Seventeen Seconds

How long did I need to give this one a review?

I had high expectations that, sadly, were not met

3.5 - I wanted to give it 4 stars so badly but it’s mood music. But very, very good mood music. Very relaxing. Recommend before bed.

Best Track - "A Forest"

Enjoyed it but not very dynamic

Ça m'a donné l'impression d'un band fatigué qui rentre en studio avec rien de prêt. Et c'était quand même bon.

This had alright vibes. It was fine to have playing in the background, but nothing really stood out.

3/5 I’m sure for the time it was unique and impressive but I’ve heard too much of gothic rock done way better so it was kinda underwhelming for me.

The Cure always has moments in songs that seem like they are just learning their instruments. Intrepid yet timid. Always been a fan. Not my favorite album, but the melancholy is sweet.

👍

Solid album.

Nice haunting music but definitely prefer their later stuff

Trend setter band, but not my cup of tea.

It’d be a 3 1/2 typical 80s nothing really special

doesn’t stand out at all for them but not bad

Interesting album, solid music. 5.1/10

Eh. Not for me for every day listening. Good for Halloween party back ground music

Some moody jangle pop, interesting early example of a drum machine on the last track. I heard elements of this in "Disintegration" which is cool how far they've come. (3-3.5)

I've never listened to this album (58). Pretty forgettable for me, but I guess it was influential.

Better than some of the other rubbish albums on this list

Synes egentlig disse er helt ålreite, men savner litt vokal.

A smoother sound then a lot of their contemporaries. But nothing on this album really stood out for me.

It was OK.

An ok cure album - A forest came on my algorithm last week and I loved the intro. Got kinda meh with the singing. Repetitive musically in the last couple tracks. 3* Highlights: a forest

Interesting album, halfway between the popiness and darkness of some of The Cure's other albums, but never quite reaching the heights of either on a first listen. Could be a grower for sure.

Great album to start listening to darker rock. A must-have.

Not much stood out to me here.

I've listened to this album multiple times, hoping that at some point it might catch my attention. I like The Cure, and I can tell this album is special for its experimentation and punk style. I just can't get into it, it doesn't draw me in.

I like a lot of The Cure's songs, and spent a lot of time last year listening to Songs Of A Lost World. This early album had a far sparser feel to it. The instrumentals A Reflection and The Final Sound set an unsettling tone that carries on in songs like Secrets and At Night. Stand out track is A Forest. The Cure went on to bigger things and I prefer that more expansive sound, but this was decent work.

This one makes me very curious the criteria used to make the list. Here we have a band with a bunch of incredible albums, and today we are offered on of their very mediocre titles. Why? Maybe The Cure have several on the list, and it will all make sense in the end. I admit, it sounded pretty good on headphones.

Was strangely hesitant to review this. Needed to listen to it about 8 times to make up my mind. After all that, decided it’s a good ol’ three (3) star

This album is more of a mood than songs I would listen to on their own. A Forest is a classic and I think Play for Today and Seventeen Seconds are both very strong on their own though. 7/10

Not the greatest Cure album but definitely an important one. There are some great tunes on here, the pre-cursors to some of the best albums of the 80s.

Minimalist. It's not for everyone

Ummmm, not my favourite- I have liked lots of their back catalogue over the years, but this album is….

I was kinda locked into something else and this just faded into background ambience.

Not the album I would have picked but I’m sure Distintegration or Head On the Door will appear on this list before I’m done.

I assume there will be other Cure albums, but this one felt kinda filler-y to me.

Is the list trying to bum me out on a Friday morning, or subliminally suggesting I should stop and buy red lipstick on my way home?

Good

I love half of this and loath the other half. When there are actual songs with lyrics and music im so down. But then there are these droning ambient peices that make my eyes glaze over. I just cant get into things like that. I need the structure of verse chorus verse bridge chorus ect. And when its just long notes for 10 minutes I cant stay focused on it. But the songs I like are really damn good. I saved like 5 of them suckers. But you couldnt pay me to listen to the other parts. Its interesting to see where the cure in its infancy but other records are much better. Some songs are worth it though.

It was okay. I oddly like the new Cure album more.

Well made and mixed for the most part. Never really listened to the Cure but it's like David Bowie's little brother was like hey I can do this too

Yawn. A few good tracks

huh so a second album by The Cure this week… I heard Pornography for the first time this week and loved it! However this one seems a bit under cooked to me but it is interesting how they progressed from this to the aforementioned album. This album still has a very uniquely melancholy sound to it though and the sparse and dry production reveals the starkness of the songs as well as the distinct voice of Robert Smith. A good album and perhaps I’ll learn to love it more upon further spins but for now I would say that I only need one Cure album on this list and that would be Pornography.

IT was OK. Not amazing, but OK.

First (actual) song is cool but the rest of the album is a little too one-note for me. I get what the Cure is going for but it just felt the same by the end. At least it was short.

