniel sedin)?" "Because I felt like it").
Exactly. Morrissey may not be a nice guy but few geniuses are.
So bands competing with one another.......???? How about we grow up and enjoy music for what it is without all this mindless bullshit about we is better. Each one of these bands are great for different reasons. Are we enjoying the music or betting on a horse race?
BTW White Lion is way better then Warrant.
Totally with you on White Lion. Rise again, little fighter.
The Smiths are retarded, Mr. Marr has Morrissey to blame for how much they suck. He's talented but Moz is a douche. The Cure are much better.
I was around at the time and I picked the Cure. And I still listen to the Cure now and then. Just the other day I was telling someone their music endures whereas a lot of music from that time sounds dated.
The Smiths? As soon as Morrissey comes on in any form I skip to the next song. Always hated their whiney ass vocals (music was decent, though). He always sounded like the bitchiest of drama queens. But, I suppose, if you like that sort of thing then The Smiths and Queen Morrissey will be your pick.
Loved them both in different ways. The Smiths for their catchy humour and The Cure for touching my heart and speaking to me as a troubled teenager. 25 years on and The Cure will always be the love of my musical life.
Amen!
Anyone who listens to the cure somehow manages to become "troubled". Personally, I don't think they ARE the "cure" for troubled people, I think they are the trouble instilled in to young, impressionable teen's minds.
Why the focus on Disintegration, is that when you discovered The Cure? That was their 8th album. By that time the Smiths had produced half the number of albums and already folded. Look back at the same period when the Smiths were active and The Cure put out some great albums. Both bands were good during that time and but the Cure put out more quality material (by volume) during those years.
Again, The Smiths did 4 studio albums without one bad track on it. The Cure did at least 12 rubbish ones
Wow, lots of strange feedback, as a huge fan of both bands, I must honestly say, I have never compared one to the other, i think their styles and music are so different, there is no place for comparison. For me it's like comparing Echo & the Bunneymen with Depeche, both great groups from the same era and very different.... and if you're lookig for gloominess, go back a little bit in time and listen the the founder, the great late, really and truly disturbed Ian Curtis of Joy Division. (please excuse my spelling errors)
Wow, can't believe this is even debatable. The Smiths output far exceeded what most Brits put out in the early-mid 80s and their music's endurance and stature through the years/ The Cure became a pop band and had some hits on both sides of the pond. The Smiths were the real deal and created music that spoke on another level. Frankly, Mr Shankly, this is not contest.
these are my two fav bands. But to say that the cure just is a pop band with just a few hits on both sides of the pond is ignorant. The Cure were massive in their hey-day with sold out shows at the Rose Bowl and Texas Stadium. They were still headling festivals like Coachella has early as a couple years ago. They've always been bigger in America than The Smiths.
Huh? On the strengths of one weak Top 40 hit? What fucking planet were you on?
lame criticism.
for one, you botched the Plain Song lyric. The song actually starts "I think it's dark and it looks like rain," you said.
both great
who made the most money. we are still doing sellout gigs .what morrow doing nothin
I love them both...but The Cure weighs more for me...Robert could write the most beautiful love songs while Morissey could write the most miserable songs...They are good in their own way! But The Smiths cannot take me into the most imaginable sorrowful place while The Cure does that to me...Pictures Of You is one great example that Robert's such a brilliant songwriter and Cemetery Gates is also one of the best Morissey-written songs... :)
The Smiths had a five year run. Not too bad. They made a mark ...and still continue to garner fans. The Cure continues to be relevant even in it's 34th year of making music. Yes the line-up has changed, and yes the music reinvents itself with each album, but that is what The Cure is all about. Rediscovery. I've listened to both bands for over 27 years, but have to hand it to The Cure. With each album release, they continue to innovate and push what they do best.
I like them both, but rarely listen to the Cure intentionally. I find myself singing along with Morrissey and the Smiths a lot more than Smith and the Cure. I also agree with previous comments that Morrissey is an asshole. I have met a few rockstars and I find that I liked them a lot better when I'd never met them. Ian McCulloch (Echo and the Bunneymen) wrote some lovely songs but when I met him in person, I was very disappointed. Morrissey wants your adoration but he does NOT want to know you. I LIKE the Cure just fine, but that's just it. When I listen to the Smiths though "like" is too small a word to describe how I feel about them.
