...Otherwise, you will miss out on some superb Cure favorites.
I am told by some musician friends of mine that rarely is a song truly finished by the time the tracks are laid and mixed for the original album recording. Often what happens is that there is a rush to produce an album in time for a release deadline. So months or even years later, after the band has had a chance to play it repeatedly in concert and fine-tune it, the song can finally reach its last transformation. Of course by then it's too late to change the debut recording.
The Cure; Mixed Up is a collection of eleven of The Cure's hits from the `80s; remixed, extended, and/or remade. Since I'm familiar with several of the originals from when they were radio hits I have a good comparison reference. There is a definite tendency to lay in more synth sounds in these versions. Some tracks are stretched out and punched up for better dancing rhythm (Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot! And Fascination Street), while others seem to be rearranged to be more full-bodied and moody for artistic purposes (the Walk, the Caterpillar, A Forest).
Whatever the intent, these remixes work very well for me. Although I love all the originals as only a longtime fan could, this album has its own merit as a different expression of the artists' visions. For instance, Never Enough conveys the tortured angst of addiction better through distorted vocals and frantic pacing; the Caterpillar has an added dimension that makes it seem fantastic in a fairy-tale way. In these cases I even find myself preferring the latter versions.
But what the heck, it's all the Cure -- reason enough to buy it!
It definitely beats the pants off of the recent single CD REMIXES 81 - 04 compilation I got not too long ago by Depeche Mode. I love Depeche, but unfortunately, I find those remixes to be rather unimaginative and run-of-the-mill compared to MIXED UP which is bursting with creativity and fun. If you like the Cure's "party" side, it's hard to beat this CD for great times.
My impressions:
"Lullaby (Extended Mix)" - A personal favorite. The Cure were never virtuosos and some people find Robert Smith's voice questionable, but they (or "Robert," whatever) have always had a knack for creating moods and sounds that perfectly compliment whatever lyrics Smith wrote. I won't blab endlessly about how talented I think they are. The best songs on MIXED UP retain that expressive quality while sounding completely different from the originals. Some are more radically different than others. Personal note: I'll always remember being in a club in Paris (ages ago, when I was fortunate enough to live in France for a year) having a blast, dancing my ass off when this remix of "Lullaby" graced my ears for the first time. When I realized it was the Cure, I became ecstatic! *****
"Close To Me (Closer MIx)" - here, "Close To Me" is charmingly injected with a shuffling hip-hop beat. This is a great party song with plenty of horns. It's far removed from the spare, nervous little number from the HEAD ON THE DOOR album. If you want to whine about this not being "Dre" or "Nas" or whatever, fine, but you should really open your mind a bit. I once knew a hip-hop DJ who was so taken with this track he had to record it. *****
"Fascination Street (Extended Remix)" - creepy-sounding, yet super-charged - this version pushes the "creepy" lever up a bit more with some strange synths. It's definitely dance worthy like most (but not all) of MIXED UP. ****1/2
"The Walk (Everything Mix)" - Basically pushing "The Walk" further than it's ever been taken, this version has been deliciously disco-fied and there's an energetic, shimmering little climax in there. Totally addictive song as always. *****
"Love Song (Extended Remix)" - probably the most similar song to the original version in the bunch, this is more of a standard extended remix, a typical style from the earliest days of remixing. The song itself is excellent and probably the Cure's biggest hit. Sadly, I got kinda sick of it after hearing it played to death on alt-rock radio. I found this frustrating because the Cure had so many other great songs that could've been played (fortunately, I no longer rely on corporate media to dictate what I listen to). Because of that and the fact that this remix isn't much different than the original, I'll rate it . . . ****
"A Forest (Tree Mix)" - a cool version of what I consider to be the Cure's signature song. I've heard many different versions of this one, including both live on CD and in person. As an aside, I'd like to point out that the last track on the last CD of the Cure's JOIN THE DOTS collection is a mind-blowing version, possibly the best I've heard yet. ****1/2
"Pictures of You (Extended Dub Mix)" - another quasi-hip-hop remix, this is one of the Cure's best, most beloved songs. *****
"Hot Hot Hot!!! (Extended Mix)" - the Cure's most funktastic song ever! This one's a blast!!! *****
"Why Can't I Be You? (Extended Mix)" - Probably the most exuberant, uber-happy song in existence. I read an interview with Robert Smith who claimed he got the beat from a very old song (a hot-jazz number I believe). This song really captures that "head-over-heels" feeling. If you can't get enough of it (like me) you'll love this extended version. *****
"Caterpiller (Flicker Mix)" - I absolutely love this one. It takes "The Caterpiller" on a deeper, dreamier trip through the forest. Sweet and lush. *****
"In Between Days (Shiver Mix)" - great "mix" title, but it's deceptive. This is easily my least favorite remix here. It has a very old-school dance floor vibe that I'm not too crazy about, and the song itself feels limp in places. I'll still trip out on it when I'm in the mood, but I sometimes just skip or program it out. The song loses a lot without the brisk acoustic guitar strum of the original. It's pretty dubby in places though, especially towards the end. ***1/2
"Never Enough (Big Mix)" - Back in the day, this record was the first place most Cure acolytes heard "Never Enough" as it is a non-album single recorded around this time. It's got a killer rock groove and, lyric-wise, it's practically Robert Smith's anthem: "One more time to fill it up, one more time to kill/ Whatever I do it's never enough." ****1/2
I bought this when it was a tape back in 1990. The tape has 12 songs and the CD for some reason is missing a song. "Why can't I be you? (extended mix)" hmm I wonder why its missing?
I just listened to "Mixed Up" by the Cure again, and I was reminded of why I keep coming back to this amalgam of early Cure songs: it's the frothy energy and clarity that permeates these remixed, stretched, and revised tracks. It's hard to listen to these tracks without driving a bit faster, swaying in your office chair, or surreptitiously playing front man to a phantom band.
La versión de Pictures of you incluida en el album colmó todas las expectativas de lo que puede esperarse de una canción: zambullida en lo profundo de uno mismo, éxtasis, deseo de lo imposible y de lo que ya no volverá. La tristeza como método de conocimiento. Encontrar a alguien a quien le guste Pictures of you es como encontrar a alguien a quien conocemos de toda la vida.