It might just be the mix that I'm listening to but I couldn't hear any singing for the first like five tracks, so much so that I thought the cord connecting my phone to the car was broken. haha. So I'm gonna call this one a mulligan.

Liked it but nothing grabbed me like other the cure albums ive had.

bom

album starts very mid. kind of evolves into something a bit more what I was expecting from the cure by the second half and honestly saved it from a 1-2 score.

Quite liked most of the tracks, but the singer's voice almost ruins the majority of them for me.

Not their best work but the cure is alwsys worth listening yo.

Why didn't I know The Cure sounded SO new wave-y?

Nothing that really stood out, but a decent album. 3 stars or C+.

I listened to this album multiple times and I don't think any particular song jumped out at me on any particular listen, but, idk, it was pleasant to have on while working?

I like how cohesive this album seemed. The sound from top to bottom had movement and felt like it knew where it was going. This seems fairly typical of sophomore albums, but I think this one was pretty good. Maybe more of a 3.5 in reality.

It's The Cure! This album is fine, it has some strong tracks and a lot of tracks that sort of slid off my brain. Not gonna be sorry if any of these show up in a Cure shuffle, but wouldn't seek them out either. The cover is also a bit forgettable but well composed, it's a 3/5 as well.

I can see why it’s here. Feels like the 80s, but also hints of at least what’s modern. Didn’t enjoy it too much though.

i wish i liked it more. there are some cool moments on here that i could see myself really getting into over time. there are also lots of moments of dissonance that i don't think works well for me and that is not very fun to listen to. very subdued and dour album and i can see why people enjoy listening to it, but i think it's not really for me.

I assume it is spotify, but this album sounds terrible in a way I don't think its supposed to. Flat and muddy mix. I'll have to seek out a better source. Much better Cure out there. 3 Heard before? Some Owned: No 20/1001, 20/80 (25%) Will I get? No

This is fine; like a warmup or cooldown for Disintegration which is a genuinely good album.

It is much more experimental than other Cure albums. I liked it enough but don’t love it

Bra cure-action av vibes, men når inte hela vägen som musik.

Chillbra.

Rock gotic, muzica new wave. Excelent de fundal

Good, they have better

Wow. No nie en richtige Touchpoint gha mit «The Cure» usserd «Boys don't cry». So viel Instrumentals und biz weird production choices uf «The Final Sound» wo aber so d halbziit vom album signalisiert – like that. Sehr ziitlos, hetti überall ide letschte 30-40 johr chöne usecho. Ghörsh halt de Influence uf 2010s Indie Pop-Rock so krass use.

The cure are wonderful and sad and sprawling and epic. I do tend towards the sweet relief of their slightly poppier, happier stuff, but no one can deny its quality.

The more I listened to it the more I liked it. Added to library: Secrets In Your House Three A Forest M At Night

Didn't hate it, didn't love it

I enjoyed the album, but the cure was never quite the top of my list of bands. I'm not sure I get all the raving about it but I definitely don't mind them, just nothing that stands out to me, and this album is much the same.

I really enjoy the moody, dark music The Cure creates. I just really dislike the whiney voice of the lead vocal. I never could listen to them for very long, although their music is right up my alley. Now I discovered that they have a number of instrumental tracks, which I really enjoy. But I don't want to listen to their whole albums. 3/5

Sparse arrangements. Tight, competent, playing. It's an album that's marred by irritating and unnecessary audio tricks. The 'dustbin lid banging' effect on 'Play for Today' that shifts from the left channel to the right and back again through much of the song is an example. Perhaps those are more apparent when listening on headphones. 3/5 but a low 3. Not offensive but I wouldn't choose to listen to it again.

A decent effort, but their best albums are definitely still to come. If Disintegration doesn't make the 1001 albums list, I want no part in it.

6/10

Not sure im fully on board with the Cure

Not a big fan of The Cure. The Forest reminds me of driving round in my friends car 'Snowball' back in the day, so enjoyed that one!

Gostei. Acho que não conhecia nenhuma das músicas. Tem umas qie parece Legião (na verdade Legião que parece eles). Tiago: não é o melhor do The Cure, mas valeu a experiência.

Very solid. Nothing too memorable, but definitely finding their sound.

It was alright. Kinda chill & spacious sounding. Not as stand out as their other work.

A Forest is just a bop, I had it on a greatest hits album when I was a teenager so I'll always enjoy that. It doesn't really have too many other standout tracks on there but as a whole album it is ok. Maybe that is the issue I'm having in some of these albums, that I had the greatest hits spanning multiple decades and so I don't maybe have the patience to actively listen to the full albums. I will listen a few more times but I am ambivalent about the rating.

Estuvo bonito como música de fondo (creo)

It was nice however it hardly ever caught my attention

Not one of their best, but still a classic.

I really like The Cure from Faith and Pornography onwards. Seventeen Seconds is a bit bland, missing all the later tragedy, lamentation, darkness and despair and although this may have sounded like the band being on the edge, these feelings are so hard and moving.

