Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Love the early gothic sound. Solid album.
Not my favourite Cure sound but enjoyably lofi.
The kings of no rock music do it again.
classic.
Good. Not great.
Some great songs and some very forgettable songs
I went back and forth on this but I'd give it a 3.5. The instrumentation is already there in the early work, the baselines sound absolutely sinister, but the vocals were not super impressive to me and it all sounds like you're listening to it through a fog. The pop sensibility of the later hits really elevated the schtick from good to great.
This is super sparse. Most of it almost feels unfinished. I checked out one of the more celebrated remasters, and the guitar (the whole mix really) still sounds so claustrophobically constrained. I like the atmosphere, which is sinister and stripped-back. But there isn't enough here for me to enjoy. 2.5*
A mainstay in the world of music, The Cure is one of those bands whose mark on the 80s varies in its appearance. For some, they were a punky upstart and for others an 80s rock band that flirted with being a pop artist. This album though has a bit of emotional depth. Some words to describe that are "dark" but that seems more of a comparison to their earlier work. If anything the album sounds like they took their work seriously and put a bit of their desire to be taken seriously into the sound. This much is evident from the "dark" and pensive first track "A Reflection" and yet we fly straight into a rhythm-heavy "Play for Today" where that dark veil is lifted and we are given a rock album with evidence of their punk roots in their mostly linear compositions, but with flashes of intentional melody. The produce of music in 1980s would end up being the subject of much debate, with few brights spots, and a lot of disappointments, but what can be said of The Cure, is that they made it through here.
It’s okay, Second half is much better than the first
3.5 Another good, not great album from The Cure. Some standout tracks, but because the album is so short, it never feels like it gets into second gear to me. But very listenable, and great vibes.
Gothic Rock，弦绷得我脑干要断了
2024-08-16...
I’m like The Cure but I found this to be one of the least engaging albums of theirs.
3 - wish I liked this more than I did, but it lacks any sort of umph and all just fades away into good background music
Ni fu ni fa! Algún tema destaca pero prefiero otros discos de the cure.
Solid 3. Love the forest
6/10 - This was a severe let down. Like the music was alright but I like the cure most of the time and this album just did not do it for me. It was kind of boring the whole time.
It was fine
I get what they’re going for, I just don’t really like it that much. The frequent dissonance and long instrumental sections perfectly set that moody, mopey tone you expect from the cure, I’m just not crazy about it.
Too quiet
Not a fan of the cure generally and while this album didn’t change my mind I didn’t hate it. Was more chill than other albums by the cure I’ve listened to
Liked it more than Pornography. Gonna go with a high 3.
I liked this, liked the simple song structures & stripped-down arrangements, even if it does get a little perpetual. They're certainly not the 1st band to embrace the notion that "Hey, we can make 3 or 4 songs just going VI to IV!" but personally I prefer the diverseness of their debut.
Very happy to have gotten the first The Cure album on here. Even though I like other albums better, this one is still a nice listen. I had it playing when doing household chores in the evening and couldn't help but dance a bit around the apartment, which is precisely what I judge my music by. However, it isn't good enough for 4 stars.
I like the genre, liked the music, liked the ambience it created. Didn’t really enjoy the album for some reason though, I felt it was as lacking a certain bite and certainly left me wanting. The Cure are a funny one for me. I do like them, but never blown away. I thought M was very good. M
La música sombría que hizo famosos a The Cure. Este disco de 1980 es simple pero bien tocado, se puede notar la alineación de estilos con sus contemporáneos de Joy Division, lleno de acordes oscuros que traen a la imaginación fiestas de vampiros, hombres lobo, espectros y otras creaturas nocturnas. Muy alejado de lo que después entregaron en álbumes como "Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me" y "Desintegration".
The. Cure is an iconic band however this is not one of their best efforts.
Solid, if unspectacular
OK stuff. 3 stars
There were some very tedious tracks in there that felt like they were half-complete experimentations. the main couple of hit tracks are great though.
Not what I expected, very chill and loved the returning motif. I need to dig into the rest of their discography (3.5/5)
Very good for its era
I don't really get The Cure. It's OK I guess, but it doesn't excite me.
Kann das Album nicht wirklich in ein Genre einordnen.
Interested to hear what this sounds like. I can definitely hear some band's music from today, that is very influential. Truly never heard of any of these first couple tracks. I do enjoy them as well. Pretty good overall.
The Cure is as distinct as they are conformed to the genre, the era, the sound. Robert Smith is uniquely moody and aching in his vocals and writing. This album isn't a standout, but I would say if you like one you'd like them all.
Lonely, desolate, gloomy, depressing and dark. Like a Soundtrack to a monochrome movie. Okay to listen to once.
Because they are The Cure
практически инструментал (но грустный, ибо кьюр)
#267. Kind of a mixed bag here. Some pretty good songs, some not so much. Decent, I guess. 3/5: acceptable.
