I don't think (with the exception of 1998) there has been any drop in the quality. If anything, certainly on stage, they have been immeasurably better as time goes by. Arrangements have become more complex as they have had more freedom to explore new things. I know there are many who appear to think the world ended in 1989, but it didn't. Yes, it changed & mostly for the better (WMS being the exception). True, he did contribute to the early sound. His drumming was a key part of that & what he did fitted what the band was about at the time. By the time he graduated to keys, the parts he played weren't so complex & a lot of the task was taken by Porl & then later by Roger. So, no. I never perceived any drop in quality after Lol was asked to leave.
Post by lovekittens on Nov 22, 2017 18:52:31 GMT 1
I can think of a few missteps. The mixing of 4:13 was horrendous. They worked with Ross Robinson, which was a big mistake. The vocals have been much too loud in the mix. And they have been a bit too influenced by other bands such as Ride. I also never cared for the electronic bits on Bloodflowers. Also, Jason’s drumming leaves something to be desired.
Last Edit: Nov 22, 2017 18:55:43 GMT 1 by lovekittens
The mixing of 4:13 was okay. The mastering was the problem as it's just too darn loud & Jason is an incredible drummer. Took him a while to get out of his splashy splashy phase, but he's got it nailed now. But none of that has anything to do Lol's departure.
Post by lovekittens on Nov 22, 2017 22:09:18 GMT 1
Yes, it is the compression on 4:13 that makes it sound horrible. But at times it seems like everything is in "the middle" instead of in the left and right channels...does that make any sense? Just my subjective listening experience.
I still have yet to hear a studio album where I like Jason's playing. Live, they sound great.
I mean the electronic elements that were subtly added to the songs in Bloodflowers. The songs would be much better without the little electronic sounds and drum patterns. Google "Bloodflowers electronic" and you will see that some reviewers have picked up on it.
How do you know Lol's departure didn't coincide with a lack in quality control? Lol left, things went downhill. I'm merely asking the question--I don't think you can really state with certainty there is no correlation.
After Pornography, haircuts were probably more important. I suspect most of the keyboards were played by Robert or Porl in the studio. He was kept on because of the childhood friendship. Not saying Lol wasn't important at the beginning but the music outgrew his skills. & Wild Mood Swings is a fine record! "Want" & "Jupiter Crash" are as good as anything they've done. I know it was attempting to widen some narrow views & in the long run opened up new vistas for Robert.
Blimey...I thought I was the only one here who preferred the post Pornography Cure. I mean sure those first four LPs were just great and groundbreaking and spearheading and all that but I've never before seen such protection and defence for the later stuff...Thanks for bringing this one up Kittens it's dead good to know I'm not the only one who thinks that they just went on to greater and greater things after Pornography and even Disintegration...And Steve...back into the naughty corner with you until you can say something nice about WMS PS...hello Lovekittens...I can't get here as much as I'd like so I missed your first post..welcome to a whole heap of CureLove...k...I'm off to find those electronic bits in Bloodflowers.
Considering that Lol didn't really contribute to the band much after/around Head on the Door, no, I don't think the quality dropped when he left... Lol is talented and all, but I don't think he has or had any influence in the Cure's sound. It is all Robert and Simon anyway.
It took me a few tries to get into 4:13 but now it is one of my favorites.. The Cure is the album that was not "produced" right... if you ask me.
Btw, Bloodflowers - everything with Bloodflowers is brilliant... and Lol was long gone there...
To everyone except a minority of hardcore fans, there is a noticeable drop in quality after Disintegration.
I still listen to post-Disintegration albums, but I don't fool myself about the quality.
My original post was mean to ask the question, "Did Lol's absence somehow affect the writing/quality?" I am not implying that Lol was the main contributor to the music/writing.
It's not a ridiculous question. For example, if you were a poet, and you wrote poems before and after your wife left you, there might be a change in the poems, even though the wife wasn't writing them. It could be the same with a conflict/business "divorce" between best friends who were creative partners.
Last Edit: Nov 25, 2017 2:05:51 GMT 1 by lovekittens