...it was a total joke.

I went to Best Buy certain that they'd have it. I looked in their section. Nothing. I looked under their section in all the boxes they had stacked up. Nothing. I looked on the carts of new releases they hadn't put out yet. Nothing.

So I asked one of the staff to check the computer for me. It said they had 3 copies in stock for $19.99. So they started searching for me. After looking everywhere they could think of, they said they thought it'd probably be back in the werehouse and if I'd wait, they'd definitely find it. So I waited. For over 20 minutes.

Nothing. I asked if maybe there was a mixup or if it would arrive later in the day, to which they replied, "We really don't know what happened. We're very sorry. You can try back later in the week though. But until then, We have the new Lindsay Lohan.



I hope he was joking, but he said it with such a straight face. If I'm looking for a deluxe, 2 disc never released in the US legendary alternative album, do you really think I'm gonna be appeased by a copy of Lindsay Slow Hands? I should've been pissed, but it was just too funny.

I couldn't help thinking that this was a perfect example of how insanely bad the state of music has become. It reminded me exactly of Anxiety's thread about the 'Age vs. Quality' issue - the fact that even the employees selling the music had no clue. But Best Buy really never has been helpful at all, so I guess this shouldn't suprise me. So I just took my money over to the mall and slapped down nearly $30 at FYE. And I hate that place even more.

God do I miss the downtown indie stores. Smalltown USA is not the place for music fans anymore.

All bitching aside, I really love this. I've only made it through the first disc so far, and the guitars literally sparkle. I can't wait to dig into the rest. But I still don't understand why there's no "Killing An Arab".

beast buy sucks for getting anything even remotely arguably obscure. it's great when supahstar releases like gwen stefani or U2 have new stuff out, and sometimes i'm surprised at their selection and the stuff they have on display with the new releases, but after i went there looking for the john waters christmas album and one of the employees told me he thought he stocked it in the country section, i lost a part of my beast buy innocence that i'll never be able to get back. i've gone there a couple of times over the past couple months for things that i thought were fairly mainstream, only to find that they didn't have it in stock. i'm starting to get an idea of what they consider "worthy". kinda. sorta.

thankfully i have reckless records in my nabe - their prices aren't as good, but they're an indie store, it's run by in-the-know music snobs, and sometimes if i root through the used stuff long enough, i'll find advance copies of all the new releases i want for half the price!

i love the home demo for "boys don't cry" and "10:15" on disc two, and the pics of the band as young'uns are adorable.

Anxiety said:

Yeah, I couldn't believe I actually saw all the Brian Eno remasters there today. Just a couple weeks ago, he didn't even have his own section. So did they offer you a consolation prize for not having what you were looking for? I hope so. It certainly made me feel better.

And you're a lucky bitch for having Reckless so close. I love it there.

i didn't get a consolation prize. fortunately, i went to border's and the guy knew just what i was talking about and he was able to find the solitary copy of the waters cd that they had in stock and hand it to me in under a minute. i was quite impressed. UNfortunately, it was borders, so i wound up spending damn near twenty bucks for it.

i would LURVE to get more of the eno remasters...i found "another green world" used at reckless for 9.99 not too long ago, and i made a pact with myself that i'd only buy the eno "pop" reissues if i could find them used...but the ambient CDs i want REALLY bad.

Anxiety said:

They had all 8 today. I couldn't believe it.

If I had my drothers, I'd only shop and used and indie stores. Not only do they have more of what I want, it's so much more satisfying. But I'm constantly tempted by the cheap first week sales of Best Buy. I have trouble resisting a bargain.

i don't mind going to beast buy for the big splashy megastar album releases that i wanna get...i had no problem paying ten bucks for the gwen album, and i certainly wouldn't have gone near it if i had to pay full price for it.

but for stuff on small, struggling labels i either like to go to the indie stores or buy direct from the artist/label web site. it is more fun, and it does feel better, and the folks at the indie wrecka stows actually can answer your questions, even if it's with a sneer and a roll of the eyes most of the time.

GangstaFam said:

capitalist pig.

GangstaFam said:

haha

I have to say, i'm really pleased with Three Imaginary Boys. The sound is excellent, and Disc 2 really delivers the goods. There are some very interesting tracks, like the demo of Grinding Halt that includes all the lyrics. The outtakes like Winter, Faded Smiles and Play With Me. The live tracks are the same as from Curiousity.

My only complaint is the commentary, it had seemed from the press releases that Robert was going to comment on every song, which is not the case. He had very little to say about this album.

Also, the ommission of Killing an Arab is bizarre, and it means that we won't have it in remastered format. It's only on Standing on a Beach, and the US CD release of Boys Don't Cry - both of which sound like crap. It's a shame, but i'm guessing in the current world climate the band decided to quietly let this song retire.

But all in all, i'm very thrilled w/ the release, and can't wait for the rest of the catelogue!!

DUDE! I can't wait to pick this up.

I'm officially not allowed to purchase CDs though till after Xmas. So, I have to wait for a while and see if it appears under my tree


and that is SOOO funny about the Lindsay Lohan suggestion. WTF?

Fortunately, We don't have a Best Buy in MPLS proper and I hate driving, so I only go there maybe once a month for a big release. 90% of my shopping is done at the Electric Fetus. They recently added a new listening station/cd making service that is gonna totally rock my world. I love that store. YAY for indie shops!

GrayKing said:

who?

JonSnow said:

I remember before the new Cure album came out rumors about it being titled "Winter". Robert said that it was an older song from TIB that was god-awful and that he'd never resurrect that song. But I really like it. I don't see what the problem is. Same with World War. He hates it. I love it. And I'm glad I have it.

