Lots of funky disco guitar vocoder and classic Daft Punk vibes. But also Pharrell, and I do not like Pharrell. It really is like these guys were somewhat burned out and brought in a bunch of other people to help them make a real chill out kind of album instead of their usual full on disco awesome.
Highlights: Give Life Back to Music, Lose Yourself to Dance, Contact, Doin' It Right
7/10
Rap Attack - Various Artists
This is the classic hip-hop collaboration song Self Destruction, featuring old school kings like KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D and Public Enemy. Good times.
8/10
Rare Masters - Elton John
Old soundtrack songs, early recordings, some Xmas songs, a couple of demos here and there, and a few live tracks - including one with John Lennon. Which is likely why I have this. When I fail to listen to everything before year's end, pointless massive collections like this will be to blame!
Highlights: I Saw Her Standing There [Live], Step Into Christmas, Lady Samantha, Bad Side of the Moon, Sick City
6/10
Rarities - Kinky
Mostly remixes of early Kinky songs. None of them are as good as the originals, obviously, but I can see the appeal. Kinky have such an electronic thing going on at times and this really leans in to that - and it sort of sets up where they were heading from here.
Highlights: Oye Como Va (Extended Mix), Five Rooms
6/10
Rarities - Spice Girls
From the brightest corners of the internet I was able to find these songs; a couple of promo tracks, a couple of demos and then some remixes. I would say there is nothing overly indispensable here... but it is the Spice Girls. I just wish it were all good quality. I take what I can get...
Highlights: My Strongest Suit, Megamix
6/10
Rarities 1977-79 - The Cure
And so it begins... Early demos, a few random singles and even more live songs that sound like they were recorded in the bathroom of a dirty pub. Some of the studio demos are actually pretty good - I would venture to say this is the best version of I'm Cold - but I am not sure I needed to hear Robert Smith recording songs on his parents' organ. Well, LOGMAN, get ready for many more hours of that!
Highlights: Boys Don't Cry, I'm Cold [Sav Studio Demo], Jumping Someone Else's Train
5.5/10
Rarities 1979-80 - The Cure
This disc is genuinely worth it for the Cult Hero collaboration. All more listenable than the previous disc, but then I never thought much of Three Imaginary Boys anyways.
Highlights: I'm a Cult Hero, I Dig You
6/10
Rarities 1980-81 - The Cure
Poorly recorded home instrumental demos, studio guide tracks, and random live songs. The live stuff is surprisingly decent. And then all topped off with a couple of rare songs.
Highlights: Charlotte Sometimes, Forever [Live Somewhere Summer 1981]
6/10
Rarities 1981-82 - The Cure
What was that? More of the instrumental demos, studio guide tracks and random live songs? At least Robert Smith was consistent in the way he compiled these. The demos all sound much less dark and twisted - just maybe a little dark and bored. Props to Smith for just developing Temptation Two into becoming Let's Go To Bed - I would have just wrote them and recorded them as two completely different songs, because they barely sound similar and I am lazy.
Highlights: All Mine [Live], Temptation Two (Aka LGTB) [RS Studio Demo], A Short Term Effect [Live]
6/10
Rarities 1982-84 - The Cure
The demos for this album are not really so far removed from the finished product, since it was basically a Robert Smith solo album anyway. Just a bit more polished and more vocals. The live songs are decent enough for audience recordings.
Highlights: The Top [Live], Forever [Live]
6/10
"Albums" listened to so far: 1370
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