What is the best *OPENING* track in The Cure's discography?

argh

This is going to be Inbetween Days by a mile. Love The Kiss too--has there ever been a weirder sounding Cure song?

It's damn hard to compete with the sheer sonic sprawl of "Plainsong," as far as I'm concerned.

plainsong FTW

real tough choice between one hundred years, plainsong and out of this world. went with one hundred years cos i musta listened to it one hundred times

Plainsong really needs to run into Pictures of You, so I figured on a stand-alone basis, it isn't as good as Inbetween Days.

Plainsong. WTF. Why is this even a poll?

it is a poll because one hundred years is the actual right answer.

The only one of these that is the best track on the entire album is "10:15", which makes it natural to vote for that one. "Plainsong" is also great though.

There an unforgivable omission here though. "Let's Go To Bed" is not only the best opening track on any The Cure album, but actually the best thing The Cure have ever recorded.

"In Between Days". But "Plainsong" is rather spectacular.

Plainsong is the best opening track in any artist's discography

it is like HELLO I AM A GOOD ALBUM

everyone OTM about Plainsong, but it's hard-to-impossible to vote against "Inbetween Days", holy shit. Damn this poll, damn it to hell.

Yeah, "Plainsong" without a doubt (while acknowledging other choices as great, "Plainsong" is a peerless, stately blood-curdling howl of an opener). It's very gratifying to see so much love for it on ILM. I remember doing some home renos a couple of years back and I just had a shitty little boombox hooked up to play tunes, and a friend stopped by to help out. I cranked up Disintegration soon after, and she almost immediately took the CD out, calling it "unlistenable". I mean, WTF?

"Want" and "Lost" are almost the only songs I like on their respective albums, so I feel like giving them props just for that. But this list is soooo amazing I think I'll make a playlist out of it.
I like the agressiveness of "Shake Dog Shake" and "The Kiss" and they fit my mood today so one of these two.

plainsong or the kiss...I had the kiss in my head most of this week and it actually took me an hour to figure out what it was since I really don't love that album. but it's a brutal opening.

Once I was driving on Boxing Day over the Snake River on an icy bridge. I feared I was too close to the car ahead of me, so I foolishly tapped the brake, not having driven on ice for a few years. My car spun out of control, classic internal slo-mo heading to the railings, imagining in perfect detail how it would be when my car plunged into a freezing river. Those metal guard rails actually work, which is a relief. My car pinballed back and forth, hitting the rails from several directions. "One Hundred Years" was playing. It is the perfect soundtrack if you are sure you're about to die brutally in the winter.

Abbott, I did something similar, only it was "Shadowplay" by Joy Division that was playing! I get flashbacks of a looming concrete barrier every time I hear Barney's riff.

my almost dying in a car accident happened on a dirt road in the arizona foothills. soundtrack was "pushed" by rocket from the crypt

also Plainsong ftw

Plainsong is the best opening track in any artist's discography

-- Curt1s Stephens, Saturday, May 17, 2008 8:16 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Link

it is like HELLO I AM A GOOD ALBUM

-- Curt1s Stephens, Saturday, May 17, 2008 8:18 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Link

^

my god, the cure do know how to open an album, don't they? some awesome, awesome songs on this list.

still: i'll be astonished, for a variety of reasons, if "plainsong" doesn't walk this. as i've said passim, "disintegration" has always suffered slightly in my eyes because -- awesome, blinding album that it is -- there's no way the rest of it can come close.

my grimmest, and entirely-down-to-my-own-stupidity, car experience was to "drive that fast" by the kitchens of distinction. lol fucking irony etc.

i like "out of this world" too because bloodflowers was the first leaked album i ever listened to (thank u ned).

xppppost
I did this on a highway in the middle of the day in January of 99. How I didn't die and take three people out with me I'll never really understand. A couple minutes earlier I'd put OK Computer in my cd player and "Airbag" was still going. My car did not, however, have airbags.

Ha, I love this subthread that's going on -- "the soundtrack to my near-death experience."

I actually can't decide between "Plainsong" and "One Hundred Years" - the latter is more quintisentially an early era Cure song than the former, for one thing.

I was in a minor car accident listening to "Treasure" by the Cocteau Twins once which actually put me off it for some years.