I got a fever, and the cure is no more The Cure. I kid, this was decent and relaxing. A little bland, but I think that's their thing.
Nicht mein Lieblingsalbum der Cure, zu eintönig, keine Highlights, teilweise instrumental. ***
Wasn’t sure what to expect on this one. It’s dark, raw, experimental, primitive at times, and… not at all unpleasant. Glad I heard it but not sure it quite rises to the level of a 4-star “keeper.”
I like later albums better. This is fine and spooky but I probably won't put it on again
Good bass. Decent songs. Would listen again.
5/10
I mostly liked it, but boy gee is this thing not very memorable to me? Not a fan of this voice type of male singer either. I liked the tracks but it seems like they are all just filler tracks that would be great transition pieces on an amazing album, and yet there's no stand out moments, it just lulls from one track to the next until you're back to the start. If I didn't actually like the instrumentals, this would be a 2 for me.
It’s the Cure. Good for a specific mood, but there’s no “Love Song” on this album.
No individual tracks really sunk into me (this must still be their pre-banger days) but I liked the vibe.
This album builds a decent atmosphere but there's not much holding it together beyond that. Not mega catchy (although the bassline in A Forest sticks in your head). It's quite nice background music (nice probably isn't the right word given how downbeat it is, but it'll do), but it really doesn't do much more than that. Think it scrapes a low 3.
Pretty good. A little somber and slow, which is what they're known for, but still...
After listening, I was cured.
Wish "A Reflection" was longer! Mix of good tracks and ones like "Three" where I wasn't so interested.
Pretty Typical cure.
Original, must have been groundbreaking at the time but pretty mid by now. 3 stars + .3 for A Forest - 3.3
Seventeen Seconds is The Cure's second album, which was released before the band embarked on their first world tour. While the album does not include any of the band's early hits, these songs do capture the Cure's ability to make catchy pop songs out of melancholic and even somber elements. Robert Smith's are a well-produced version of post-punk; guitar driven songs with strong bass lines and a health dose of synthesizers. Smith's gloomy focus made this album a good example of early goth rock.
The Cure at their gothiest?
- great sound - nice chill listen
5 on mood and vibes 3.50 as a whole a forest straight banger could i write poetry to this? y
This one is a mood more than a collection of songs. I like The Cure a lot more when they play songs.
# 250 : The Cures ok. Not my favourite band but they've done alright with this. Favourite track : A Forest
Funnily enough seventeen seconds is how long this album took to make sad and sleepy. 6/10
Not an album I've ever listened to before, I thought it was pretty good. Just not what I was in the mood for today. Not what I expected based on my limited listening time with The Cure.
I like a few songs by The Cure a lot, but none of them were on this album. The overall vibe was pretty good, but nothing really stood out like some of their hits do, so I was a bit disappointed
Not my favorite type of music. I wouldnt know a good Cure albun from a bad one, but I see why people like them.
The Cure is a vibe
Rating: 6/10 Great atmosphere but overall this is pretty forgettable, the Cure shine brightest when they combine a dark atmosphere with lush and interesting instrumentation, which is really missing on this album. Throughout most of the album the band tends to linger too long on a single idea; there is little variation in many of the songs which is an issue when the ideas are not that interesting to begin with. This is something the band will continue to improve upon in future releases: more interesting riffs, song structures, atmosphere, and melodies. Still an important album in their discography and still enjoyable overall. Favorite songs: Play for Today, A Forest, At Night. Worst songs: Three, The Final Sound.
A drab, moody concept album. Maybe concept album isn’t the right thing to call it. Mainly instrumentals, which are good, but some songs that have lyrics like in Secrets are at a whisper level so it’s difficult to make anything out. I thought I liked The Cure, but I only knew of their top hits. This album was nothing like I assumed it would be. I enjoyed this album, but definitely wished had more substance to grab onto. Just hung onto the vibe. Standouts: Play For Today, M, and Seventeen Seconds.
Easy listening and decent enough, but not something I’ll come back to
They do get better further into their career but I do find myself liking listening to The Cure more than I expected. Yesterday was hectic so I couldn't give it a deep listen which I wish I could.
3/5
Jeg har egentlig lyst til å like det bedre, men får det ikke til. Jeg får gi The Cure en ny sjanse en annen gang.
Yeah it's alright. Not the best Cure album, but not intolerable.
Was never a fan of The Cure, and after listening to this I'm still not. BUT, I did actually like a couple of songs and have a newfound respect for them. Solid album. 3/5
Quite plain. Nice sound
Classic Cure, not my favourite but a couple of excellent stand out tracks. Solid 3
Not my favourite Cure album, but probably the easier listen out of their earlier stuff. A Forest is the standout track that is still a regular in their live set.
Yes there are some good songs on this record. Even a couple more when they were billed as Cult Hero. But this is an album you listen to after you've already establishedthat you really like The Cure and you want to see where "they came from". Good solid record, not their best and a few years away from hitting their stride
Blah. Perhaps not fair. Dull drum beats, nice guitar work, and an intriguing vocal style. Too many off putting songs for me on this album.
