'Disintegration' Week, Lists — June 11, 2010 at 9:52 am

Poll: The Cure’s Top 98 songs of all time, as chosen by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers

The Cure, circa 1987

The deeply mournful “Same Deep Water As You” — the centerpiece of the new Disintegration: Deluxe Edition — is not just Slicing Up Eyeballs readers’ favorite song off that classic 1989 album, it’s their No. 1 all-time song by The Cure, according to our informal poll that wraps up Disintegration Week.

A few weeks ago, we held a Disintegration contest in which we asked entrants to name their favorite Cure song. This list of the 98 different songs that were named, much like this week’s Top 10 singles and B-sides countdowns, was compiled from that admittedly unscientific poll, and ranked in order — although we used editorial judgment to break ties, a problem most significant with the single-vote entries at the bottom of the list.

As you’ll see below, the Top 10 is pretty Disintegration-heavy, with half of the selections coming from the newly reissued album. Overall, though, the list is fairly diverse, with entries from every studio album except 2004’s The Cure (although that era is represented by a B-side). There also are a number of non-album singles, B-sides and other rarities, including “Carnage Visors,” the instrumental on the B-side of the original Faith cassette.

As always, feel free to leave a comment at the end agreeing with, disagreeing with or simply eviscerating the list — or leave your own Top 10. And, finally, a special thanks to everybody who entered the contest and shared their thoughts about The Cure — it’s been great fun reading the comments and compiling these lists.

DISINTEGRATION WEEK
TUESDAY: The Cure’s Disintegration tracks ranked
WEDNESDAY: Readers poll: The Cure’s Top 10 singles
THURSDAY: Readers poll: The Cure’s Top 10 B-sides
TODAY: Readers poll: The Cure’s Top 98 songs of all time

See the Cure’s Top 98 songs after the jump…

The Cure, 'Disintegration'1. “The Same Deep Water As You”

Album: Disintegration
Release date: May 1, 1989
Sample comment: “The very first time I heard it I was captured by the unique and achingly sad sound of it. The true meaning behind the lyrics are up for personal speculation, which makes it even more mysterious… One of the most emotional songs I have ever heard.” (Nick B.)

The Cure, 'Seventeen Seconds'2. “A Forest”

Album: Seventeen Seconds
Release date: April 18, 1980
Sample comment: “It just changed my life when I first listened to it and saw the video. It was this special moment in one’s lifetime, when everything seems to momentary stand still in time and space, you watch everything in slow motion and you KNOW something is different now in yourself…” (Johnnakis)

The Cure, 'Disintegration'3. “Disintegration”

Album: Disintegration
Release date: May 1, 1989
Sample comment: “The track is a whirlwind of sound that keeps driving forward, and it makes use of the band at their biggest and best. There’s so much emotion in Robert’s lyrics and his performance. It really does distill the band into one song.” (50 Pound Note)

The Cure, 'Disintegration'4. “Plainsong”

Album: Disintegration
Release date: May 1, 1989
Sample comment: “On a whim I bought Disintegration at my local record shop. I popped the tape in, laid on my bed, and once those twinkling wind chimes stopped and that opening flood of keys, drums and bass shot through my speakers, I knew my life was going to be very much changed…” (Peter C.)

The Cure, 'Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me'5. “Just Like Heaven”

Album: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Release date: May 27, 1987
Sample comments: “I love the way it starts (first drums, then bass, etc.), and every time I hear it, I found out something new on its music…” (Spyka), and “The complete Cureness of beautiful melodies, catchy poppy stuff and utter despair squeezed into three-and-a-half minutes.” (Larz)

The Cure, 'Disintegration'6. “Pictures of You”

Album: Disintegration
Release date: May 1, 1989
Sample comment: “The line, ‘There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more, than to feel you deep in my heart’ says it all and that hits me hard. I think it’s a perfect song. I also prefer the album version which is much longer. Just beautiful.” (Debi)

The Cure, 'Pornography'7. “One Hundred Years”

Album: Pornography
Release date: May 3, 1982
Sample comment: “It was the first to break me away from the group as a pop band. Like most kids born post-’80s, you pick up their songs here and there as you grow up, but seldom are you exposed to their dark masterpieces. This is the track that really made me a fan.” (Casey Jacobs)

The Cure, 'Disintegration'8. “Fascination Street”

Album: Disintegration
Release date: May 1, 1989
Sample comments: “The combination of the rhythm, thundering bass, atmospherics, great lyrics and terrific vocal… just a killer tune.” (Chris G.), and “So dark, so growly, so passionate.” (Kirk), and “I like the fact that Simon Gallup only plays one string on the entire song!” (C.E. Powell)

The Cure, 'Faith'9. “Faith”

Album: Faith
Release date: April 10, 1981
Sample comments: “Because it is eerie, miserable and uplifting all at the same time. It is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and never gets old.” (Andrew), and “I like the atmosphere it creates, the repetitive drum beat, the lyrics, etc.” (Jaime)

