from www.allmusic.com

4 & 1/2 stars

Normally speaking, a box set of nothing but B-sides and unreleased tracks would only be of interest to rabid fans, but the Cure have never really been a "normal" band. While their longevity alone — nearly 25 years — is certainly the most obvious clue to their uniqueness, Robert Smith's true charm lies in his ability to craft memorable songs that inspire nothing less than emotional fervor in his and the band's fans. Over the years, the band's singles have achieved high sales and chart placings in numerous countries, while the albums have become icons in themselves, with thousands of ex-gloomy teenagers being able to remember things based on when, say, Disintegration or Wish hit stores. While this successful output would usually be enough to cement a band's place in the big picture, Robert Smith is also blessed with the ability to compile his work in a fashion that is second to none. For example, one of the best moves that he and the band made was back in 1986, when they decided to pad the cassette release of their 1986 singles collection, Staring at the Sea with most of the B-sides dating back from 1978 (the remaining B-sides from the era were collected on the Japanese Whispers L.P.). Now in most cases, this would have been a minor annoyance, pulling away from the strength of the singles (and those singles were not only strong, but incredibly diverse) and filling space with songs that are put on the backs of singles for a reason. But in this case, the Cure were just as good (and in some cases more outlandish) at making B-sides as they were hits. Unfortunately, when it came time for the Cure to do it again in 1997 with the Galore collection, the B-sides were nowhere to be found. While neophytes may not have even noticed, those in the know were disappointed, to say the least. Where was "A Japanese Dream?" or "Harold & Joe?" or "2 Late?" Subsequently, fans had to hunt down singles, soundtracks, and compilations for these gems, while others were left in the dark as to what the band wasn't making readily available.
So it's a blessing that the Cure's long and happy relationship with Fiction records came to an end. Wisely, the band decided to start fresh upon signing with their new label by cleaning house, remastering the old albums and bringing their fans this, Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001. Not only is it the ultimate companion to the official releases, but it is, in a way, the new-super-deluxe-updated version of that cassette release of Staring at the Sea. Every B-side, in order, with cleaned up sound, liner notes, and explanations by the man who made it all happen. All tracks, from "10.15 Saturday Night" (the B-side to the debut single "Killing an Arab") to covers of "Hello I Love You," "Purple Haze," and "World in My Eyes," to entries from the Bloodflowers singles, are an indication that while the Cure made both strong albums and singles, they were not afraid to experiment along the way, and more importantly, they didn't let pride keep them from not making them available to those who were willing to look for them. Their growth as a band can be fully tracked in the songs here, the wild development on Disc One (which includes the B-sides from the Staring at the Sea cassette, the B-sides from the Boys Don't Cry re-release from 1986, and the Japanese Whispers B-sides — as well as the extremely rare "Lament" (flexi-disc version)) — is easily their strongest and most diverse era, with Smith growing artistically and musically in leaps and bounds from track to track. The rampant growth eventually gives way to the dark and heavy pop of the B-sides of Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me, Disintegration, and Mixed Up on Disc Two. While the songs are strong on this second disc, they manage to have less of the wild, experimental abandon that Disc One has. The Cure began to find a real niche by this point, and by Disc Three, the dream pop of the late '80's had developed into the stadium-sized gloom and doom that characterized 1992's Wish, their critical and commercial peak. Eventually the band's output would become more sporadic, and the level of consistency would be more of a trademark of the band than the experimentalism of old. Disc Four, which covers the time from Wild Mood Swings to Bloodflowers (and the admittedly odd Greatest Hits collection), is the "weakest" of the collection, but there are still great moments to be found, with many remixes that give the original tracks a new interpretation. There are those who would argue that the band grew, and other would argue that it fell apart, yet there is no denying that the majority of work on Join the Dots is extraordinarily strong. It, admittedly, may be a bit too much for someone who isn't quite a big devotee of the band, but it's a veritable godsend for those who've been waiting for this for years. No jumbled, out-of-order track listings, no glaring omissions (it's safe to say that the reissues of the albums will take care of any extra tracks, mixes, etc., lying around), its exactly what a rarities/B-sides collection should be. Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001 is proof that, while the band may falter from time to time — as most do — the Cure has, unlike most, really been paying attention to their fans' needs over the years. Thank Rob for that. — Chris True

In other Cure related news, they already have 38 songs recorded for the new album that Bob plans on wittling down to 12. Originally the album was supposed to be "the heaviest thing ever recorded." Now it seems he's describing it as reminiscent of "Seventeen Seconds" and sounding like space. I can't wait cuz that's my favorite album of theirs.

anticipaaation

Well here you have it, from the horse's mouth. From www.rollingstone.com

The Cure are recording their twelfth album in London with producer Ross Robinson, best-known for his work with new-metal bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot.
"We are trying to get a heavier sound than we've been associated with in the past," Smith says. "We convinced him that the doom and gloom of London is more conducive to making our music than sunny California."