Decent album, but The Cure's vocals aren't my thing.
Not the strongest album by the Cure, but A Forest is an absolute banger. 3.4 stars
Not as good as their earlier offerings but ok
Seventeen Seconds To the trees! Firstly and foremostly, A Forest. What a song. Clearly the best Cure song and an absolute copper bottomed classic. On first listen I wasn’t keen, every song selling an attempt to rehash A Forest, but never actually getting there. However I liked it more on the second go around and even more on the third. Yes there is a slightly templated feel but I started to like it; Motorik drums, straight ahead bass, slight guitar delay and a simplistic but insistent instrumental hook. It’s definitely a grower, once you attune yourself to the nature of the grooves. Secrets, I think Mike Skinner must have nicked this for Empty Cans from A Grand Don’t Come for Free. In Your House, M, At Night and Seventeen started to stand out to me on those repeated listens. It’s definitely not a 2, A Forest is so good it can’t be. It’s not a 4, so that makes it a solid 3 I think, one of those ones that will reveal itself with more listens. I can see me putting this one while working, the tempos, slightly repetitive template and the horizontal melodies would suit it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Honestly I think if I gave this one another listen the week before my period it would probably be 5 stars.
Moody, gloomy and atmospheric with some really strong basslines, but without the killer production and memorable hooks (bar a couple of songs) of later The Cure releases
Mixed bag. Not too remarkable.
Secrets is a good tune. A lot less of the singer on this album, which I appreciate. It feels like a gloomy soundscape which I can appreciate, but it isn't really my cuppa. A Forest is another good tune that has a nice guitar section throughout. Still don't understand The Cure, but this is the best of the 3 albums we have had so far.
Pretty spooky feeling in this whole album. Nothing really stood out in particular but it was a good album all together.
3/5 average
not at their best
Short and sweet. Good representation of time. Liked first half.
Some nice songs
Mid
Dark, minimal gothiness building up to A Forest. Not an everyday album, but it has it's place on the list ...whichever list that might be
Is another really good one from the cure. This one doesn’t have many catchy songs or hook, however, it does have a very cool feeling that goes through the whole album. Very melancholy with a driving undertone, this album is one I would listen to again.
Decent album. A Forrest is def my fav from here. I wasn't especially moved by it though. I'll give it a 3.
Early Cure before Cure grew into their signature sound
Did I miss something, or is Seventeen Seconds really not a The Cure record that people talk about? Even as a fan, you have to admit that it's pretty repetitive and not really showcasing a lot of the stuff that the band is known for.
There’s no questioning the effect this gothic and sonic album would have on The Cure moving forward. In and of itself it’s a rather one-sided affair delivering the same idea again and again for almost its entire run.
Pretty decent but not all that interesting. It was good background music for folding laundry though!
this was all new the cure for me. and it was fine! no particularly strong feelings tho
Hmm yes my least favorite parts of their live show
I really enjoy how simplistic this album is, with minimal synth work that would become a defining characteristic of their later records. Not that I don't enjoy that sound, but the easy guitars and drums throughout this one just create an intimate feeling. I also like the vocals kind of sitting in the back of the mix. Smith's voice just works there for me. That said, I'm not the world's biggest goth fan. There's always been a barrier of entry there I just can't seem to get past. I appreciate this one more than I actually like it.
A "good" Cure album. Hardly their best work tho.
ther is no cure...for the plague of...humanity... paitsi tämä albumi HEH.. mAilnam paras musiikkimm.. no vitsiä van luikautti minä tuossa. ei mielestäni ollut parasta, parasta mitä on tullut kuuntelemaan mutt ei toaiaan myös huonointkaan mahdollista sen verran voidaan olla ttytyväisiä että ei mahdollisimman huonoa musiikkia ollut että se on nyt ainakin selvää se; että ei parasta tai huonointa mahdollusta musiikkia olekkaan tässä at night
Eh. Most of it sounded like interstitial music for an 80’s drama. I liked that one song better when Devo did it. Nothing great here. Not sure why it’s listed.
So this was more tolerable than I expected. I don't know what goth music is, but it was pretty tuneful overall. I think what was most interesting is how much of it was purely instrumental.
I hadn't heard this album before, in fact I hadn't really heard any of the songs off of it. I liked the Seventeen Seconds songs, and the Forest song. I thought this was a good album. There were some strange bits, but overall a good album. I was surprised that this album was on there and not Disintegration, but maybe that's coming at a different time.
Very much a lesser Cure album. Wouldn't have been my pick.
It all feels quite flat. Only "A Forest" is really standing out for me.
Pretty nice album 3.5/4
Listened to this 3 times but nothing really stuck
The Cure has some great songs but this album is mostly very forgetable
Good album
I like it! The electronic music elements are more prominent throughout the album than I would've thought. There are a lot of sounds that are mostly instrumental/electronic which is cool because then the songs each bleed into the next.