Why this cure album? I’m early in this process so I’m assuming there are others but always felt this was on the weaker end of their 80s output.

I like Smith's voice and I find it impressive that this album doesn't sound dated, the way many other ~1980'ish albums do. But the songs themselves are just OK.

For a 35 minute album, the songs really do drag on a bit. And I'm saying this as a Bowie fan who loves Loving the Alien, Modern Love and the full length version of Ashes to Ashes.

This album is the first step in transmogrifying the jumpy new wave punk-y music of the band's debut, into the gloomy goth rock to come. There is nothing here that reaches the heights of the back half of the 1980s, but it strikes a mood. Some songs feel just out of reach, like when you can't quite grab something in a dream. Lyrics evoke people in their room at night, in a dark forest, whispering, telling secrets. Classic Robert Smith stuff!

Interesting album. Never listened to The Cure outside of some hits (Friday, I'm in Love), and what an interesting contrast. This album is very minimalist and dark. Not a whole lot of singing and the tracks are so eerie. A couple of tracks with lyrics that had to have been singles, but they really stand out in an album of creepy dark ominous tones. I respect it as it's pretty unique, but it's a bit difficult to casually listen to outside of the singles.

I do like how this album sounds. It's hard for me to listen to The Cure, because I wasn't exposed to, nor did I "venture out" to, this style of music until nearly 25 years old. So I know of The Cure, but I know nothing about them other than a perception of their sound based on other people who listen to them, or other bands who count them as inspiration. I won't say I love this style of music, by any means. This album does however meet my expectation of what a Cure album sounds like. But that's also hard to escape... so I enjoy it but it doesn't excite me or really entice any sonic sensibilities of mine. A perfect 2.5, so I'll go with 3 because I think I should like them.

I really like The Cure, but I did not know any songs on this album. I did not think any of the songs were particularly good. I like Robert Smith’s voice though.

No private session used for Spotify. I don't know if I ever sat through a The Cure album though I like a lot of their songs. This album doesn't have a lot of the songs that got played, and hey still get played(and deservedly so), but its still good.

I'm not sure what to say about this album. It's very slow and sad sounding, but it doesn't really feel like a drag. It's good but I probably won't listen to it again.

This is a great album with a nice groove throughout. Moody but not as moody as I thought it would be. That might be because i wasnt quite paying attention to the lyrics. Overall I enjoyed it. 3.5

Yeh was ok. The cure are better than this album but its an early one so I assume it made a big impact when it came out hence why its in the list. A Forest is excellent

Sort of what I expected from similar albums in the era. Non offensive. Pretty chill. I thought the second half of the album was stronger, but nothing really stood out as a strong wow moment for me.

The atmosphere of this album was great, and it drew me in immediately with the opening track. Unfortunately the vocals felt very drowned out and quiet, and I thought the middle of the album wasn’t as good as the strong finish.

3.4/5 dark spacey stuff some good riffs mostly repetitive songs

Yoyoyoy Straight outa holiday. Neduzen wiedermal baaack. Das album bim autocruise chöne inedue, schönsti strecki über küstefelse wowzers. The cure eher schüch und moderat inecho, chli wenig pfupf. Aso nur 3 felsformatione vum lil felso

Pretty wild how lofi yet synth this is

Definitely a very melancholy album. Not his most popular one, but worth a listen.

ok, very much sounds of the time it came from

Pretty ok. They have a couple albums i like a lot better

Imagine if The Cure actually released an album that only went for seventeen seconds… This album was okay, but a bit depressing and samey at times. The Cure have done much better.

My second The Cure album on this list and way better than the other one. 'A Forest' is an amazing song. Still dont love The Cure though.

Never been ‘dark’ enough to listen at length to Goth music, whether the cure claim to be goth or not this album sure quacks like the proverbial duck, but that said this wasn’t half bad. They do nail that atmosphere and find myself getting darker by the minute with an urge to find an all black wardrobe and go heavy on the eyeliner. This is good, not my thing but a good listen and kind of get why they have a dedicated following. 3 Star

“Three” cooks but the rest was bland

Fine.

Half of the album sounded quite uninspired and boring, like an interlude. But there were also some nice songs on it, which i liked.

I liked this more than I thought I would. I'm not super familiar with The Cure outside of their hits and this moody, minimalist album kinda hooked me and made me want to explore their other music from the late 70's early 80's.

When someone says “The Cure” the song “A Forest” is exactly what pops in my head. Now I can say I’ve actually listened to the full album. Dark, spooky, and moody. A perfect October album…even though it’s not October yet.

Certainly occurred.

Un peu gloomy/doomer à mon goût, et rien qui stand out énormément. Pas directement dérangeant, mais pas wow non plus. Du son dans mes oreilles.

Not for me, but not bad.

