Something's missingThe Cure - Festival 2005 DVD Review(Geffen/Suretone) 2 1/2 stars (out of 5 stars) Reviewed: Dec. 21, 2006 |
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Review by Andy Argyrakis After releasing Trilogy in 2003, which comprised live performances of 1982's Pornography, 1989's Disintegration, and 2000's Bloodflowers, The Cure mix up the formula for Festival 2005. The thirty-song set was recorded throughout the group's nine-date European tour that year focusing on an expanded set list from the previous summer's now legendary Curiosa outing. Though the line-up is constantly changing, this particular version of The Cure inevitably features front man Robert Smith, longtime bassist Simon Gallup and drummer Jason Cooper, plus the return of guitarist Porl Thompson.On one hand, the core four demonstrate impressive cohesion and career spanning song choices, including early crests such as "A Forest" through more mainstream friendly nuggets "Just Like Heaven" and "In Between Days" to the somewhat underappreciated but solid newer tune "Us and Them." The quartet also turns in exhilarating versions of "Fascination Street," "A Strange Day" and "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea," complete with Smith's all encompassing charisma and the band's signature gothic/alternative flourishes. But no matter how much the marathon two and a half hour experience offers, several major singles such as "Pictures of You," "Let's Go To Bed," "Close To Me," "Boys Don't Cry" and "Friday I'm In Love" are all glaringly absent, as well as a keyboard player to supplement the group's rhythm section. The filming techniques are even more alarming, which include camera work by band members, their crew, fans, and a professional team all somewhat randomly tossed together. The results are sometimes stellar, other times shaky, but inconsistent on the whole, especially during several fuzzy song transitions. The errors aren't enough to discourage The Cure's disciples from picking up the project, but Trilogy and even 1993's out of print VHS Show are more worthwhile for the casual to consume. |
| The Cure Festival 2005 set list: | |
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1. OPEN 2. FASCINATION STREET 3. alt.end 4. THE BLOOD 5. A NIGHT LIKE THIS 6. THE END OF THE WORLD 7. IF ONLY TONIGHT WE COULD SLEEP 8. THE KISS 9. SHAKE DOG SHAKE 10. US OR THEM 11. NEVER ENOUGH 12. THE FIGUREHEAD 13. A STRANGE DAY 14. PUSH 15. JUST LIKE HEAVEN |
15. 16. INBETWEEN DAYS 17. FROM THE EDGE OF THE DEEP GREEN SEA 18. THE DROWNING MAN 19. SIGNAL TO NOISE 20. THE BABY SCREAMS 21. ONE HUNDRED YEARS 22. SHIVER AND SHAKE 23. END encores 24. AT NIGHT 25. M 26. PLAY FOR TODAY 27. A FOREST 28. PLAINSONG 29. DISINTEGRATION 30. FAITH |