This was very unexpected for a The Cure album, and I really don't know what to think. Maybe I'll give it another shot someday, but now it's an OK album.
This is a great, fairly compact album. Not as psychedelic and enveloping as Disintegration, but there's a great range of sounds in this one, as always the Cure are jangly and melodic while haunting and distorted.
Not great, not terrible. Not really a big fan of albums that just sound like they are someone experimenting with various sounds.
Liked it didn't love it
Not iconic Cure, but i enjoyed this
No es le mejor obra de The Cure (Disintegration) ni el mejor disco de 1980 (ACDC) ya que London Calling uno no sabe si ponerlo en 1979 o en 1980, aunque esté cerca de los mejores editados ese año (Joy Division, Talking Heads, The B-52´s, The Cramps, Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymen, Bruce Springsteen, OMD, The Police, Kurtis Blow, Diana Ross, The Feelies, Peter Gabriel, Prince Genesis, Adam and the Ants, Van Morrison, David Bowie, Paul McCartney o el de su medio banda Siouxise and the Banshees...) pero es obligatorio escuchar al menos un par de discos de The Cure en la vida y este puede ser perfectamente uno de ellos. Comienza con un irrelvante y lúgubre tema de piano (A reflection) para coger altura con las señas de identidad del grupo: la personalísima voz de R. Smith, así como las guitarras, bajo, y batería marca de la casa. Play for Today sirve de puente a Secrets uno de sus mejores temas, continuando por sonidos fríos, mecánicos y depresivos. El tema estrella es sin duda alguna A forest, uno de los mejores de su carrera. Imprescindible para conocer la evolución del Punk al Post-punk y de de este al rock gótico que seguirán Siouxsie entre otros.
The cure sure know how to create a vibe. At times hypnotizing, at times soft and intimate I enjoyed how the album had some continuity with the soundscape. My biggest critique is that the sum was better better than the components that made it up. Some of the tracks were very forgettable. Probably one that will grow on me with more listens, but this was my first impression.
I do enjoy the Cure's later works, especially "Disintegration" but I find that a lot of their earlier works, this album included, pale in comparison. I find that to be true in almost every single way, the instrumentation, the mixes, and especially the vocals here all come off so bleak and one-note, which is *almost* a good thing. Like many albums in this gothier side of New Wave, when taking this entire album as one holistic experience, I do think it excels at sounding exactly how it needs to sound. The elements here are skeletal, like winter trees without leaves, but each track has one strong melodic element, be that a synth, piano, or guitar, that brings a smidgen of warmth to these generally cold songs. Similar to many The Cure albums, this one feels incredible nocturnal. The songs are long and repetitive, but very subdued and quiet. I love the short desolate and hopeless sound of the piano-driven opener quite a lot. "At Night" nails that somber vibe. I think the basslines and guitar are really strong and groovy on tracks like "Play For Today", it's the kind of Cure vibe I like, it's such a warm song. "A Forest" I feel the same way, but maybe to a lesser extent; the groove and airy synths are just as gorgeous though and I love the guitar on the outro and the ambient intro. I do think the stretch in the middle is where the album's at its weakest and it's where I think the songs blend in with one another a bit too much. I actually really like Robert Smith as a vocalist, at least I thought I did, he didn't do it for me on this album. He feels less expressive and his vocals are almost washed out here. It works to a certain degree, considering the very cold and lifeless vibe of this album, but there were times when I was hoping for a little more. His presence is almost limited and he just sort of pops in from time to time and leaves unnoticeably. I feel like he does the best on "Seventeen Seconds", the closer, which is probably the best whole song on the album. His part is very short here, similar to most songs, but for some reason the sadness in his voice, and his lyrics sting here more than anything. As an experience, I think I enjoyed this The Cure album quite a bit, but if anything, it just made me want to listen to some of their later stuff. Still solid.
Slower than the later Cure. Has some of the magic, and the sadness shines through magnificently. Just not my pace.
Quite liked
I like the music here but I don't like the voice
OK. More weird short but still plodding and simple isntrumentals than I would have expected. Cool use of drum machines, otherwise, sounds like the Cure - just not songs I know nor that have stuck with me.
The Cure trying to confuse me further by sounding more like The Cult than ever.
Interesting late ‘80s feel.
Turns out I like the Cure! It’s moody in all the right ways.
Like, not love.
Good
Easy listen. Heavy on the instrumentals but nothing too special about it to me
Decent. A Forest is a five star song. I’m curious to check out other Cure albums from this same time period, since I’ve heard good things about those.
Decent but certainly not great. Too many sketches of songs, and the actual songs were underwhelming
One or two four star songs, but an overall three of an album.
I give it a 5-6/10. Would listen again.
besides A Forest, gloomy and pretty meh. Cold and sleepy
A nicer sounding, catchier, more balanced Cure record.