Eka The Curen levy, joka tuli kuunneltua alusta loppuun. Ei sykäyttänyt, mutta oli ihan hyvä. 2,75/5.

Very enjoyable. The Forest is a total classic. Rest a bit smart but very enjoyable.

Just an average Cure album, nothing to write home about

First time listening to The Cure and they definitely have a certain vibe going. Not sure if they caught me in the right mood but I dug it.

2.5

3.5 rounded down, enjoyed it but not a standout

This was a good album. Not my favorite The Cure album. But will maybe listen to it again. 7/10

Overall, I don’t dislike this album, but nothing on it is particularly memorable. The production is sharp and clean, and it establishes a strong atmosphere, yet none of the songs stick. It’s a fine listen, just not a standout.

Better than Coldplay

I wanted to like this, but it's just OK. I do like the hints that remind me of Boys Don't Cry. Mostly it is too morose and boring though. 2.75/5

thoughts: i can definitely see this as a record that set the table for what was to come for the cure. the soundscapes are good enough, robert smith is putting in the work, but they had a lot better yet to come (even when it comes to this style of music and not the “more accessible” stuff) songs: “play for today”, “a forest”, “at night” rating: 6.7/10

At the start I thought it was a simplistic album, but I ended up liking the instrumentals and the overall vibe and atmosphere of it.

This album makes me feel like a 19 year old on halloween night who is getting ready to go out to the bars and club. I really liked the opening song "A Reflection", it felt like an introduction for what was to come. I already had "A Forest" liked but I really enjoyed At Night.

Lesser known early cure, synth, modern, red hot chilli peppers

Atmospheric but didn’t completely grab me.

Gotta think there's a little bit too much of The Cure on this list, if we're being honest. It's not bad...prefer this to "Disintegration" or "Pornography" - only reason I'm rounding this 2.5 up.

This is barely even the remedy, let alone the Cure.

classic cure, not completely up my street but not bad

This is definitely a moody Cure I don't normally listen to.

Surprised to find I didn't know any of the songs on this album, as I am familiar with my fair share of songs by The Cure

2 evtl 3

I'm pretty sure I've never heard this album. It sounds about how you would expect an early Cure album to sound. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could but it's closer to 3 than to 2.

Overall I found the album underwhelming for The Cure, though it did close on a strong note.

Verkligen inte mitt favoritalbum av the Cure. Gillar ju deras lite poppigares grejer och det var mycket med ambiance och svårlyssnat imo. Förstår att det kan anses som viktigt i deras historia men lite meh rent lyssningsmässigt för mig.

alright maybe i need a few more listens of this fav: in your house, the final sound (lol), a forest, at night 3.5/5

it was all very similar sounding but it was an enjoyable listen

This album did a great job achieving what it set out to do: offer up a dreary, gloomy soundscape to wash over the listener. The music was good, several tracks stood out.

Heard it before. A Forest is my favourite Cure song, it just literally feels like running through a forest 3/5

boring emo rock

Can definitely see the influence this album has on the rest of the 80s. The more upbeat songs stand out - Play for Today is particularly a favorite. Solid but not my cup of tea.

I wanted to love this album, because it’s The Cure, and I love The Cure. But this wasn’t anywhere near the top of the game and I’m puzzled why it’s included in this list. Unless every other album is on here too.

Compared to the later Pornography, which is the only other album I have heard, this one doesn't really hold up.

Gutes Album, aber ich wüsste nicht, wann ich es hören würde. 3 Sterne nur, weil ich nicht alles so gut bewerten darf.

The Cure has its moments. I don't think any of those moments are on this album. This was a rather meloncholy slog of a album. Kinda boring, but also, not objectionable. It's a mood, for sure.

not my favourite cure album but i always enjoy the dark moods of their earlier albums definitely got some good songs and great guitar sounds

Interesting choice from The Cure for this list. Seventeen Seconds isn't my favorite album by The Cure mainly because it's mostly instrumental. There are some stand out songs, but this is far from how good The Cure is or what they became. Yes, it's one of their earliest works, but it does not represent the band as they became, and that's why I find it odd why it's chosen for this list as opposed to an absolute MUST HEAR Cure album which would be Disintegration. 3.2 / 5 stars. Stand out songs: Play For Today A Forest M Seventeen Seconds

A surprisingly good album. Not what I expected but I’ll be going back to this one I’m sure. A good album to have on while working - not too distracting. 3.5 rounded down to 3 for now.

не золотой альбом, но наклевки уже есть

3/5

Some good tunes. A bit too atmospheric for me - 3

Helt ok.

3.5

Nothing to exciting about this cure album. No surprises or catchy tracks

A dark and moody album, although not their best record, but A Forest is an incredible.

