Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Cure to release live Bestival CD

Double CD release on Dec. 5th (UK & Europe) / 6th (North America) to benefit the Isle of Wight Youth Trust. Check the official site for the details.

Reports at The Guardian, NME, Pitchfork, Uncut, Bestiblog, Slicing Up Eyeballs, Consequence of Sound, Isle of Wight County Press, Fact Mag, Pix Bear.
(Thanks fatpie1664, Heron, Perfect.Murder, David)

Reviews: Pop Matters / Blinded by Sound / New Zealand Herald / Cambridge News / The Gap / Pitchfork / Liberation Next / Peek a Boo / Entertainment Weekly / Drowned in Sound / Consequence of Sound / Buzzine / Atlanta Music Guide / BBC / Virtual Festivals / The Skinny

Update (Dec. 1st): Rob da Bank talks about the show and the release of the album. (Thanks Aaron)

Update (Dec. 6th): Listen to the album on Rdio or Spotify. (Thanks Jason and Heron)

Update (Dec. 13th): Sunday Best has posted 3 official videos from the show - Close to Me, A Forest, and Just Like Heaven.

Update (Dec. 13th): The album didn't make the UK Top 100 Albums chart, but came in at #12 on the Top 40 Indie Albums chart. (Thanks Aaron)

128 comments:

  1. US Only? surely Rob Da Bank is going to release it over here too....

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  2. Bestival rather than Reflections? urgh

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  3. its been up on amazon uk fr a couple of days now - as usa import only

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  4. Yeah, give it time and I'm sure there will be a UK release, not just a US import.

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  5. It's listed twice at amazon.de:

    https://www.amazon.de/Bestival-Live-2011-Cure/dp/B0061UJJBY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320155385&sr=8-3

    and

    https://www.amazon.de/Bestival-Live-2011-Cure/dp/B0060PIL5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320155385&sr=8-2

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  6. It'll come out as a UK release double pack with In Orange DVD........cynical me ;)

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  7. it is on www.cede.ch here in switzerland... not mentioned if import or not... due to 6. dec...

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  8. While any release is appreciated, I'm not particularly excited to have this show on CD. The setlist is mostly old standards, the crowd pleasers, but not what the fans really want to own. I'd far sooner see effort put into releasing the Dark album.

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  9. Will be interesting to hear it, not sure I'd buy it though. Christmas list perhaps!
    I just wish they'd upload all the concert recordings they have for streaming or download at a reasonable price. I'd love to replace some of my more crappy bootlegs with good soundboard recordings and I'm happy to pay something reasonable for them. though if Robert mixes Boris' drums out too much I might not.....!

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  10. Whilst I prefer the 'darker' side of The Cure, the sound at Bestival was simply awesome, Jason's drumming was fanatstic and I can't wait to here this again.

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  11. Now I can be there again, and again, and again, and again...
    But this has made my day!

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  12. @ Honeyinmyveins - I agree. Pixies is doing something like this. They are charging $3.99 per show for downloads, and they have a bunch of their recent shows on their site. I was at work when I discovered this, so wasn't able to go back and see if they had older shows available.

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  13. Does anyone else realize that this is the first complete concert the band has ever released on CD? Such a strange thing that a band that been going for 35 years has only released one complete show and its a festival at that!

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  14. Yeah it's been on Amazon UK as an import for a couple of days now, though thought it might go the same way as the countless other things that are listed there for preorder and then never materialise - they're also offering a 5 CD box set of the first 5 albums for preorder.

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  15. Ah Danny, I need to keep up my detective work on amazon eh... Tis amazing when it comes true.

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  17. Would rather have it on DVD. The whole show was filmed.

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  18. Yes indeed, great Xmas gift!

    Are you sure the 5cd box set is an official one, or is it another unofficial Russian release?

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  19. Well, this is rather unexpected.

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  20. Heads up! It's on the Cure's official site now. Cool cover too!! http://www.thecure.com/blog/default.aspx?nid=37049

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  21. Fontana Pias ? If only that could mean a split with Geffen/Universal ! It's a shame the way they support The Cure. When you see the Mute involvment wirh Depeche Mode, just to mention one label... Anyway a fantastic gift after a very good festival.

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  22. what were the "problems earlier"?

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  23. A misunderstanding. Hopefully resolved and sorted.