I cranked up Disintegration soon after, and she almost immediately took the CD out, calling it "unlistenable".

And she was your friend because...

(I mean, I love my friends, but you don't take out or shut down my music, you ask me nicely if something else can be played instead!)

REAL TALK^^^

Plainsong

(I mean, I love my friends, but you don't take out or shut down my music, you ask me nicely if something else can be played instead!)

Yeah, I know, it was a bit weird. But I didn't say anything, I just grabbed the CD off of her and put it back in, played "Plainsong" in its entirety and then asked her if she'd prefer something else!

Trayce :(

plainsong. they've been opening gigs with it for years since too right? so a great opener all round.

lostandfound: its ok, I still love Treasure now! =)

Ha, good. ;)

You know, I can't even remember now, but I think I voted for Treasure in the Cocteau Twins albums poll. It would be so sad to think of someone losing their complete love for it over bad associations (even though I can totally understand that).

I voted for "shake dog shake," because I love The Top

...and I wanted to see it get at least one vote.

Plainsong

nicky lo-fi broke rule #1

The Kiss = Big Brown

Plainsong probably deserves it, but I'm throwing a vote at 100 Years.

"It doesn't matter if we all die!" is a great way to start an album.

Hesitating btw Shake Dog Shake and The Kiss. Tough one

plainsong wins. but i'd also like to pay my respects to open, which is lyrically and musically enthralling. want and the holy hour are also fantastic songs

i'd also like to pay my respects to open, which is lyrically and musically enthralling.

I'm throwing a vote to "Open," love that song and it's had almost no discussion on this thread.

plainsong. they've been opening gigs with it for years since too right?

They've opened just as many of the 2008 shows with "Open" for what it's worth.

There an unforgivable omission here though. "Let's Go To Bed" is not only the best opening track on any The Cure album, but actually the best thing The Cure have ever recorded.

Japanese Whispers isn't an album, it's a compilation of three singles and b-sides. I won't disagree with your assessment too strongly though; I'd put "Let's Go to Bed" in my top ten Cure songs, easily.

What's interesting about the stretch that runs from "The Kiss" to "Want" is how there's something almost thematic about these four songs - not just that they're dark and mostly the vastest songs on their respective albums, but that they all seem to be about absolute immersion in something, and it's that which structures their darkness and vastness.

"Plainsong" ftw but I really like all four of those. But yeah, an unusually strong poll. Meanwhile "The Holy Hour" isn't my favourite either here or on Faith, but I reckon it's intro is such a fabulous way to start the album.

What's interesting about the stretch that runs from "The Kiss" to "Want" is how there's something almost thematic about these four songs - not just that they're dark and mostly the vastest songs on their respective albums, but that they all seem to be about absolute immersion in something, and it's that which structures their darkness and vastness.

I agree with this assessment. You could almost say the duty switched to the closing tracks for the next two albums -- "Bloodflowers" and "The Promise" take on that role nicely; dark, vast and absolutely immersing.

good observations, tim and stephen

one thing i'll add is that it's really interesting how 'open' and 'plainsong' are about totally immersing yourself in something, while the closing track counterparts on those albums - 'end' and 'untitled' - exude a feeling of being totally withdrawn and defeated.

"Plainsong" just edges out "One Hundred Years" over here. "Shake Dog Shake" is the sleeper at #3.

I'm throwing a vote to "Open," love that song and it's had almost no discussion on this thread.

Yup, and the thing roared as the first song played on the Wish tour.

Plainsong is the best opener Live, especially on the Distentegration tour, but I go for the Holy Hour, which sets the tone for what is to follow on Faith really well. The same applies to much of the openin songs here, too (Open, 100 years, Shake Dog Shake), but The Holy Hour works particularly well, as well as introducing the 'concept' of the album.

True dat but otoh I could imagine a few other songs on Faith working well as openers, eg. Other Voices or Primary

It's a tie for "Primary" and "In Between Days" for me.

Listening to Disintegration again, I'm struck by just how much the new M83 album takes its cues from this.

The only one I wouldn't vote for is "Plainsong". I think I'm leaning towards "Shake Dog Shake".