A few good tunes but I still think Boys Don’t Cry is my favorite

Oh hey it’s the album with a forest on it and some other songs

I unfortunately don't think I like Robert Smith's voice. I do like the melodies

Seventeen seconds lie somewhere between the punkish debut and the darker Cure records that were still yet to come. It lacks the charm of the punkish debut and doesn't yet have the grandiose of the later years. Bit monotone album, but still quite enjoyable. And A Forest of course is a classic!

Earlyer during this 1001 project I was stoked about Disintegration. Based on that I had really high hopes. Seventeen seconds doesnt raise to same hights as Disintegration, not even close.

3/5

Very chill album, mostly instrumental moody music.

This sounds like a first draft--Robert and his mates noodling around, laying down instrumental tracks with very quiet vocals because they hadn't really written the songs yet. (I listened on two different speakers to be sure I wasn't missing the vocals.) But nice to have on in the background.

07.23.2025

I'm really digging this, listening to it late(r) at night I guess so it's a pretty mellow way to spend the night.

Good but not great. Surprised by how much instrumental music is on this album.

Never been quite able to get into the cure Cant find enough in their songs to really latch onto - maybe it will click in the future. This album didnt really change my perception

Not my favorite album…it’s less whimsical than others.

sigue sin fascinarme the cure. los veo tal vez bastante primitivos. no entro

I've liked other albums from The Cure, but this one just seemed pretty meh. Nothing really exciting or interesting going on here to me. Not a bad listen, just nothing jumped out. 3/5

A disappointment.

Very minimalistic and haunting. I like the vibe and did enjoy it but it's a bit too sparse for me. Of the two albums I've heard of theirs, Disintegration was clearly better.

I do love The Cure, especially the later 80s and 90s albums. I'd never heard this one before from 1980, overall a pretty decent mood and some experimental sounds going on that I enjoyed. I think a 3.

Mid. Seriously no real notes on this.

Cure is great

I really dig the sound, but no standout songs

OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS SONG. It’s so Severance-y. Like I swear this song played in an episode haha. The second song is good but wtf is that shitty video game punch sound effect 😂three is spooky and has kind of random loops and sound effects. Motorcycle / helicopter wings ah outro 😅 why is the final sound so short. I saw that the forest had tons of listens compared to the rest of the songs. I think it’s the epic of the album. But I thought it was meh. The last song was good. The title track.

pretty good, easy to listen to.

7/10 very goth

# Album Name: Seventeen Seconds # Artist: The Cure # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Wow, when this popped up i was pumped. I enjoy the cure singles so was looking forward to another album. Honestly, i found this completely underwhelming. Very average at best. Maybe its a grower. I dont know. But on a first listen it did not hit at all. # Top Tunes: A forest. # Would I listen to it again? Hmmmmmm. Maybe another try. But i wont be rushing back.

I would say there is too much Cure on this list, but to be fair this is the best yet.

Made me like The Cure even more...

Really nice but kinda blended into the background.

It was alright, instrumental and nice

I had heard of this band, but was really unfamiliar with them. The album surprised me, as I really kind of liked it. I just can’t see myself listening to it a lot though, because it is a bit glum. Another 3 star rating from me.

Haha that was way longer than seventeen seconds. Nice and ambient, not really my thing tho

There wasn't really a standout song anywhere in this album. 'A Forest' was not that good at all considering the Cure's other work. This was pretty much goth for the sake of goth, and there wasn't a whole lot of creativity behind it. It was pretty formulaic and quite boring.

Not for me

It’s a 3 from me. Relatively enjoyable but not their best

I like the Cure

Not bad. high 3/5

I like The Cure's sound, but this is not exiciting.

Meh. Not my cup of tea tbh

I’ve come around to goth rock and the production on this is pretty interesting but this album was quite boring overall.

I am a fan of the Cure and you can hear the sound they will further develop. Play for Today and A Forest stand out for me. Overall it is good. They are an amazing band, pioneers of new wave/progressive. Incredible that they (Robert Smith at least) released a new album just last year.

Alright. Has some decent tracks for not my genre.

Forglemmelig og greit.

Jaja, eindelijk ff wat lekkere normale rustige muziek vandaag. Moet wel eerlijk zeggen, tot nu toe is het vooral prima achtergrond muziek, maar springt het er ook niet echt uit oid. A forest wel lekker bekend nummertje. Moet eerlijk zeggen, aandacht daarna wat verloren. Zoals gezegd, prima muziek, kan je lekker mee chillen, maar niet dat ik denk wow. Gwn 3 reten.

Glimpses of greatness to come, but not quite there yet.

Listens: 3 Standout tracks: The Final Sound --> The Forest The first time I heard The Final Sound end, I thought my Bluetooth connection got corrupted, it just... ended, and immediately transitioned into The Forest. The Forest is pretty sweet; makes sense that it became a single for the album. My first impressions/gut reaction with the album in general were "meh", and I was glad it was only 35 minutes long. By the end of the album, though, I was pretty satisfied with what I had listened to. The second go around I listened to the deluxe version that had been remastered and had some demos and live tracks, making the album 3x as long; I had a better appreciation for the album after the second listen. It still sounds a little too new wave for my taste, but I don't hate or dislike it like my usual dislike the genre. 3

Felt like an experimental jaunt from their usual sound, before then retreating back to their classic tracks. A Forest, M, and Play for Today were all great. Some other tracks fell a bit hollow and ethereal for my tastes. Still delivers on the expected style of The Cure. Unofficial rating: 3.5 / 5

More variation in drums/bass than the previous one I listened to (Pornography).