The omission of Killing An Arab is really unfortunate. It's one of their most important songs and they haven't shyed away from performing it live. It doesn't seem like them to disclude something because of politics or the world climate, especially 25 years after the fact. I actually wish the would've done a remake a few years ago when the war in Iraq was just starting. That would've been the ultimate protest kiss-off.

endorphin74 said:

Is that a hint?

GangstaFam said:

It wasn't meant to be, but, SURE!

endorphin74 said:

:jotting this down in my list of a million other things to do:

j/k Thanks for the tip.

GangstaFam said:

GangstaFam said:

I think Winter is pretty good, it's certainly as good as some of the cuts that made the album, probably better than a few. Like So What.... LOL, So What is horrendously awful. But that's part of its charm

GangstaFam said:

JonSnow said:

So What is the worst.

That Johnny Rotten styled delivery just wasn't working for him. I can still listen and enjoy it though.

The next batch of 3 are probably the most exciting of all to me. Seventeen Seconds/Faith/Pornography are definitely their most cultish albums and I think they'd benefit the most from the remaster treatment. I haven't heard many of the outtakes from that era, so they should be interesting to hear. I can't believe what a great time this is to be a Cure fan. They're giving me everything I could ever ask for.

GangstaFam said:

Yeah, The Cure is giving fans everything they could possibly want. I wish Prince would perk up and pay attention!!

JonSnow said:

It's ill.

Join The Dots is perfect.

The new album kicks ass.

Lots of new b-sides.

Great fuckin' live show.

Cool collaborations the last couple years.

Remastered albums.

Tons of unreleased stuff coming out on these special editions.

They've always been my favorite band, and I can't think of a better time to be a fan.

is it me or is the sound quality on World War really bad.. ? Was it like that on the Boys Don't Cry cassette? I tried to locate my copy but I think I threw it out at some point.

JonSnow said:

Haven't gotten that far yet. I'll letcha know once I listen. I don't remember it sucking on the tape or the MP3's I've heard since.

I heard a rumour a while back (don't know how valid it is, so take it with a whole salt-shaker) that there was going to be a two disc remastered singles collection towards the end of the remaster series that was going to incorporate everyithing from Standing On A Beach/Staring At The Sea, Galore and the new stuff from Greatest Hits. If so, "Killing An Arab" is sure to be on that. Don't know why it wasn't included here, but maybe Robert wanted to get all this other stuff on there, and figured KAA would see the light of day on a later release?

JediMaster said:

That'd be fuckin' great. But the bonus disc for TIB is only 60 minutes.

JediMaster said:

OOH, that would be nice. All the singles collections are unsatisfactory in one way or another. something like this (what am i forgetting?)

Killing an Arab
10:15 Saturday Night
Boys Don't Cry
Jumping Someone Else's Train
A Forest
Play for Today
Primary
Charlotte Sometimes
The Hanging Garden
Let's Go to Bed
The Walk
The Lovecats
The Capterpillar
In Between Days
Close to Me
A Night Like This
Why Can't I Be You?
Just Like Heaven
Catch
Hot Hot Hot!!

Fascination Street
Lovesong
Lullaby
Pictures of You
Never Enough
High
Friday I'm in Love
A Letter to Elise
The 13th
Mint Car
Strange Attraction
Wrong Number
Maybe Someday
Out of this World
Cut Here
The End of The World
alt.end
Taking Off


of course, not enough room for EVERY single.... unless it's a 3 disc set, then add some key b-sides, album tracks and things like Burn and Purple Haze.
[Edited 12/8/04 8:05am]

GangstaFam said:

I doubt there's much more material from those early days around that worth preserving. But who knows....

Here's AMG's review. Pretty accurate I'd say.

Review by Andy Kellman

How to handle the B-sides, rarities, and sock-drawer discoveries? It's the dilemma of any band with an exhaustive series of reissues ahead of it. The results, no matter what they might be, are bound to cause a mix of jubilation, confusion, and frustration throughout the fan base — especially when the band in question is the Cure. There's no clean, obvious way to do it. Rhino's elaborate overhauling of the Cure's back catalog assumes that you have been a rabid follower throughout the years and will want every piece of the puzzle. Cure fans being Cure fans, it's not a foolish judgment to make, and it's the one that should cause the least amount of consternation. Following the four-disc Join the Dots box, Rhino continued with a two-disc expanded form of Three Imaginary Boys, originally released in 1979 as the band's first album. Since the B-sides from this era appear on the box, they aren't included on the rarities disc that accompanies the album proper. This allows plenty of room for demos, live versions, and orphaned songs. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" and "Boys Don't Cry" — two non-album A-sides — are included, as is "World War," a song that appeared on initial copies and was presumably extracted for being, as Robert Smith accurately claims, "a terrible piece of rubbish." ("Killing an Arab" is conspicuously absent, possibly left out in order to reel in fans when the deluxe singles anthology surfaces.) The four live tracks, due to poor sound quality, aren't worth a second listen, though the breakneck-tempo take on "10:15 Saturday Night" and the frantic "Heroin Face" are both jolting. Unsurprisingly, the demos and outtakes are key attractions for the insatiable fans. Four studio demos from 1978 are a major draw, with Smith's boyish and alluringly ho-hum vocals in stark contrast to what is heard on the album, and the relatively strenuous instrumentation isn't nearly as spindly. Not to be outdone, disc one contains a remastered Three Imaginary Boys that sounds far more crisp and bold than the initial, thin-sounding CD version. Plenty of photos and biographical liner notes are included. This all bodes well for the reissues that will follow.