The Cure, 'Pornography'10. “A Strange Day”

Album: Pornography
Release date: May 3, 1982
Sample comment: “This song, which I first heard via the vinyl version of Pornography that I bought … from a great record store … in Brooklyn, perfectly documents a period of my life when I was 19 and things were not looking so rosy. This song kept me going through some very dark times.” (Harold Grey)

And the rest…

11. “Close to Me” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
12. “All Cats Are Grey” (From ‘Faith’)
13. “Inbetween Days” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
14. “The Exploding Boy” (B-side to “Inbetween Days”)
15. “How Beautiful You Are” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
16. “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea” (From ‘Wish’)
17. “Push” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
18. “Open” (From ‘Wish’)
19. “2 Late” (B-side to “Lovesong”)
20. “The Kiss” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)

The Cure, 'The Head on the Door'

21. “A Night Like This” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
22. “Lullaby” (From ‘Disintegration’)
23. “Untitled” (From ‘Disintegration’)
24. “10.15 Saturday Night” (B-side to “Killing an Arab”)
25. “The Big Hand” (B-side to “A Letter to Elise”)
26. “Boys Don’t Cry” (Non-album single)
27. “Homesick” (From ‘Disintegration’)
28. “The Caterpillar” (From ‘The Top’)
29. “Charlotte Sometimes” (Non-album single)
30. “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (Non-album single)

The Cure, 'Wish'

31. “A Letter to Elise” (From ‘Wish’)
32. “Prayers for Rain” (From ‘Disintegration’)
33. “The Love Cats” (Non-album single)
34. “To the Sky” (From ‘Stranger Than Fiction’ compilation)
35. “A Chain of Flowers” (B-side to ‘Catch’ and ‘Just Like Heaven’)
36. “Catch” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
37. “Killing an Arab” (Non-album single)
38. “Six Different Ways” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
39. “Why Can’t I Be You?” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
40. “High” (From ‘Wish’)

The Cure, 'Never Enough'

41. “Harold and Joe” (B-side to “Never Enough”)
42. “Closedown” (From ‘Disintegration’)
43. “A Short Term Effect” (From ‘Pornography’)
44. “Like Cockatoos” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
45. “This Twilight Garden” (B-side of “High”)
46. “Friday I’m In Love” (From ‘Wish’)
47. “A Few Hours After This…” (B-side to “Inbetween Days”)
48. “Primary” (From ‘Faith’)
49. “Sinking” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
50. “Lovesong” (From ‘Disintegration’)

The Cure, 'Greatest Hits'

51. “Cut Here” (From ‘Greatest Hits’)
52. “The Perfect Girl” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
53. “Jupiter Crash” (From ‘Wild Mood Swings’)
54. “Cold” (From ‘Pornography’)
55. “Let’s Go to Bed” (Non-album single)
56. “Another Journey By Train” (B-side to “A Forest”)
57. “The Drowning Man” (From ‘Faith’)
58. “A Man Inside My Mouth” (B-side to “Close to Me”)
59. “Bird Mad Girl” (From ‘The Top’)
60. “Underneath the Stars” (From ‘4.13 Dream’)

The Cure, 'Why Can't I Be You?'

61. “A Japanese Dream” (B-side to “Why Can’t I Be You?”)
62. “Doing the Unstuck” (From ‘Wish’)
63. “M” (From ‘Seventeen Seconds’)
64. “The Figurehead” (From ‘Pornography’)
65. “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
66. “One More Time” (From ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’)
67. “Never Enough” (From ‘Mixed Up’)
68. “Bananafishbones” (From ‘The Top’)
69. “Last Dance” (From ‘Disintegration’)
70. “Play for Today” (From ‘Seventeen Seconds’)

The Cure, 'The Walk'

71. “Lament” (B-side to “The Walk”)
72. “To Wish Impossible Things” (From ‘Wish’)
73. “Carnage Visors” (B-side to ‘Faith’ cassette)
74. “The Blood” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
75. “A Foolish Arrangement” (B-side to “A Letter to Elise”)
76. “A Pink Dream” (B-side to “Mint Car”)
77. “39” (From ‘Bloodflowers’)
78. “Happy the Man” (B-side to “The Caterpillar”)
79. “Kyoto Song” (From ‘The Head on the Door’)
80. “Siamese Twins” (From ‘Pornography’)

The Cure, 'Bloodflowers'

81. “Bloodflowers” (From ‘Bloodflowers’)
82. “More Than This” (From ‘The X-Files: The Album’)
83. “The Funeral Party” (From ‘Faith’)
84. “Grinding Halt” (From ‘Three Imaginary Boys’)
85. “Burn” (From ‘The Crow’ soundtrack)
86. “The Upstairs Room” (B-side to “The Walk”)
87. “Pornography” (From ‘Pornography’)
88. “Subway Song” (From ‘Three Imaginary Boys’)
89. “Out of this World” (From ‘Bloodflowers’)
90. “A Reflection” (From ‘Seventeen Seconds’)