Não é a melhor produção da banda, mas é audível!

very much mood music. enjoyed it overall. no single song really stood out, all blended together, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. interested to try another listen.

Ganska repetitiva biisin, int helt min grej men helt okej. Säkert bättre med fler lyssningar

Some great songs but not my favourite Cure

This sounds like the essence of The Cure in its most distilled form: that guitar sound, the bass, Robert Smith's voice, and nothing else.

It's the Cure. I can't get over the singer's singing style. It's all very whiny. I enjoy the music, though

Play for Today A Forest

Nothing really stood out to me on this album. Was it bad? No, but it all kind of sounded the same.

I've listened to this album before and I just cannot get over how dull the last few tracks are. A Forest is a banger though.

3/5 The good songs were good, the rest was background music.

Lassú, sötét, de nem nagyon rossz

Won’t be in my top 100 but I enjoyed it

I liked the atmosphere and feel of the album, but I felt the songs fell short. They didn’t sound complete and I wanted more from all of them.

Muss ehrlich zugeben, habe bei Youtube auf Play gedrückt für das Album und dann nicht drauf geachtet wann es zu Ende ist. Ist das n Gutes oder n Schlechtes zeichen? Ich vergebe mal 3 Sterne und denke über mein Leben nach

Hab irgendwie mehr von the cure erwartet

I get that this album may have been influential or had a new sound at the time, but I think there are better The Cure albums to put on this list.

The aggregator's affinity with early works is beginning to come off as that of an SNL parody of a music snob. Focusing on what put them on the map takes away from the ultimate destination of a best-in-a-generation band, and may even dissuade new listeners. This album has a couple great tunes that will surely tickle the melancholy bone of the emo dweebs, but it pales in comparison to subsequent records, and now I have to give 3 stars to a 5-star band.

Not a fan of Gothic rock but it still is decent.

Fun

liked songs: Play For Today, Secrets, M, I like the overall sound a lot, but not all of the songs really stand out as that good. 2.75

BRO THE OPENER IS A PEAK INSTRUMENTAL. mad respect. “three” was also really good. another instrumental-focused track. and “the final sound” right after that. everything else was good but not memorable. i couldn’t help but think of “friday i’m in love” (also by the cure) and that kinda ruined the vibe of the album BUT that is not their fault. 3/5.

3.4

Too short.

It was ok, I like the mid career Cure music where it is more complex and moody.

ganz oke

i do like their new wave approach to punk, it makes me quite enjoy the listening experience for a genre i don't typically enjoy as much !

Not really what I expected from a cure album. Some decent tunes and some filler

346/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Moody and immaculately arranged, the work of The Cure establishing their signature sound. It's a sturdy sophomore effort from a band onto bigger things. "A Forest" is a gripping piece of work. Overall it didn't compel me quite like, say, 'Disintegration' did, so I'll rate accordingly.

New Wave, 1980 -> 3

Enjoyed this Album. Love the song "A forest" 3/5

It was just like boring idk

I just ain't a goth

Fat man sings sad, ambient songs wow, so touching, the 80’s had such good bands!!!!!

Some great songs, though kind of monotone and tedious

3.7

I didn’t really want to like The Cure, it feels like the sort of music middle-aged English mums like, which may be completely off-base but that just reflects my “I’ve heard of them enough to know their status, but not enough to know their music” position before coming into this. I followed The Prodigy’s The Fat Of The Land with this on a long road trip through rural country roads to my mother’s house. Quite the change in tone, but I liked it. Chucked a few songs in my likes, enjoyed the vibes despite my desire not to. Good basslines, decent lyrics, each song felt unique enough to differentiate the album rather than it being a blur of sound.

The Cure are originators of a trove of great post-punk, goth, dirge, dance and even pop songs that are foundational to an entire generation. Yet outside of the classic “A Forest” and maybe “M,” you’d be hard-pressed to find any on this early, brooding Cure album. It gets off to a slow start, a thought I had while listening to the third song “Secrets” and then a few songs later on the funereal “The Final Sound,” before getting a lift for, well, most of the second side until the depressing title track. It’s not a bad album, per se, but it’s an odd choice for an intro to The Cure, all sparse, minimalist beats, abstractions and repetitive melodies. I’m sure there will be more Cure on this list.

There's a sort of, idk, "sparseness" to the sound here. I suppose it might be haunting, but I feel like this is just missing something.