My favourite The Cure album was Head On The Door ... the peerless Close to Me plus Inbetween Days and Six Different Ways. That said, the darker, less melodic stuff like Lullaby, A Forest and Primary also hold appeal.
The Cure are clearly better than the Smiths but Depeche Mode is better than both of them!
The Cure of course !
How are they even comparable? Really nerve, really? And sexually ambiguous? Robert Smith, perhaps, but Morrissey was (and is) definitely a proud (and not shy about it) VERY gay man. No confusion there. I have always loved both bands for different reasons. Why? Because they are SO different.
Also, Friday I'm in love was Robert Smith's shame. He did several interviews about it.
Re: Morrissey's sexuality--not true. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrissey#Sexuality
Re:Wikipedia. Selectively ALWAYS true. Right
I'm sorry, which of those ten-odd footnoted citations are you disputing? Do you have a link to an interview where Morrissey says, "Yes, contrary to decades of coyness towards both listeners and press, I actually AM gay and proud, and not shy about it, even though being shy about it is pretty much my whole thing?"
Everything you say after saying, "'Disintegration' is Cure classic", is not relevant since its actually their last good album and by far their best. How old are you?
I grew up with both these bands; they're both great, for different reasons. In a sense, it doesn't matter. Of the 2,000+ songs on my phone I only have complete albums from The Cure ("Disintegration"), The Smiths ("Rank"), and Tom Waits ("Heartattack And Vine"). All 3 are as close to perfect albums as possible. It's a pointless discussion. Just enjoy genius.
This has been done to death! New Order vs Depeche Mode would be much more interesting.
"the company of a greedy, self-aggrandizing smartass who thinks even his sadness is better than yours?"
I gotta admit, that's pretty clever. And you could only cone up with a conclusion like that if you had actually been listening to Morrissey. Well done article, bravo.
Shut up, you pathetic grovelling stinkhammer-sucking little dweeb.
you mean they aren't the same band?
so one guy settles the argument? they are both great and luckily they dont sound too similar
Smiths.
Good, good.
As a person who enjoys both bands but is not a hardcore fan of either, I believe they are not comparable at all! Both are good in their own way.
HOWEVER, one thing that struck me was how the first guy in this article said that The Cure sounds the same over and over again. WHAT?! Are you serious?! I can honestly say that I have rarely listened to a band that has such diversity. Compare both examples given here, Just Like Heaven and Plainsong ... two different worlds! Listen to Lovecats and the bass sounds really jazzy, for example. It takes balls to do this! This is maybe why some Cure songs may suck, because they have the guts to experiment.
Also, I used to work as a musician in weddings, and was surprised to see how many people made "The Cure" songs onto their first dance. Guess its closer to their hearts, as the second guy in this article said.
This article was written using examples of the least Cure-ish and least Smith-ish songs from both bands. The writers probably only own an album apiece and know songs they've heard on the radio. The artistic songs rarely have mass appeal; Disintegration is the album real Cure fans like the least.
Morrissey has always sounded like a pompous asshole when he sings. Robert Smith isn't the best lyricist. These bands served a purpose in the 80s by being 'the' alternative of the New Romantic bands. For me, they each conform to the popular saying: SSDS. Same shit different smell.
You're right there. Morrissey was a better lyricist and singer than Smith and Marr was a better songwriter and guitarist than Smith. Not much competition really
I love the Smiths, but there's more diversity to the Cure's music. Just go from Subway Song to The Holy Hour. The Caterpillar, to Prayers for Rain and finally to The 13th. All years apart but all different nonetheless.
Just like Baskin-Robbins! I'm so excited for you, Matt! Can I cup your testicles in my hands?
The Cure recorded (as Cult Hero) "I Dig You". The Smiths did not. Game, set and match for the Cure.
i was gonna say the smiths but then i heard "prayers for rain" and now automatically the cure win
Marc Spitz did a great piece comparing the two bands for a book called Rock and Roll Cage Match. He said comparing the two were like comparing James Dean and Marlon Brando. I agree with the logic, but I disagree with his siding with Dean/Smiths over Brando/Cure.