Was between One Hundred Years and The Kiss for me... chose One Hundred Years, even though I suspect I'm subconsciously voting for the Paris version.

Yeah I never got the mad love for Plainsong.

as someone said above: i'm delighted that ILM does have such mad love for it, because for many years i did feel nobody else was appreciating its awesomeness at all.

Listening to Disintegration again, I'm struck by just how much the new M83 album takes its cues from this

that's an interesting notion, with which i wouldn't disagree at all.

Now I must go and listen to the new M83 album!

(bump)

A week is too long for a poll my attn span s 2scs

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

pick your favorite opening song by your all time favorite band?

impossible, but after much thought i'm going to throw my love to "Open."

I still can't believe I'm finally seeing them again in eight days! After eight years!

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

i think these results are pretty reasonable!

i'm happy.

i didn't vote for it, but i think open deserved better

I got my piano back and just played this to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and HEALTHY 2024. Thank you for all the support in this difficult time. X pic.twitter.com/TCL4Kow1jl

— Roger O'Donnell (@RogerODonnellX) December 23, 2023

"In Between Days" is just such a good opening track. From the drum part on, it just carries you through with incredible energy.

Only one vote and no discussion about the enigmatic "A Reflection". I like it for itself and the sheer unlikelihood of its status as an album opener; it manages to set the scene and emotional tone while not sounding anything like the rest of the record, but it never seems like a misdirection.
"The Holy Hour" would be my only other option, but it's slightly dreary.

shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
Shake dog shaaaake

They're all fine songs, but The Holy Hour. It's positively chilly and ghostly and it lifts my spirit.

Quite right.

"plain song" is the best opener but "in between days" is the best song

I’d consider redoing this with “Undeneath the Stars” and “Alone” but I think “Plainsong” would still win

grimly fiendish OTM, miss you dude

shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
shake
Shake dog shaaaake

― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, December 27, 2023 12:36 PM (

poll is correct, this can only be Plainsong

Or “One Hundred Years” or “The Kiss” or “Inbetween Days”

"Lost" is probably the ugliest thing they ever did. Which could be either a big strength or big weakness.

Big strength IMO

I voted for Open which I still stand by but The Kiss is a choice. This is hard.

Always took in A Reflection/Play For Today as the opening.
Amazing list of songs. Will always love the CURE.

A Reflection might be better than Plainsong, Inbetween Days is disqualified because it's a single too

Sixteen years later and I still feel a bit bad about "Want" getting zero votes, even if it is basically like a helpful wiki entry for "Open". Love the droning siren-like guitar line in the second half.

Also:

one thing i'll add is that it's really interesting how 'open' and 'plainsong' are about totally immersing yourself in something, while the closing track counterparts on those albums - 'end' and 'untitled' - exude a feeling of being totally withdrawn and defeated.

― Charlie Howard, Monday, 19 May 2008 05:05 (sixteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink

This duality extends to "Want"/"Bare".

Love the structure of ‘The Kids’ how the groove just builds and builds and the vocals come in after a good long epic build. Then you have the soft second song with ‘Catch’. That is the choice to me.

"The Kiss" is a whole other type of ugly and it is glorious. That's how I love a Cure noisefest.

Yeah I remember being completely strung out waiting for KMKMKM to come out, and being a bit confused by "Why Can't I Be You", and then when I got the record home at last and cued up side A "The Kiss" kind of blew my head off. It's funny, I don't love the album so much any more, but at the time it seemed the absolute peak.

hey I really love The Cure

Toss up btw Shake and Kiss for me but - yeah - apart from Want these are all fantastic. I like out of this world but not sure about making it an opening song

I dunno, for me OOTW kind of worked at the time - it has that clever Robert Smith thing where it can be read as addressed to a romantic partner - but also to a fan of the band? And perhaps also to the band itself in this case.

Wild that Bloodflowers was a "turning 40" crisis album. Thought at the time and still think that "39" is a bit of a bleat. Would be quite keen to be 39 frankly.

Yeah well Disintegration was a "turning 30" album. Young fools...

sometimes you make me feel
like i'm living at the edge of the world

i adore “out of this world,” it’s so beautiful, one of the first cure songs i ever heard too

tim f otm about both “want” and “bare”