Imma call bullshit that the 3 Cure lps in the list are this, disintegration and pornography. Head on the door, boys don't cry or the singles collection, staring at the sea, could have replaced this or pornography. Don't get me wrong , I like this record fine, but if you have multiple decades of cure lps to choose this is not where I'd have gone.

kinda underwhelming for a cure album

Ok

3/5

Really good!

Not my fav cure album, but did like The Forest.

Yeahhhhh 8) This is a very cool album in my opinion with the first tastes of The Cure's pioneering and totally unique atmospheric gothy sound outside of their sorta new wave or post-punk stuff. I really like both sides, but I'd argue it's the atmospheric gothy stuff that makes The Cure The Cure. That being said, I think this album is kind of a first sketch and isn't fully realized. The first half, especially, is kinda weak imo. "A Forest" is obviously the major single from this album and it probably wouldn't be on this list if not for that song. It is a great track. I think the rest of the record after "A Forest" feels a bit stronger, as well. Another 3.5 stars if I could. I enjoy this album but when I am in the mood for The Cure, this is not one of the albums I reach for.

The Cure is undoubtedly one of my favourite bands: catchy; startling; melodic; expressive; simple, but profound; despairing, but a lot of fun. Although I don't like ranking or scoring things, they are likely a top-five act or five-star or whatever measure is best to use. The big paradox of the Cure for me is that, while they are a five-star band, they have no five-star albums - no, not even Disintegration. The impressive whole of the band's career is stronger than album part of that career and, in turn, many of the songs are stronger on their own than the album collection. But, then, they put together a setlist for a concert or compile a Best Of and it is a five-star experience lasting three hours at lease. What makes them work as this macro-level is the other paradox of the Cure: they are varied while being constant. The riposte to the Cure's image as doomy mopers is the string of pop hits and the stylistic variety of albums like The Head on the Door and Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss. But that variety is only the case half the time. For the rest of the time, the albums are consistent in tone and mood. They are either variable in their variety or inconsistent with their constancy. Seventeen Seconds is one of the constant, coherent records, honing in on a single icy vibe. The follow-up, Faith, will go further and Disintegration will go wider, but Seventeen Seconds is charmingly spare and surprisingly hooky for such dour raincoat record. The clean guitar tone is oddly humane, despite its mechanised chugging, and Simon Gallup's bass - never as showy as many of his contemporaries - sounds great. Lol, the worst drummer - nay the worst member - the Cure ever had, somehow makes his struggle to keep simple time absolutely compelling. Although the record does miss some of the sprawling jam band energy that will mark later albums and live performances. Over the years, I will get frustrated by Robert Smith's tendency to vamp on a semi-tonal shift - he overdoes it on Three here. As you focus down from the macro-greatness of the band to the micro-level, you find the flaws and impurities. I don't know if the Cure's coherent, single-minded records are better than the hot mess variety shows. Perhaps my problem is the fact that the first Cure album I listened to a fell in love with is the live Show, which manages to wrangle a wide range of dour and delightful songs into a cogent set-list - the different songs sound of a piece when played by that line-up with that sound. You can see how the flinty Play For Today has became the singalong set piece of every Cure gig - that is the place where the entirety of the Cure and the potential of every song is displayed. However, I wouldn't give up many of the albums, as they are imperfect nodes of the sublime quantum. 3 ‘Unrelenting, remorseless, unremitting’ I can’t remember for which GCSE text Mr Campfield originally coined this mantra because it seemed to apply to most of them. But if we had been reviewing Seventeen Seconds on the exam - there’s 3 marks in the bag. The examiner would say to themselves ‘Yes, these young men all listened to all of Seventeen Seconds and although it’s odd that they all went for exactly the same three words in the same order those are exactly the same words, in the same order too, that occur to me.’ It is limited fun to listen to but I respect the artistic conviction that created it. It has an identity - not a small thing for an album made by very young men. 2.5/5

Better than most Cure albums

Other than the singles from this, I didn't care too much for this. And Mother...........whoooooo boy. That sure was a thing that happened. Yikes.

Bueno

Darker than I thought the cure was. I always kind of associated them with somewhere between New Wave and Synthed up pop rock, neither of which I like. Understated vocals and dark guitar tones. It's not bad at all. 3.5

Cool aura on this album, which helps illustrate what the Cure is. Occasionally complicated, but unapologetically themselves! Probably one of those albums that provides a background to what a band is. With that said, while I enjoyed the concept, nothing really stuck out to me.

Kind of just boring. Fine background music

My preferred of the two Cure albums

Listened a couple times, nothing really stood out either way. Back-to back Cure albums do run together for music i don't particularly recognize.

This was a much more enjoyable album than Disintegration. "Play For Today" had an awesome guitar riff throughout. "M" did as well. I still don't really like Robert Smith's vocals too much, and the best tracks were the ones that he wasn't super involved in. 6/10

I love the cure but idk if it was my fave

I mean, it’s ok…

Dark and moody and includes “A Forest.” I like but don’t love it.