I just lurvvv Morrissey to bits and would not be the person I am today but for his sage lyrics. And viva! to his public persona - if it could only mean never having to endure another royal wedding!
this has always been an irrelevant argument...yeah they hate each other...but they hate a lot of other people that hated them back. they play two completely different styles of music...one actually plays instruments, the other is really just a lyricist with a flat voice...ok they both have odd voices...and neither of them have done anything great in 20 years(unless you count live dvd's) on that note, robert smith is my hero and i have moz tattooed on my left arm
Love the Cure Remixes ! Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me was one of the first 80 minute CD's
and it is a brilliant piece of Music composition ! The Smiths, well, I had second row seats to see them and then Morrisey called it quits 2 days before the concert ! I hated him after that,
but now I just don't care. Anyways, listen to "Hatful of Hollow", The Smiths european versions and see how great they were back then. They would've been the new Beatles if they didn't break up.
You really have to be an idiot to compare a band as big as The Cure with The Smiths. Both are huge, and I love them both, but the Smiths only did a handful of albums. Yes Morrissey's lyrics are great, and Johnny Marr is an incredible guitarist. But The Cure's output has gone through a million different phases. Simon Gallup is undoubtedly one of the most influential bass players ever. Their lyrics and harmonies are unbeatable... Come on.... What does this "beginner of a Cure critic" have to say about songs like LaMent, Piggy In The Mirror, One Hundred Years, Cold, Siamese Twins, Lullaby, Fascination Street, Open, High, Bare, Apart, Lovesong, The Dream, Fight, All I Want, The Snakepit, etc etc etc.... for Chris-sake!
I am ashamed of my output, and my psychological complexes, -but to hide it, I'll put the blame on others, starting with Robert Smith, then I'll carry on with Johnny, Andy and Mike.
If this was a real case in court, you did The Cure more good than bad.
Peter, sweetie, you don't know what you're talking about.. cause if you did, you would have chosen a different approach.
Robert Smith is Oh So talented artist and what you've stated up there, that's the charm of The Cure!.. and then some!
It appears Peter doesn't have the attention span to listen to the lengthy Cure numbers. And that's okay, not many people do!
He likes his music to be quick and to the point. The jangle pop of the Smiths suits his taste perfectly.
and who do ya think would win in a fight between batman and superman?!..... both are good, wtf does it matter.
i would have to choose Bauhaus and Joy Division....
Robert Smith is a poet. Morrissey is a comedian.
Smiths made more accessible music. The Cure made better music.
Fucking wankers.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
This is satire. There is no way this isn't satire. Oh my...
Is this real life? Please stick your head in an oven.
And The Cure is better, for what it's worth.
Robert Smith.... The Smiths?..How about just make a band called " The Robert Smiths Cure" Ft. Morrissey :P
You couldn't pay me to iognre these posts!
I love this bands both so much, I think it's unfair to compare them
The smiths are great cause they're real, who can't compare to that emotion
The Cure, however, you need to be in a certain emotion, and they are better than anything, Robert Smith creates his own world, and it just so happens to be relatable to others when everyone in awhile.
Morrisey and Marr, were extremely impact-full for only doing 3 (you could argue you "4") albums, and I love so many of their lines, but the cure is also real in every song, And they do actually have better albums, where as the smiths were more of a singles band. If you're in a certain mood play X cure album and you'll love it, The smiths throw anything on and it's incredible.
The Cure for me, they are more diverse...
As a huge fan of both bands i must vote for The Smiths, why? I could go on forever.
Never had anything against The Cure or the clumpy mascara doning boys and girls who loved them in highschool, but Frankly Mr. Shankley, I just get The Smiths and that big 'ol ego of Morrisey's just a little bit more. Great dueling banjo read you guys...
This has been a topic of discussion between me and a friend for a while now, I didn't even know the debate was raging elsewhere. I've always fully backed The Smiths and she's always fully backed The Cure. In my opinion alternative rock is almost as much about just being plain cool as how good the music is. The Smiths are so much cooler than The Cure, they have a better singer with a really distinctive voice, that's cool; they have an amazing guitarist, that's cool; they were only around for five years and released four amazing albums, that's cool. Aside from that, I think the music is more emotive, says way more in so many different ways that any Cure song ever did, the vocals and guitar and every other sound they created is just spot on. I feel the same as the guy who wrote the first part of the article, Ireally like some of The Cure's songs but i've never been able to love the band as much as I'd like. A different friend once said to me "you're just not listening to very Cure-like songs", and she gave me a list of what she considered to be better Cure songs. I didn't really like them. I'm pretty certain I'll never change my mind on this one.