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  24. @Fabien G - I have no idea - it's just listed on Amazon UK as 5 Audio CDs with the tracklists of the first 5 albums - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cure/dp/B005ZBBKHQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320177789&sr=1-7

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  25. I will buy that mostly for "The Hungry Ghost"

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  26. @Skraps I've seen The Pixies stuff and yes they have released some recordings from 1989. It's a great idea and way to make some cash. Most fans will buy good recordings of gigs, I've been buying crappy bootlegs for years!

    @davidaftertherain Releasing a live album doesn't necessarily mean a split from Universal//Geffen but agreed that they've not been looked after well. Be interesting to see them move to a good indie like Beggars Banquet

    As for the 5CD box set I wonder if it's part of the Original Album series that Rhino have been putting out? http://www.rhino.co.uk/originalalbumseries They are 5 CD sets. Amazon lists the label as Commerical Marketing which sounds odd but the price is much more than the usual prices of sets in the series....

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  27. The Isle of Wight County Press has the story also http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/rob-da-bank-has-the-cure-for-island-charity-41461.aspx

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  29. Already pre-ordered my copy!
    https://www.amazon.ca/Bestival-Live-2011-Cure/dp/B0060PIL5A/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320186079&sr=1-3

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  31. Since I haven't seen The Cure play live for a while, for me this is a treat to hear something they recently played live although I'd rather have a recording of Reflections. Will be ordering a copy soon!

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  32. Maybe it's because I'm studying graphic design at the moment that's given me a more critical eye..

    I'm just not that into the font they've used.. I'm not buying the loveheart idea at all.

    It really does look like a tacky bootleg cover someone's thrown together on Photoshop.. :p

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  33. So we get this release right after the show and have been waiting 22 years for July 24th 1989 Wembley? Why not release a 2 CD set of the 2007-2008 "tour" while your at it.

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  34. Sorry to be a downer, but this is beyond lame. A greatest hits set with all Schecters and no second guitarist?
    Why waste the time? I don't think that most people who buy this will listen to it more than a handful of times. Even if people think that this is exciting, they will prefer to listen to Entreat, Paris, Show, Concert, etc. after hearing ten minutes of this performance.

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  36. Although i agree there is much more out there that would please fans more than a Bestival set, i think the clue here is in the word "benefit".

    If advertised well, it could do ok in terms o sale even with casual fans,don't forget they stole that week end and went down a treat with 50.000 people.

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  37. @ perfect.murder. i agree. why are people complaining about this release? it's for charity. if you don't want to help that organisation then no-one is forcing you to buy the album. just like no-one is forcing you to donate money for anything. i'm gonna buy it although i'm pretty sure i wont listen to it that many time. at least it's a good cause.

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  38. and it's a nice souvenir for the people (like myself) who were there.

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  39. I do see this as a special extra to the 2012 Album release (Hopefully, it's 4 years) and the Reflections dvd.

    The concert was great, Robert sang like he was ten years younger. It's for charity.

    Already preordered.

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  40. Ah SWEET! They used my quote from my review for the press release. Helping promote my fave band..strange feeling.

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  41. Always happy to have a new Cure records! Thanks!

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  42. RobdaBank said it will be available direct in the UK :) , just waiting for a reply to see if release date will be the same :) Great momento to have and it is for a childrens charity

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  43. http://www.factmag.com/2011/11/02/the-cure-to-release-bestival-live-2011-for-charity/

    Slightly different cover here (colours anyway)

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  44. @ Honeyinmyveins

    Oh I know that it doesn't mean a split, especially because it's something released with the collaboration of a festival. But I'm really convinced that The Cure would have deserved better labels and distributors, and it became worse after Chris Perry's treason.

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  45. And NME has a mention as well
    http://www.nme.com/news/the-cure/60154

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  47. Some reports in online musical magazines in spanish:

    http://muzikalia.com/noticias_leer.php/13593/the-cure-publica-disco-en-directo

    http://zm.nu/2011/11/02/album-en-directo-de-the-cure/

    http://www.estereofonica.com/the-cure-lanzara-nuevo-album-en-diciembre/

    Craig, do you know if the cd will be released in Latin America as well?

    Thanks.

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  48. I sent you a reflections sighting Craig, sent to your Gmail, it is from last nights Conan.