A Forest, one of their greatest songs.

This is really good. I don't think of myself as a fan of The Cure, but this one definitely landed for me.

not great not bad, not memorable

More like the bore lmao

Dark, atmospheric, and cool.

Nothing offensive to me, I can see why people like The Cure.

Recht cooler, klarer Rocksound. 3,3

Calming, enjoyable, on a scale from -10 to 10, -10 being disgusting all the way through and 10 being every song is a masterpiece, I'll give it a 4.5

Meh

I had “Disintegration” Monday, the Smiths on Tuesday and now this today. The album generator either thinks I’m a moody teenager or is trying to get me to kill myself (it makes sense that as soon as the machines have become sentient they would try to take me out. I’m the greatest warrior for humanity that has ever lived because I’m a cool dude and I like to party). I used to think I didn’t like the Cure, then for the last decade or so I thought I liked them, and now this week has convinced me that I was right the first time and I don’t actually like the Cure. “The Forest” was pretty good, but the rest of the album just kind of faded into the background and sounded vaguely the same. Not bad, but not good either.

niks verkeerd aan, maar the cure voor een heel album is iets van het goede teveel...

Interesting to compare this album to the later Cure stuff when they really popped off.

🎧Good gloomy

Chill vibes but not fur meh

I'm a big fan of early Cure but this isn't their best album. There's some great tracks like Play for today and , my favourite Cure song , A Forest but why would you open an album with the turgid A reflection? It would cause first time listeners to turn off. A mixed bag of brilliance and meh...

Not my favorite Cure album, but damn do I love me some Robert Smith.

It’s ok. Drum tracks are repetitive and not a lot of singing but the guitars and bass are nice. Spooky 80s feel to it. Something I’d enjoy listening to at a Burlington

Not the strongest Cure record for me but has A Forest on it, which is a worldie

Canzoni orecchiabili ma anonime, non sono stato colpito da nessuna in particolare pur non dispiancendomi ascoltarle

This was interesting, but honestly it didn't really keep my attention. I was humming along to the basslines and chord changes, and I know it was good, but I just couldn't get into it. The Cure's music sometimes clicks for me and sometimes doesn't, and this was just a "doesn't" I guess. Three stars.

The Cure are very talented at making every song sound the same.

Mér hefur aldrei líkað sérstaklega við The Cure. Finnst lögin ekkert spes en ég skil samt af hverju fólk fílar hljómsveitina. Þessi plata var bara alls ekki slæm. Jafnvel þrjár og hálf stjarna en Cure fordómar mínir toga hana niður frekar en upp

3 stars, liked it more than P*rnography. A Forest obviously a banger, enjoyed At Night which sounds like it's straight off Movement by New Order

No. 308/1001 A Reflection NR Play for Today 3/5 Secrets 3/5 In Your House 3/5 Three 2/5 The Final Sound 2/5 A Forest 4/5 M 3/5 At Night 3/5 Seventeen Seconds 3/5 Average: 2,89 New Wave really isn't my genre. Still felt like a really influential album. Especially in „A Forest“ in my opinion heavily influenced Depeche Mode and Nirvana.

Seventeen Seconds is moody, atmospheric, and a solid early entry into the goth rock scene—but if I’m being honest, I’ve always preferred The Smiths when it comes to gloomy British music. The Cure leans heavier into the brooding and minimalism here, which is fine, but a lot of the songs tend to blend together after a while. There’s definitely a vibe, and tracks like “A Forest” stand out for a reason, but overall, it didn’t leave a huge impression. Not bad, just not my go-to when I’m in the mood for this genre. Favorite song: Seventeen Seconds

Not what I was expecting - this was my first Cure experience. More instrumental than I thought it would be. Not bad, esp in the background, but not likely to listen to again - nothing really special.

It's a decent album, even if it is a little longer than the title implies. Favorite song: "A Forest"

I enjoyed this more than I had expected. Not my typical favorite style of music. “M” reminded me of “about a girl” by nirvana. M was probably my favorite song.

trippy instrumental rock. “A forest” is a good number. picks: a forest, play for today, at night

But of a challenging one for me as I found the general “pace” and instrumentation to be slow and similar. Fascinating though how Robert’s voice really hasn’t changed all that much from this album to hearing him live just a few years ago.

Uh oh, I was in a fugue state when I listened to this. I like the Cure, so it was pleasant background, but none of the songs snapped me out of my "MUST GRADE 50000 PAPERS AHH" haze, so I don't think it hit 4-territory, which it might have done if it were a little more good. More gooder. On the high end of 3 though, much better than Wilco, here's hoping they have another album later that I can appreciate a bit more.

Hadn't listened to this one before. Some lovely Cure-y moments.

Solid sophomore album, a lot of the ideas in this album are perfected in later releases.

Nice instrumental cure without the lyrics of their best hits 7/10