Y'know, I think I like this album a better than the previous gothic rock outing my group got, JUJU, because this one's way more New Wave-y. And it's an early example of the sound, too, given that this came out in 1980. If you didn't tell me what year this was released in, I coulda sworn it was later in the decade. And, yeah, it's not enough to raise this album up a star, but,y'know, still. I can dig it.
While the sound can be a bit sparse at places, this still is a decent album, nonetheless. I can totally see why goth kids love this group.
Repetitive, almost mesmerizing guitar riffs and grooves. Simple rhythms make for easy listening but nothing really stands out
Not my favorite Cure album. It’s pretty good but mostly forgettable. The first time I ever heard “A Forest” it was a remixed version, and it’s probably just nostalgia but I much prefer that to the original.
Mid
Very mediocre the cure album
Did not finish, but thought it was fine
A couple great tunes (Play For Today, A Forest, M), but a fair amount of filler also. Not my favorite Cure album. So many better. 3.3/5
Pretty good, although not as good as their later stuff. Too instrumental-heavy for my taste, but definitely listenable.
Normally I like The Cure, but I wasn’t as into this. “M” and “Seventeen Seconds” were my favorite songs, but nothing really stood out. Kind of boring overall. I hoped for better.
80s alternative rock.. some songs are good, some are not
Wow, never heard this before. Only album of theirs I know is DISINTEGRATION, which I've always loved. This sounds like an early exploration into discovering their sound. I REALLY LIKE IT, A LOT! 3 STARS!
A little too down for me. The cure are at their best when the music is more upbeat. Also, the drums just got a bit annoying for me in parts. Still, not awful and I could see listening on a rainy day.
Inte alls likt det jag tänkte att The Cure var. Ganska mycket bara instrumentalt. Inte dåligt, men inget jag album jag hade lyssnat på spontant. 3 / 5
I like The Cure and this album evokes a mood that’s very much of their general sound, but this didn’t quite speak to me.
First album I've gotten that I knew nothing about (outside of the artist). Very much has that "new wave" sound, complete with mesmerizing, yet subtle drums and bass. The album goes by pretty quick and stays pretty "down" beat. If you're looking for energy, you're not gonna find it here. I think I'd say that I prefer the Cure's later stuff, but this was easily digestible.
It’s got a good vibe. The songs flow well and the album is solid. That being said, I couldn’t connect with it. There were maybe two songs I really enjoyed but overall the album felt a bit boring to me. Feels like I might have missed the time in my life where I could have connected heavily with The Cure. Maybe I’m jaded and washed by all the tiktok musicians who chase their sound. Whatever, “A Forest” is a good song. 3/5
A great option for when I’m feeling dark and moody!
Pure vibes.
Mellow, good music within my tastes, but a bit repetitive and no standout songs.
Moody, low-key, and good for background music, but a little lacking in substance.
Feel like I should be driving around my station wagon going to the arcade to smoke some doobies while listening to this album. The 80s teen angst is strong (teen angst was much different than 2000s teen angst)
A forest is a classic, but I'm not crazy about the rest of the album, if I didn't already love the cure I could see myself giving this a lower score.
It’s fine- I know a lot of cure fans - apparently they are still just as good today. Easy to listen to.
Like Queen II, this is the sound of a band figuring out their path. Unlike Queen II, there is a cohesiveness to the proceedings that is very pleasant. The downside of that cohesiveness is that, while the album makes an excellent sort of tone poem, the songs themselves largely don't stand out from one another, leading it to feel a little long in the tooth, even though it's only 36 minutes or so.
almost sounds primitive at times. definitely a cohesions throughout that sets a consistent mood, but also leaves it sounding a bit same-y. hints at robert smith's ability to write gloomy pop songs. Secrets (bass leads the melody?!), A Forest (prototypes their goth jams to come).
When I saw it was the cure, I had my expectations risen. When I heard the album my expectations lowered. 3
This album was pretty meh for me, which is surprising bc it seems like something I’d like - dark, melodic, moody, ect. But it wasn’t really doing it for me today!
Still not super into the Cure. Musically it's not very interesting. Usually pedaling on two chords for most of the songs. Vocals still aren't that appealing to me either
good listening
Only listened to the first two songs but they sounded alright. Will listen to the whole album at a later date
I always feel like Robert Smith (the singer) in the cure could be turned up a few decibels, or stand closer to the mic.
First half rather absent. Second half phenomenal.
Est-ce que les gothiques à voix de merde peuvent y aller mollo sur la création d'albums parce qu'après des gens comme nous sont obligés de les écouter.
Pas trop mal cet album de ce groupe médiocre
Nice stuff. Solid album all the way through.
Goth-Rock isn't my favored genre, but The Cure have covered a lot of ground over the years and in my opinion are almost always at least musically interesting. The album feels very atmospheric, and while I wouldn't listen to it is some situations it is good for studying or doing research, tasks where I want my ears occupied but the moody darkness doesn't bother me. Play for Today, A Forest, and At Night were highlights for me.