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  49. @ Craig - Sorry, this is a little OT but I've just heard on the radio that MAYBE The Cure will be playing in Italy, in Rome, next summer! Please please please pretty please, can you tell me something about it? :)

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  50. The news also made The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/nov/02/the-cure-release-bestival-album?newsfeed=true

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  51. The show was amazing for me and it has to do nothing with future releases such as dark album or Reflections DVD which was confirmed by the band as a future december realease.
    Does anybody bother that they release this show?
    and again much better sound than with porl and no keyboards.

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  52. Fancy griping about an unexpected release, I am excited to hear this and continues the bands philanthropy so it's a lovely gesture for everyone

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  53. There will be a new vinyl re-issue of SEVENTEEN SECONDS album, too

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  54. http://idealcopy.american-data.net//Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=843798000773 (Bestival 2CD)

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  56. surely the brilliant poster art as the front cover?

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  57. Listening to the audio clips .. doesn't it sound great!!!

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  58. Have listened to the clips and sounds really dry. Also I've noticed that the cardboard boxes of Jason are sounding louder now.

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  59. oh do be quiet! i think it's sounding magic & we should all hope the band do more of this 'official bootleg', I've always wished they would. Just for the record, before Bestival I wrote 'double live CD!' in a blog on here!

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  60. I don't know where posting this news but i want to let u know!

    "
    The Cure are back in the studio working with producer Bob Rock who previously helmed Sonic Temple, The Cult and Beyond Good and Evil."

    source:
    http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=Quick-quips:-Queen,-Madonna,-Cure,-Jackson-Browne,-Van-Halen,-Beach-Boys&nItemID=46471


    Stephan aka SL

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  61. False report. Checked it out earlier today and it's not true.

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  62. Thanx for the verification GRAIG...sorry 2 all if the story was false...so....The Cure is not coming back in studio....so SAD!!

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  63. No problem, SL. I think someone got confused when reporting the story, as Bob Rock is working with The Cult and Motley Crue. : )

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  64. Of course we would rather have 'Reflections', however it's nice to get a full, modern Cure concert.

    And it's for charity.

    I wouldn't get your hopes up for a new studio album in 2013, friend of mine talked to Simon briefly at one LA show. She said he didn't sound positive about anything coming out.

    Remember, usually when The Cure announce a new album, it's a year or two before it actually comes out. Remember 1998, 1999?

    Or even the debacle with 4:13 dream and the 'Dark Album' nonsense?

    We haven't even received an announcement yet about any new studio album.

    IMO we won't see one until 2013 at least.

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  65. "I wouldn't get your hopes up for a new studio album in 2013"

    Sorry meant 2012

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  66. Someone mentioned Depeche Mode releasing a DVD of every tour.

    Big deal, every Depeche Mode tour has basically the same 'greatest hits' setlist with a few new songs, lol.

    Occasionally Martin will play something rare, but they play the same songs every tour for the most part. Boring.

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  67. Very nice performance, got press copy. Sounds like the band are having fun! Great to hear it clearly (stood way to close to Simon's bass amps when watched live.) I happily gave it an 8/10. :) Clashmag

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  68. random

    telly ad just been on playing lullaby fr new ministry of sound - alt eighties cd

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  69. LOVE the interview with RDB!! Great stuff - didn't know that the live CD was Robert's idea and that he was the one who insisted on it being for charity. MUCH love to Robert for being awesome and to RDB for being persistent about getting The Cure to play Bestival!! What a great experience that was, cannot wait to hear the "pristine" audio!

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  70. Just listened to the whole thing. Great selection of tracks. Please don't kill me for this comment, but Jason's drums sound weird on here. Like others, I'd love a Reflections one as well, but this will do in the meanwhile. Also lol at 'Killing Another' , glad he changed it for the Reflections shows from which I am still on Cloud 9.

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  71. I'm sooo in need of this release! I thought I was obsessed before, but now that I've seen two of the Reflections shows, I'm hungry for more of anything Cure!

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  72. Bestival cd, Very funny, track 16 on disc 2 - Killing another . .

    http://www.platekompaniet.no/Musikk.aspx/CD/The_Cure/Bestival_Live_2011_2CD/?id=SBESTCD50

    DBL CD cost Only 120,- norwegian, Around 13 £

    Norwegian ITunes 105,- around 11 £

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  73. I got it today, bu I'm not able to listen until this evening :-(

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  74. Downloades from iTunes and listening to Plainsong ATM

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  75. For those who already have it, can you tell me if Simon's fall and bass thud is left in on the end of Jumping Someone Else's Train? Thanks!

