I believe that this album was my first Cure album (though it could have been Boys Don't Cry), back when it came out in Canada or at least very soon after it came out. When I heard the drum intro to A Play for today as well as Robert Smith's opening line...IIt's not a case of doing what's right" (I thought he was saying Southern case....), I knew immediately that for me this is what rock music should sound like. I playd the hell out of this record and it, along with Echo and The Bunnymen's first and Gang of Four's and Joy Division's were, among others, my gateway drugs to alternative music. I loved this album at that time and I still do. I do recognize that it has a tendency to drag in some places as I listen today, however with songs such as A Forest with it's infectious dance beat, In Your House with that gorgeously subtle ascending guitar figure, The beautiful title track and of course the aforementioned Play for Today, iit is still a fantastic album and a compelling listen. I am tempted to give it 5 but I will do my best to be somewhat objective in my rating, but know that objectivity is futile when it comes to music that me for ever. 4.5 stars