Music is not about being cool, narcissistic egomania is (and it makes you earn some extra money too).
Lullaby rules, I could listen to its intro over & over, without bothering with the rest of the song (which, needless to say, is a delight).
For me 'Disintegration' is the most beautiful album ever made..i havent listened that long to The Smiths but so far i think they are pretty good..but doesnt come close to The Cure...just my opinion
I never much liked The Smiths to be honest. I'm not going to dish on them though. It's all about whatever works for you, whatever makes you feel more keenly or breathe more deeply than you would have otherwise. If that's the Smiths, that's fine. But for me...
The Cure, The Cure, The Cure.
I listen to all sorts of music from underground 80s to extreme metal to ambient. Music has changed my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today, have the outlook on life or the values that I do now without music. And The Cure started all of that for me. Not only did they lead me to other great bands and forms of music, they showed me what music is truly about. They showed me that music is more than pretty background noise or glorified elevator music. They're the most important band in my life. ALL of their albums are to me at worst, great music, and at best, utterly life-changing.
The Smiths were musically mediocre at best and Moz is a witless Oscar Wilde wannabe. At least The Cure innovated. At the end of the day though, The Fall > both
Fuck the author. He doesn't know the Cure. His favourite songs ? "friday I'm in love"... This is stupid. Listen to "All cats are grey" and you'll understand why the Smiths are just another pop band and why The Cure are Artists. A question of depth...
I think this is the stupidest article I've ever read.
The comparison is presented so superficially I can't even take it seriously. Criticizing a post-PUNK song because it's repetitive... Damn, 90% of bloody rock'n'roll is repetitive, it's about riffs and hooks, verse/chorus/verse. Plainsong is good because of its atmosphere and sound layers, if you want some variety go listen to prog rock. And, wait a minute... I'm not even a fan of The Cure! But this article is just too stupid for me to shut up.
Moreover, why bringing up Lester Bangs? For chrissake, he was dead two years before the Smiths published their first album, leave the man alone! And he probably would have hated Morrissey's pretentiousness and fake melodrama anyway.
Obviously The Smiths! They win hands down! The Cure are a Miserable Lie :D
This was not a good article. Neither of these guys are real fans of either band. They're unqualified.
I LOVE both of these bands. I was raised on The Smiths. When I was 3 my favorite song was "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" (more for the fun beat than the lyrics, which I couldn't understand at that age). When I was 12, my first CD purchase was The Cure's "Faith"...I'm 26 now but I'm still a bigger fan than either of you.
You guys should have me write an article: Why Your Stupid Band Rivalries Mean Nothing To New Fans And Will Mean Nothing In The Long Run.
(Speaking of dumb articles, Nerve could have asked me whether or not Madonna was relevant back when she kissed Britney Spears, and I could have saved you all some time...)
Wow... you managed to combine everything terrible about internet commenters into two comments. Insulting the website, insulting the writers, using all caps to get a point across, pointlessly big-upping yourself without any actual credentials -- well done, Charlotte, well done.
This started off well enough, but all the second page did was demonstrate that the writer hasn't understood The Smiths, and certainly hasn't understood Morrissey.
Apart from Johnny Marr being their guitarist, The Smiths are nothing more than a slack jawed self-righteous man holding flowers in my opinion. I think the reason the Cure have appealed to me so much in the past is because they have changed SO MUCH in the 80s... You really can't say that they sounded like anyone else during that time. Granted I believe that depending on the person's music taste is when you will get a different comment. I like the cocteau twins, slowdive, jesus and mary chain, my bloody valentine, etc... So of course the Cure are going to interest me more because of the six string bass, fascination street-esque sound. And shame on you, whoever wrote this article, for picking plainsong by the Cure. Of course you can hate on that song, especially when you compare it to a song that starts right from the beginning hard; there are plenty of cure songs that start just like that Smiths song. Plainsong is like an opener to the album ya know? I never really look at it like it's own entity, I use it as a setup for the rest of the album. I understand why you chose it though... It really is the one song you can actually use to make the Smiths look better.
And yes, I too believe Friday I'm in Love was a bit alsdkjfaklsjdf too...