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  76. Hey Sam, is your review posted online? Would like to link to it. Thanks!

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  77. Craig

    RE: Simon's fall. I couldn't pick up on it, so it's not obvious if it is there

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  78. Thank you, Barry. Was hoping it was left in.

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  79. Nice to hear the inside story by Rob da Bank.

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  80. hey guys. it available on the uk's hmv.com with a release date the 5th. just ordered it.

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  81. Okay guys, this may be a stupid question, but will this be available at places like Best Buy? Or will I need to order it online? Thanks in advance, everyone!

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  82. It's already out online.

    The audio mixing quality is lacking. What a shame. It had the potential to be something different.

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  83. Hi there, I do think it is a fantastic live album. The sound is so nice in my view...Really love it....Sven

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  84. Just listened to bits and pieces.
    4 words:

    Porl, come home ... please!


    Wow, this sure confirms that the Festival 2005 line was one hell of a powerful band.

    Sorry, but that's my opinion.

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  85. Yes a hell but for our ears.If porl was in the band again is ok for me but this sounds much better than the crappy last gig garage sound.

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  86. last december we were so excited about bestival, when it came to that saturday we had waited so long for, i didnt realize how disapointing it would be. no porl to start with and robert trying to play duel guitar parts. it didnt work.i read many reviews and only a minority said what we thought. after listening to the bestival recording it confirmed to me that it was not good at all! thank god for reflections, but a keyboard is no substitute for a second guitar

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  87. IMO it's a great recording - on 2nd listen. There's even a full page ad in Uncut magazine as well

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  88. They need a 2nd guitarist for any formal tour. Enough with the cop-out of either no keys or just 4 members.

    To play the material from 1984 onward they need 5 members. Simple as that.

    Either bring back Porl or Daryl for the 2012 tour or hire a new 2nd guitarist.

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  89. The CD isn't available on iTune in canada!?! Sad :(

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  90. review
    http://www.atlantamusicguide.com/2011/12/06/cd-review-the-cure-bestival/

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  91. I like it...easy to pick a part for lack of guitars, but it still sounds great...it doesn't work for all songs, but after a few listens, I think I like Jason's drumming more and more as time goes by. They sound F'n tight and I really like the audience roar...it sounds so deep...so massive.

    Let us not forget, the cd is for charity people, so buy it and be happy we got something new!

    The last few months has been great to be a Cure fan....just saying...

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  92. This is random thought, but I wish The Cure would get onboard with Record Store Day. Each year there is the token band that releases a box set (Last year was the Flaming Lips with Heady Nugz) and I can't help to think that they need to release JOIN THE DOTS ON VINYL. The Cure have so many limited vinyl releases that I can't imagine it hasn't crossed their minds. Join the Dots on vinly would be like a 12 - 16 LP set if they did it right and it would be the highlite of Record Store Day.

    Someone should start a petition on this blog asking them to do this for Record Store Day 2012...because it's a wicked good idea.

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  93. Yup, sounds good, especially for how quickly it came out. Great musicianship and singing without over, over singing. Wow nice solo on end! (yeah its on!) I'm happy with this NEW live release, ITS THE WHOLE SHOW too! I don't think they've done that since in orange. and for charity, awesome!

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  94. At Bestival Jason's drumming stood out & this rcording confirms how good he is.

    Really enoyed The Walk (keyboards bring it back to life) and A Forest is majestic.

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  95. @Joseph 36: Well said! :-)

    For me the Cure are back (after 5 painful years!)! I like this recording but I have to agree: the Cure needs a 2nd guitar as well as keyboards. But, please! NOT Porl!

    Hello Perry? ;-)

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  96. Don't listen to it online...go buy the cd , that's the whole point!

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  97. I think it's pretty funny how different we all see the things happening.

    To speak of 2005: As soon as I heard them perform "Open" at the Live 8 I was convinced Bringing Porl back was a great thing to happen. Different sound (finally), more dynamic. "Underneath the Stars" "The reasons Why" & "The Hungry Ghost" were another proof for that.
    Now 2011 they bring Roger back and I love that change back now too. They sound tight, and in some way minimalistic, which makes me hope for a great new record, a bit more old school.

    I know that some songs I would love to hear on a 2012 tour cannot be played as the current 4piece(with keyboards), like nearly all from Bloodflowers. But hey, if there is a new great record I will have no problem overlooking that.

