Rating: Summary: A concert video that works Review: Concert videos are difficult to pull off, but this one works quite well. The concept of playing three entire albums in a concert setting is somewhat unique and affords fans the opportunity to see and hear songs that they may not otherwise enjoy on the usual "album selling" tour. The performances on this DVD make it evident that the Cure is still a viable and creative band. We are privy to front row seats, backstage passes, and great sweeping views of the scenery that makes up the atmosphere of a live Cure concert. The recording is top notch. If you have a good sound system, this may become your favorite concert DVD. Most enjoyable, for me, was their amazing performance of "Disintegration." I've always wondered how they would pull that off live, but have never seen it until now. I think this would be a great video for Cure fans and neophytes alike. It definitely whets the appetite for the next Cure tour.
Rating: Summary: just like heaven Review: a masterful performance by the great ones. One of those DVDs that can be enjoyed time and time again. The Cure have a unique style impossible to duplicate by anyone else.
Rating: Summary: Wot, no Roger Waters? Review: First of all, too many close ups. They're all looking a bit 'pub dad' nowadays, so more perspective on the light show might have been percipient. Secondly, I remember 'A Short Term Effect', 'Cold' and 'Disintegration' played faster live, originally. The Pornography set seems to be played slower than the album which takes some doing. I can't see the point of doing a show like this if you're not going to bring something new to the table, a new interpretation, etc. What's the point of a ploddingly faithful rendition of the records on stage at this point? Okay, so it's now a historical document, it's 'on the record' so to speak, but so what? This is about as dynamic as a turtle. Know what a tortoise is? Same thing. Pleasant listening, but it might as well be Pink Floyd. There's an encore of Kiss stuff. I never understood why this material was left out of the trilogy loop when it sounds little different in style.
Rating: Summary: Old Pornography-lovin' Codger Review: I'm one of the the above 35 fans that still follows the Cure. To be honest, they started getting spotty after The Head on the Door album, to me. So, this DVD is totally worth the price of admission if you're into the Pornography album. This group plays it with just the right mix of tension, emotion and musicianship. The light show for this set is perfect, too. The other two highlights are the two encore tracks from the Kiss Me album. Both Disentegration and Bloodflowers drag a bit in spots to me. They could probably both be paired down to 8 songs each, like Pornography, and be better off for it. That's been the biggest problem of the CD age....albums are too long and bloated just because the space is available. Anyway, these are also undoubtedly fine live versions of both of those records.
Rating: Summary: Five Stars is not enough Review: BUY IT NOW! If you have not experienced The Cure live now is a chance to get a feel for how incredible they are live. After my first Cure concert I was blown away, this DVD recreates that experience. If you do not own a top notch stero system and an HDTV now you have a reason to get them. The two encores are reason enough to pick this up. The first power cords of the Kiss sends chills down your spine. BTW to those that complain that it doesn't sound like the CD's, I say GREAT! That is why I love their live stuff so much. Rob will go off on tagents taking the songs in different directions but always adding something to them. Don't die without seeing and hearing this DVD.
Rating: Summary: Good but... Review: I HAVE to begin by saying that I REALLY REALLY MISS BORIS WILLIAMS DRUMMING!!! Jason's drums sound like cardboxes. I think everyone will agree with this. Also Roger doesn't play the Disintegration set with the original or close-to-the-original sounds! Listen to Disintegration, Closedown or even better Lullaby! the keyboards doesn't sound right. The great Homesick is screwed by both, Jason and Roger.
Rating: Summary: Aside from the concert itself, be sure to check out the case Review: And an update... MTV reports that "Seminal goth-pop band the Cure will re-release their first five albums with lots of bonus material in May. Three Imaginary Boys (1979), Boys Don't Cry (1980), Seventeen Seconds (1980), Faith (1981) and Pornography (1982) have all been digitally remastered, and none of the expanded tracks will duplicate songs from their recently released box set, Join the Dots: B-sides and Rarities, 1978-2001. Additional Cure reissues will be released later in the year." I've been waiting forever. Inside the case, it lists that the albums Pornography, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, Disintegration and Bloodflowers will all be remastered and rereleased in 2004. Since this represents parts of 1982-2000, I can only assume that they are planning a MASSIVE rerelease of absolutely everything in The Cure's back catalog. They were on Elektra in the states...Could that mean that Rhino is doing the reissues? If so, I'm imagining that they will give each album the double disc treatment (as they did with Elvis Costello) and include EVERYTHING!! Here's to hoping for good things in 2004! B-Sides B-Sides B-Sides (and finally a complete Kiss Me with Hey You!)!!
Rating: Summary: MINDBLOWING PERFORMANCE! Review: The Cure "Trilogy" DVD is "Just Like Heaven" for Cure fans! To hear three landmark albums played in their running order and played so well is amazing. Moments frozen in time from three decades. So many of these songs never made it to a traditional tour stage that to hear them now is treat. Interesting too is the older Cure material played by a newer version of the line-up... fascinating. The performance is straight ahead music... these are my words and they mean something to me! Robert Smith as always is the focal point of the whole concert... and he is older just like the rest of us and a tad heavier too. The wonderful aspect is that the words, sounds, and songs hold up... the passion and emotion is there on songs 20 years old and songs 2 years old. What a tour de force. The encore set offers a stand-out rocking performance of "The Kiss" and just as the show kicks of with a haunting version of "100 Years", "The Kiss" sends the viewer/listener on their way with a blow to the mind.... awsome. There is a glut of Cure music available but if you own more than one Cure CD then Cure fans you need this... Older, wiser, better...
Rating: Summary: Plain Cure Review: I didn't have any expectations buying this DVD, as a huge Cure fan I would buy it whether it's good or bad anyway. Overall I would rate performances as very uneven and mostly plain. First the music. I agree with earlier comment, the keyboard is off on few songs, but the biggest difference to me is the guitar of Perry Bamonte, or lack of. The Cure just doesn't sound the same without Porl on Pornography and Disintegration sets, so it is up to Robert and Simon to carry the load. Strangely, the riffs still sounded muffed, which might be the effect of trying to level the sound for all the instruments and vocals throughout the DVD. The quality of video is superb, although it would be nice to shoot it in a widescreen format for wider angles especially to capture close-ups. Pornography set suffers from poor video editing where shots are very short and constantly changing, I am guessing caused by flashed of bright lights, contrasting with very dark backdrop. The stage setting, lights, special effects as always nicely complement the music. As I said at the beginning, buying this DVD I didn't have any expectations, although I always end up discovering something new. So far, after listening to this DVD quite a few times, I haven't stumbled upon it yet, which in a sense, is disappointing.
Rating: Summary: This DVD blew me away! Review: Watching this DVD was so incredible I checked my pulse a few times to make sure I hadn't actually died and gone to heaven. With a band like the Cure, who's career spans a couple of decades and several albums, you don't get to hear a lot of their older stuff live, particularly the obscure stuff from albums. This DVD contains all of the tracks from three of their "darkest" albums performed live last November. ALL OF THE TRACKS! It's unbelievably great. I've seen this band play in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1996 & 2000. They are fantastic but the way they played in this DVD was just amazing. Robert approached these songs with reverence and feeling and that came across in how he sang them. The band was incredible as well. Buy this DVD. It is so worth it. In addition to the music, there is also an interview section, along with outtakes from the interviews. This is a MUST HAVE for all Cure fans. If you "sort of like" the Cure, you should also buy it because this DVD will seduce you into LOVING them! :)
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