Smith said it was Robinson's more subtle work on albums by Vex Red and At the Drive-In that got his attention. "The reason I've developed a relationship with Ross has to do with his love of music and his love for the Cure," Smith says. "Some of the stuff he's worked on I don't like, but some is genius sonically."

The Cure have written and demoed twenty-seven songs, which Smith plans to cut down to fourteen.

"The heavier sound we're going for is more to do with the tempos and dynamics and the space were leaving," he says."The more space you leave, the heavier you get. It's actually the antithesis of the new-metal assault, which is all about piling things on. It's going back to the Faith period, but making the sounds themselves a lot heavier and more savage."

The album should be wrapped by February and released in the summer, after which the Cure plan to tour the U.S.

GIL KAUFMAN

wouldn't it be cool if they released a 1-disc "Join the Dots" sampler for the more casual fan? They could even release a single and promote it.


something like this:


1. I'm Cold
2. Another Journey by Train
3. Splintered In Her Head
4. Just One Kiss
5. Throw Your Foot
6. A Few Hours After This
7. The Exploding Boy
8. Man Inside My Mouth
9. A Japanese Dream
10. A Chain of Flowers
11. To the Sky
12. 2 Late
13. Harold and Joe
14. Halo
15. The Big Hand
16. Adonais
17. A Pink Dream
18. Coming Up


A Pink Dream as a single.


OK, print them up Fiction

Absolutely cannot wait! It looks like 2004 will be a great year for me musically with this and seeing David Bowie for the first time and several other works I am planning on acquiring. Now, if Bjork will complete The Lake Experience I will be in Heaven!!! Thank you for the reviews Nathan.

JonSnow said:

I think there is a one disc sampler. I've seen it listed somewhere. But I believe it's just a promo for radio stations.

TRON said:

I love All Music's reviews, since they're unbiased, intelligently written, and well researched. RS, however...let's just say when they gave "Justified" 4 stars, they lost it for me. Well, actually they lost it for me about 15 years ago.

VoicesCarry said:

Usually they're pretty insightful but sometimes they just don't have a clue.

Here's a scan of the promo sampler for Dots.

Whats the release date on this set?

thedoorkeeper said:

January 27, 2004

thedoorkeeper said:

Yup.

The Cure suxxx

2freaky4church1 said:

You suck!

Clearing up some rumors about the new album.

"If you read the entire feature, there's some talk of the songs that were recorded for the first album back in late 78 - there were about 20-odd songs recorded over three nights, basically everything the band had in their repertoire. Plus, they dragged out some old stuff that wasn't considered that good (Pillbox Tales, Do The Hansa, I Don't Know aka Faded Smiles, and a few more). Also there was a track called "Winter" which was something they tried out once at a pub gig (The Rocket, probably) - it was the last part of a hippy-styled acoustic "symphony" that also featured Spring, Summer and Autumn. They recorded it, according to Robert, because Dempsey liked it, but he was adamant it wasn't going to get on the finished album. But it will probably appear on the Three Imaginary Boys extras CD.

The confusion is because the last paragraph is taken out of context. Robert says that in previous years, he would have been worried that any reissue material (ie all the extras discs) would be taken by casual buyers as the "new" Cure album - he was horrified to think that "Winter" would be considered the title track of the new LP, because it's so awful! So essentially, the paragraph you've scanned in is the punchline to Robert's earlier criticism of some of his more embarrassing moments..."

2freaky4church1 said:

You Suck Anus Almighty

garnis said:

are you trying to make that nickname stick? something a tad more clever, or even something that rhymes might be a good start.


we can brainstorm over some if you orgnote me.

AaronAlmighty said:

Nah, I like Anus Almighty. It suits you.

garnis said:

isn't the point of using a derogatory nickname to irritate the subject; to get under one's skin?


that's why i want to help you come up with one. if you're going to do it, do it right.

Thanks but no thanks. I have no faith in your taste, reguardless of the topic.

garnis said:

Do you have anything to add to this thread or are you just following Aaron around?

thedoorkeeper said:

I believe it's coming out the 27th or 28th of January here.

thank u

NEWSFLASH
The latest news is the USA release has been moved to early Feb 2004.

12/31/03 - HAPPYNEWYEAR
[This message was edited Wed Dec 31 11:01:11 PST 2003 by thedoorkeeper]