This album surprised me - it's clearly early days for them but you could hear so much talent in their music. A Forest and Three were two stand-outs but this entire album felt like I was walking through the halls of an abandoned Gothic estate. This album is good but does not even come close to the heights of Disintegration - an album I would listen to a hundred times before I gave this one a second listen.
Very eerie record! But Robert Smith is a genius. It's a band and music I kind of need to be in a certain mood for. But it was nice to dive into it and discover some other songs outside of the fantastic A Forest! Standout tracks: Play For Today, In Your House, A Forest, M, Seventeen Seconds. 7,5 out of 10
7.5/10
The Cure's *Seventeen Seconds* occupies a curious place in the pantheon of post-punk albums. It's an album whose inclusion in the "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list seems predicated more on its influential footprint within the genre rather than its standalone excellence. This isn't to diminish its value; tracks like "A Forest" and "Play for Today" stand out as quintessential Cure, weaving haunting melodies and moody atmospherics that would become the band's signature. These songs encapsulate the essence of what makes The Cure great, with their ability to craft soundscapes that are at once ethereal and deeply rooted in the post-punk ethos. However, as a whole, *Seventeen Seconds* often feels like it's treading water, maintaining a certain level of consistency without ever truly diving into the deep end. The album's production, while fittingly sparse, can at times render the listening experience somewhat flat, lacking the dynamic range or emotional peaks and valleys found in The Cure's later work. It's as if the band is on the cusp of discovering their sound, experimenting with the minimalism and gloom that would define them, yet not fully committing to the depths they would later explore. This restrained approach results in an album that, while influential, doesn't always capture the listener's imagination. The atmospheric tension and introspective lyrics that are hallmarks of The Cure's music are present, but they don't always coalesce into something greater than the sum of their parts. Instead, the album often feels like a prelude to the band's more cohesive and emotionally resonant works. In essence, *Seventeen Seconds* is a significant chapter in The Cure's discography, offering glimpses of the groundbreaking direction the band would take. Its influence on the post-punk and gothic rock genres is undeniable, laying the groundwork for a sound that would inspire countless others. Yet, when judged on its own merits, it's an album that, despite its moments of brilliance, doesn't quite reach the heights it aspires to. It's a testament to The Cure's evolving sound, a necessary step in their journey, but not the pinnacle of their artistic achievement.
Kinda slow for my liking
I did quite enjoy this… the vocal sounded like it was quite low in the mix sometimes. But it was alright
Three, M, Seventeen Seconds I'd play some of these songs in my evil lair if I had one and I was also a vampire
I was a little bit torn with this one. On the one hand it has my favourite Cure track ("A Forest"), but on the other hand the production is very spartan and even a little inconsistent in places. I liked more than I disliked, so 3.5 rounded down to 3 stars.
I think this album is an excellent introduction to the sound of the cure. I love so many of these tracks. Favs = forest and play for today. Solid three (probably lost a point because when I saw them live in Melbourne in 2000’s(?) they were crap - worst concert I have been to!
From the few hits of theirs I knew I expected better. This was quite boring. Stand-out: In Your House
Album 294 of 1001 The Cure - Seventeen Seconds Rating : 3 / 5 I enjoyed this but that is about it. Nothing I'll run back to but wouldn't turn it off.
Good early cure
Yesterday The Smiths, today The Cure. It's very similar stuff. The Smiths were a bit more pacey. The Cure goes steady and more cold. 3.5/5.
Not bad. Disintegration is better.
None of the tracks on this album jumped out and bit me. It was enjoyable enough but maybe I'm just not a huge fan of the Cure. It was encapsulating of a certain vibe, tough to pin down.
Did not enjoy it.
I tried really hard to like it, but there was just a lot of repeating instrumentals and like no singing, so it was fine. It liked “a forest”, it started cool, but the rest was just spooky dissonant music without an actual point
If you listen to "A Forest" while watching a slow motion video of a hummingbird drinking out of a pink flower, well...... Very clean production, trippy songs in their patented trippy, sparse style. Is this trance music? Pre-trance music? A distant ancestor of trance music? Is trance music even a genre or does it go by another name? Shoe gaze? Clear choice when you want to put on the headphones and simply stare at the ceiling. ____________________________ 🎧 Number of albums reviewed: 12 🎧 Number of albums left to review: 989 🎧 Number of albums that I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 Number of albums that I *might* include in mine later on: 6 🎧 Number of albums that I will certainly *not* include in mine: 2
It's a nice mostly instrumental album.
Definitely a moody album - not as winey as i thought it would be. I liked it but didn’t blow me away by any means.
I only really know disintegration and am not the biggest fan generally but this was okay! I can't speak to the impact of this debut for defining goth music but definitely feels like they took a slightly less dark approach to post punk/morphed it into their own style of goth with reverbed guitars and more grand instrumentation. Definitely a nice listen bare minimum.
