Sound Quality
Garry Foster | NJ, USA | 04/01/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you're contemplating purchasing the Kiss Me remaster, you're already likely to own the original CD release or LP. And since so many reviewers have already discussed the content of this fantastic album, I'd like to focus my review primarily on the sound quality of the remaster. After having listened to the previous batch of Cure reissues, I couldn't wait to put the Kiss Me remaster in my CD player.
The Kiss Me album was remastered by Gary Moore at Universal Mastering in London. After listening to it for several months already, the remaster is a mixed bag to my ears. The best and most obvious feature of this remaster is its clean and crisp character. The original CD release is very muddy in comparison. Bass has also been improved on; not only is it louder but slightly more detailed as well.
However, there are some negative aspects to the presentation. The higher frequencies are overly emphasized, and at times I found the treble to be too harsh and fatiguing. This was especially the case with faster paced songs such as Torture, How Beautiful You Are and Hey You. Yet I could listen to The Snakepit and One More Time quite comfortably.
My own personal annoyance with this reissue is the drums. The drums sound compressed and is equal to everything else in the mix. The drums sounded much better on the original release. For example, I prefer Why Can't I Be You on the original release rather than the remaster because it sounds much more dynamic in the opening of the song.
In concluding, I hope that you have found my review about this release informative. I do not intend to discourage you from purchasing this remaster. In fact, I hope you compare this version to the original and see what one you like best."
Eclectic mix
sg | Wisconsin | 11/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of The Cure's most varied CDs and is a bargain in the single disc remastered format. Great pop songs include "Just Like Heaven" and "Catch." Lengthier songs like "How Beautiful You Are" and "The Snakepit" show how varied Robert Smith's songwriting can be."
Awesome variety of styles
Dream's Raven | USA | 06/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nobody does self-pity like the Cure, but on this album they also do romantic and pop-like. Everybody knows the track "Just Like Heaven," and for good reason. It's awesome! But there are a lot of other great songs on this CD. Fans of the 80's proto-goth stylings of Robert Smith and company ought to check this out."