[Dave Bennett]

Hey all,
so thanks to XM Radio, I've heard quite alot of stuff by the Cure of late. I actually purchased quite a few songs off of iTunes as well. Of the top of my head, I've heard the following on XM and purchased several of these off of iTunes.
Pictures of You, A Forest, The Lovecats, Wrong Number, Just Like Heaven, High, Close To Me, Love Song, Fascination Street, A Letter to Elise, Boys Don't Cry, In Between Days, Friday I'm In Love, Why Can't I Be You? as well as two really cool covers, World In My Eyes and Purple Haze.
I've thought about buying one of the two greatest hits discs as I think they might be a good starting point but I'm wondering which of their regular albums might be the best starting point for a casual fan. I really like some of their songs, but there is the rare song I've heard by them that I just don't care for. Alot of people tend to reccomend Disintegration and I think that's the way I'm leaning whenever it is I pick up one of their discs. At any rate, just from the small sampling of songs I've heard(and many of them being fairly hit oriented at that) I can definitely see why so many people are fanatical about this band. Their sound is very etheral and other worldly, even in more mainstream songs like Just Like Heaven.
While I don't think I'm gonna start sporting the Robert Smith look I'm definitely digging The Cure of late

[MatS]

I would say Disintegration is one of the greatest rock albums of all time, you will not go wrong starting here.

other album (not hits comp) recommendations
- Head On The Door
- Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

- Wish
- Pornography


you might also look into picking up The Cure: Trilogy dvd which has a complete live performance of the Pornography, Disintigration, and Bloodflowers lps over 2 discs (a historic concert)

Staring At The Sea is a good place to start for a great collection of early works. I perfer this collection to some of their early cds as a whole.

ps. XM rocks

[Rich Malloy]

I recommend that you wait until next month, when the first wave of Cure remasters hits the shelves. No guarantee that they'll sound better than the original issues, of course, but I'm hoping they will.

I'd also recommend the Trilogy DVD until then. Check out "Disintegration" performed live and the amazing encore following the "Bloodflowers" set first. Great stuff.

[John Geelan]

The Cure's video hits DVD is also great....many of their hit songs with the videos.

[MatS]

I second Rich's suggestion of waiting on the remastered versions. Sound is great on the originals but there may be bonus material included.