Interesting, spooky
Decent album but a little boring. Songs don't feel very distinct from one another and can blur together if your focused elsewhere. Play for Today was the best track.
Terribly mixed
It's ok
Finding their sound here but a good album.
Like the other Cure albums I've gotten, it's fine. Like completely fine. Not bad, not great, just fine.
The band does a great job of setting vibe. It makes total sense why this is classic Goth/wanna be vampire energy. The instrumentals could be really cool. But the vocals did nothing for me personally. Overall, this albums not for me.
Innovador
Meh; decent background
A couple of the songs were awful, but I listened anyway
What does it say about myself, when I don't find this album to be particularly dark/gothic/sad/moody/... ? Just an okay rock album. Quite nice jingling.
Favorite Tracks: A Forest Play For Today In Your House
I love the dark atmospheric vibes of the album. I wish the vocals were a bit more in the front, as they are really hard to make out. Maybe I just need to warm up to the mixing choice they made though. I love how the album progressively gets darker. The distortion and haziness of at night is amazing, the bass line and guitar riff on forest sound great too. idk but the album is not entirely clicking with me. I see and appreciate the elements but it's just not clicking also. I'll give it a light to a strong 3.
Now I know why I hadn't heard of The Cure before the song "Lullaby". On this album the song “A Forest” is the only one that sticks in your memory.
I can respect the vision, but that doesn’t mean I like the vision
I had only previously been exposed to a little bit of The Cure, some of the hits mostly. This is about what I expected sound-wise. The songs are mostly average, but the last 4 songs are pretty good (particularly A Forest & Seventeen Seconds). The music is better than the singing.
I bought this album for A Forest. Most of the album are pretty good, but I think A Reflection, Three and The Final Sound are a bunch of nothing.
Very good to wash the dishes with! Too many instrumentals for my liking.
Aw... don't cry, emo kid. This lineup will take you into the stratosphere as one of the best bands of a generation. You made a good album, to be sure. It's solid, but it's not *great*. It has one of your really famous singles on it, but the album isn't "blow me away" great like Disintegration will eventually be. Don't worry about it, though. You're laying the groundwork for the brooding melancholy about love that will be your signature idiom for an amazing run. Buck up, little camper. It may seem bleak now, but I promise: It'll be okay.
There are better cure albums to me
I should listen to more of The Cure
I love The Cure! But this album didn't leave an impact on me like some of their other works have. Although A Forest is an amazing track!
Not like the cure music id heard before. Sounds closer to joy division than the cure.
I feel like The Cure are a band I should like, but I can never quite get into them. I quite like the vibe on this album. It's broody and a bit foreboding, with some interesting soundscapes to it. Once again, there's not really any standout songs, but as a whole it's quite consistent.
Солидан ко Богдан 5/10
Helt OK.
Interesting but not my fave the cure album. still sad though. Fave Song: A Forest, Play for Today, and Seventeen Seconds.
A Cure album that, as ever, makes me happy to be listening to The Cure, but also slightly wishing I was listening to another Cure Album.
christina is going to fight me on not eating this higher
Don't know if I'm too young or too old for this thing. Did not "catch" me
Strong 3
Not my jam
Sobrevalorado, pero no está mal. Tranquilo con rolas pa’l relax.
a forest ez 3
It's pretty good, play for today and secrets were my favorites. 3.5
I didn’t like this one first but the more I listened the more I enjoy. I think I should check out other albums by The Cure
I liked it some, it was difficult to listen too .. 3 stars
A bit depressive and creepy, but I would listen again. Quite good for concentrated study session.
Play for Today // In Your House // Seventeen Seconds 3-3.5/5
Bellino ma dopo un po’ mi annoia
3 stars
Té cançons que m'han agradat però n'hi ha algunes que són una merda, sincerament
Dreary
Must listen again soon.
Está bien
What an “okay” album. I like this genre of goth rock but I don’t care for this execution of it. It was very ambient and instrumental. I think I like one or two songs from it. I’m torn between a 2 and a 3. Half of the album sounds like background music. I wanna give it a 2.5
3/5
Sweet
I suppose early emo kind of stuff, so impressive for that
Sounds like it's trying really hard to be unique but just comes across as stoner classic rock. Maybe I'll try again when under the influence to see if it's better.
The first album I ever bought was Standing On A Beach, so I'm an OG Greatest Hits appreciator of The Cure. Highlights of this are on that, of course. I wonder if the remaster of the album made the sound deliberately "doomier" as these songs are much "brighter" on the collection. Regardless, a classic of goth, not much happening on the surface but a generous 3*
Moody, dark and likely some of the original gothic rock music. There is a certain sound or sounds throughout that makes you feel immediately like a depressed gothic teenager. Best: M Worst: In Your House
Ethereal, discordant sounds. Enjoyed the experimental feel
Très chill, ça donne presque envie de fumer des pétards 🧨 L'instru passe souvent par dessus la voix, mais heureusement elle est jolie. J'aime bien mais c'est quand même moins mon style
J’aime bien certaines musiques (notamment seventeen seconds) mais en général The Cure c’est trop plat pour moi.