    I just don't want them to go back to the 1996 - 2004 sound. Not because I didn't like it, just because i want them to sound different, and don't repeat themselves.

    Long text, little to say: and just my opinion.
    On topic: Love the record, have to admit I never heard the keyboard parts roger plays on "HHH!!!"(going to the chorus) before, sound fantastic.

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  98. this just came to my mind: bring back, bring back, oh bring back my porly to me, to me. to be honest: i don´t care whose rejoining but a second guitar would be good!

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  99. underwhelmed. The first thing I noticed was the mix. The drums are too up front and the cd itself is brickwalled making it a distorted mess when you turn it up and lacking when you turn it down. Also, it seems that Robert isn't really into the show. Just listen to Disintegration. I haven't heard Robert this listless in a long time. Finally, I do agree with others about needing another guitar for many of the songs.

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  102. For we Canadians who seem to have gotten the digital downloading shaft, I noticed that on amazon.ca, the CD is not being released until the 13th, so hopefully we will get the digital download then as well. Fingers crossed!

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  103. Oof. I can take Robert as the sole guitarist, but I truly hate (and hate as we all know is a strong word) that SNARE DRUM. Pat, pat pat pat tap pat tap pat pat....it's so wimpy. Is it a piccolo snare? Why is he using that in a rock band? For years? Can he please get a real snare some day????

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  104. picked it up today and love it. i couldn't wait to hear a clearer version of their performance than the bootleg that was out initially. i love to hear robert take on all lead/rhythm guitar parts [with a little help from roger]. great line up and obviously adding porl would've added more depth, but robert did an excellent job as well as the rest of the group.

    i just wonder what "lost music ltd" is all about...tried to google and nothing is coming up. perhaps this is an independent label?? hope so. pias is the distributor...not universal!

    such a well rounded and thoughtful setlist for the festival scene...kudos!

    looking forward to 2012!!

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  105. can't buy this in Canada yet

    anyone in the UK with a paypal account want to buy this from itunes for me and send me the files and I will reimburse you by paypal

    Let me know please
    Thanks, Steve
    steve_jones@rogers.com

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  106. can't buy this in Canada yet

    anyone in the UK with a paypal account want to buy this from itunes for me and send me the files and I will reimburse you by paypal

    Let me know please
    Thanks, Steve
    steve_jones@rogers.com

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  107. This is a very well-written review - http://www.buzzinemusic.com/reviews/music-review-cure-bestival-live-2011-12082011

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  108. @bean Couldn't agree with you more!
    Its very good/entertaining!

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  109. I picked it up at Best Buy yesterday. I so far have only listened to the first disc and it sounds great! So glad to have Roger back. It's a very nice christmas present from the cure this year and I hope it sells well and makes lots of money for charity. Oh and did I mention the lovely photo book! Thanks RS and company!xxxooo

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  110. Listening on Spotify right now ... fantastic album ... sound better than they have in ages live. Good one you.

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  111. Also, drums on Shake Dog Shake are as good as any thing I've ever heard ...

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  112. Woop, got given this by the people at work today for my birthday on sunday which is pretty sweet.. Listening to it now. At first I thought the sound was shit but actually it sounds like i'm at the gig, like a bootleg almost rather than a sanitized live album if that makes sense.

    I'm still not liking the tinny drums like at the Reflections shows. Jason's a good drummer but not sure about those snares. I also agree about the lack of a second guitar on some of the tracks.

    BUT despite that still loving it. Loving it's all for charity and hope we see a rash of releases live or otheriwse.....

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  113. Oh One last thing, Jason tapping them in at the start of every song is really fucking annoying, they're not 12 year olds playing their first gig FFS.

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  114. I thought it was pretty standard to count off a song.

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  115. @twilightklaas I haven't heard it for a long time, that was why I was so surprised.

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  116. Another review

    http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/12/album-review-the-cure-bestival-live-2011/

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  117. Man so awesome to have the best live album with such a high quality recording. The drumming really shines and Robert double duties make me even more amazed how talented he is. This is a must have. END is my favorite off the album

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  118. Another review at Drowned In Sound

    http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16693/reviews/4144199

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  119. The Cure @ Bestival featured on BoingBoing today! http://boingboing.net/2011/12/12/the-cure-a-forest-live-at.html

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  120. Has anyone found a physical copy in Canada? Even amazon.ca doesn't have them in stock...

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