The Cure, '4.13 Dream'

91. “This. Here and Now. With You.” (From ‘4.13 Dream’)
92. “The Only One” (From ‘4.13 Dream’)
93. “Treasure” (From ‘Wild Mood Swings’)
94. “There Is No If…” (From ‘Bloodflowers’)
95. “I’m Cold” (B-side to “Jumping Someone Else’s Train”)
96. “Secrets” (From ‘Seventeen Seconds’)
97. “This Morning” (B-side to “The End of the World”)
98. “Without You” (B-side to “The Perfect Boy”)

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28 Comments

  1. Shocking to me that “A Thousand Hours” off of “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” didn’t make this list – that song is just so epic.

  2. Oh My God! “Cut Here” better than “Figurehead”? …and where is “Apart” and “Trust”?

  3. Awesome list!
    I know how much of an undertaking this was to narrow down a best of list!

  4. No ‘At Night’? Nonsensical.

  5. I’m rather disturbed by this list. The main voters must have been newer fans??? The top ten are pretty great, but after that…I don’t understand. And in my list Faith would be number one. Pictures of You would have fallen way down on my list. Play for Today? Charlotte Sometimes? Shake Dog Shake? Three Imaginary Boys? In your house? and on and on

  6. I didn’t vote, and am not a die hard like many of you seem to be, but I know my Cure fairly well. I was suprised not to see “Apart” from Wish in there. One of my faves of all time by ANY band…

  7. I agree with Trust….one of my favorite Cure songs of all time!

  8. That is the great thing about The Cure, at some point in your life any one of their songs could be the most relevant song.

  9. where is fire in cairo and accuracy off of three imaginary boys?? i wish that album had been better represented. amazing stuff. glad a few songs off of seventeen seconds made the list.

  10. Sinking. So much depth

  11. Anyone else think this list is idiosyncratic? “The Same Deep Water” as the BEST Cure song of all time? It wouldn’t even make my top 20, which would probably include “A Forest,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Close To Me,” “Lovesong,” “Push,” “Charlotte Sometimes,” “In Between Days,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Fire In Cairo,” “Lullaby,” “Friday I’m In Love” (maybe not “cool” but a great song).

  12. Trust is the best.

  13. Pretty good list but some glaring ommissions. Trust and Play for Today at least.
    Surprised “To wish impossible things” is so far down.
    Think there’s a bit of backlash for anything on the poppy Wish album no matter the song. Trust not being in they is a joke.
    My number 1 has changed over the years, I’d probably have Disintegration #1 now.
    The same deep water, plainsong, one hundred years, Faith and A strange day wouldn’t be in my top 10.
    Maybe I need to be more depressed.

  14. Totally agree with The Same Deep Water As You – my all-time favourite song by anybody, ever. Though shocked at no Trust and At Night. Surprised Bloodflowers and Treasure are so low, but good to see 2 Late, This Twilight Garden and Sinking in there. I would also include The Last Day of Summer and The Loudest Sound from Bloodflowers.

  15. Lost of good stuff, not necessarily in the order i would put it in. One song I think deserves inclusion: “Want” from Wild Mood Swings. For my money that’s the last great song the Cure ever made.

  16. I made my top 10 list before I saw this… 8 of mine were in the top 22 which I felt pretty good about! :-) But my #4 is #48 – Primary!!! Ok fine. But then my #10 is…….MISSING!!! Where is THE TOP? WHERE! IS! THE! TOP!?!?!?! Hahaha. Great List!

  17. Open from Wish is my favorite. Disentigration from Disenintigration is up there too. There are so many awesome Cure songs and depending on my mood they have all been a favorite at some point. I’ve been playing a lot of albums for my 14 month old daughter and she dances with delight!

  18. Where is “Other Voices”?

  19. No “all i have to do is kill her”? Hearing Robert scream at the top of his lungs “…and the sky goes black” is one of the most transformative moments I’ve ever had whilst listening to music…

  20. #1 all time best Cure song would have to be Mr. Pink Eyes.

  21. Where’s “See The Children” “Heroin Face” “All I Have To Do Is Kill Her”?? “Forever”???

  22. Paratrooper

    Wrong Number didn’t make the list?!?! SMH

  23. Yeah, Sinking should be higher. Icing Sugar from Kiss Me needs to be on the list. But since All Cats Are Grey is so high, I won’t declare Shenanigans. :) Can’t wait to see them in LA And SF.

  24. Kind of sad that Closedown didn’t make it higher. A true song of emotion. Love it maybe just a little too much…

  25. Simply, they have no bad songs. Don’t forget _ Punish Me With Kisses_ by The Glove from Blue Sunshine Album

  26. Benny Thompson

    Shake Dog Shake, Push, A Forrest, Disintegration, Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Facination Street, Open, A Night Like This, Play for Today, Prayers for Rain… my top 10

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