Je connaissais The Cure (que j'aime bien) mais je ne connaissais pas du tout cet album. Assez badant et chill, de jolies lignes de basse mais rien de mémorable. Je pense que j'aurais plus apprécié cet album pendant mon adolescence ou alors en concert. Album que je ne réécouterai probablement jamais.
Reminds me of college 80s!
Excellent.
Forgettable
Pretty much what I expected for an early Cure album. Favorite song: I'm a cult hero This song has a bit of a disco vibe, but this isn't the feel of the album, overall.
this was fine, had a couple songs i liked
Good listen but not as good as the other albums.
…. dare I say *yawn*… I do adore a forest though 🥦 Robert smith sounds like he’s stuck between two brick walls and reminds me too much of an ex
Está demasiado chill para mí gusto
Liked it better than the metal albums but more of a classic rock fan
listened to again still not my speed
I have been told by many that I should listen to the Cure. I am very unfamiliar with their music. Aside from Robert Smith, and the Cure's influence on "goth" culture, I don't know much about this band. I thoroughly enjoyed this album though. It was sort of refreshing, even though this album is from 1980. The synths, guitar, bass, all sound great. The layers and effects used in this album really give this album a voice of its own. I don't particularly enjoy the 80's drumming/drum beats... But that is personal preference. To me, it almost contradicts the tone of each song. Most of these songs have this brooding, or melancholic feel to it. Then the drums come in and I feel like I'm listening to a light Hearted pop song. Not every song has this... But it happens enough to make it worth mentioning. The self titled track is a good example of when they drums actually add to the tone or thematic vibe of the song. Overall, a pretty good record. Not something I'd go out of my way to listen to, nor is there anything that really jumps out and pulls me in... But that doesn't make it a bad album.
pretty good bro
Slow starting. Not my favorite of their work honestly, slow, eerie, sort of like driving past a car crash kinda eerie at times.
It was different, it was interesting. I loved the instrumentals. Wasn’t a deep level love for the album; but I liked it and finished it.
This was different but I oddly like it. Mainly for the instrumentals! Very spooky for the season!
Only 1 track made the 1st greatest hits.
Decent background music. Rating 3.
Really enjoyable but ends on some odd choices
It was okay. Nothing stand out about it. It was lighter than what I expected.
Was every song instrumental? I think they all sounded definitely like The Cure. The type of the cure I like, so I should definitely listen again
Only a couple vocal tracks. Music was slow paced. My first Cure album. It didn't engage me buy I didn't stop it either. Makes if good - 3/5.
Liked it more after a few times on repeat
Goth, rock. Good instrumentals but just not a fan of Robert Smith's voice. The Final Sound is only 53 seconds because they ran out of tape during recording (was supposed to be much longer)
Nice easy listening, good background music. I would have liked more vocals.
Good music to zone out to, in a good way. 3
Meh - quite average. Don’t mind The Cure but this one didn’t do it for me
A few good songs, but overall not my favorite from The Cure. I enjoy broody/dark/atmospheric sometimes, but not so much on this album. 3.5 stars.
spooky! "A Forest" was my favorite track.
A Forest is some top tier Cure. I don't really love everything here but at worst it's great background.
This is the most mellow album from The Cure I’ve ever heard. And I dug it. I still mostly prefer the hits, but I’d put this on again for sure when in need of some good writing music.
I feel like I should like The Cure more 3/5
Okay I guess... 2.5
Wanted to like this album more but unfortunately it’s mainly instrumental,not a lot of real songs.What we get is pretty good though.But it’s not really a great album at all.
Dark, gothic. Also a bit repetative, trying to be mysterious
Early Cure. Although, Jumping Someone Else's Train is the quintessential early Cure song. And, it's not on this album. But, you hear echos of it all over this album.
What a pleasant and welcoming surprise. It was a little dreary but enjoyable.
Not bad. A bit gloomy
Een album dat wat naar de achtergrond dreigt te verdwijnen, maar wel prima in elkaar zit. De jaren '80 kwamen er aan en dat hoor je al een beetje. Het is een plaat waar niet zoveel op aan te merken is, maar met weinig momenten die echt ergens bovenuit steken. Dus: 3 sterren.
Not the best Cure album, but still a good listen
Ok
Dat is wel veel er veel van The Cure en dan ook niet echt het allerbeste. Toch tof natuurlijk.
Ook weer aan de zware kant, maar goed te doen.
Beetje veel, 2 depressies in een week.
I did listen to this in the car as a disclaimer, which may have affected my enjoyment a tiny bit. I liked some songs, but some felt like they had some empty space and went on too long. I'm more excited for the other albums on here by them. My favourite song was M.
Kind of ok to zone out to
twas ok. sounded a little dated. you can definitely see the foundations of what the band would become.