THE CURE - The Top (1984-2006) RM / 2CD Set / Deluxe Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded in the midst of Robert Smith's tenuous tenure with Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Top is arguably the most hedonistic record the Cure ever produced. Essentially Smith and Lol Tolhurst working with studio musicians (this being the period when the Cure's lineup was never assured), it's an album obviously recorded under stress, drink, and drugs. More wildly experimental musically than anything before it, it laid the foundations for the Cure's pattern of unpigeonholable albums that were to erase their reputation built by Pornography and eventually culminating in Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. That said, it's still very much a Cure record. Heavy on the percussion and quaint keyboard effects that were so big in the '80s, the melodies ("The Caterpillar," "Shake Dog Shake") are unmistakably Robert Smith. The big change this time around is his ability to fuse the paranoia and neuroses of former work (Pornography) with his newfound use of pop melody and outside influences (i.e., world travels, sounds, instruments) to moderate success ("Wailing Wall," "Piggy in the Mirror"). A more psychedelic descent than Pornography, The Top is a transition, never really feeling like a full-length release, but it does meld all former phases of Rob and company, which would fully gel on The Head on the Door. At best an imperfect record, The Top is a necessary step in the evolution of the band. by Chris True
Tracklist :
    The Original Album    
1        Shake Dog Shake    4:56
2        Birdmad Girl    4:05
3        Wailing Wall    5:23
4        Give Me It    3:42
5        Dressing Up    2:51
6        The Caterpillar    3:41
7        Piggy In The Mirror    3:39
8        The Empty World    2:36
9        Bananafishbones    2:59
10        The Top    6:58
Tracklist 2 :
        Rarities 1982-1984    
1    You Stayed... (RS Home Demo 8/82) 2:21
Performer – RS
2    Ariel (RS Home Demo 8/82) 2:58
Performer – RS
3    A Hand Inside My Mouth (Des Dames Studio Demo 8/83)    3:40
4    Sadacic (Olympic Studio RS Demo 12/83) 4:17
Performer – RS
5    Shake Dog Shake (Garden/Eden Studio RS&AA Demo 12/83) 4:56
Performer – AA, RS
6    Piggy In The Mirror (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 3:40
Performer – AA, RS
7    Birdmad Girl (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 3:36
Performer – AA, RS
8    Give Me It (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 3:43
Performer – AA, RS
9    Throw Your Foot (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 3:31
Performer – AA, RS
10    Happy The Man (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 2:46
Performer – AA, RS
11    The Caterpillar (Garden/Eden Studios RS&AA Demo 12/83) 4:17
Performer – AA, RS
12    Dressing Up (Genetic Studio Guide Vocal/Rough Mix 2/84)    2:14
13    Wailing Wall (Genetic Studio Rough Mix 2/84)    4:59
14    The Empty World (Live Bootleg - Hammersmith Odeon London 5/84)    2:47
15    Bananafishbones (Live Bootleg - Hammersmith Odeon London 5/84)    2:57
16    The Top (Live Bootleg - Hammersmith Odeon London 5/84)    7:13
17    Forever (Version) (Live Bootleg - Zenith Paris 5/84)    4:58
Credits :
Bass – Phil Thornalley (faixas: 2-14 to 2-17)
Drums – Andy Anderson (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10, 2-14 to 2-17)
Guitar – Porl Thompson (faixas: 2-14 to 2-17), Robert Smith (faixas: 2-14 to 2-17)
Instruments – Robert Smith (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10)
Instruments [Other] – Laurence Tolhurst (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10)
Keyboards – Laurence Tolhurst (faixas: 2-14 to 2-17), Porl Thompson (faixas: 2-14 to 2-17)
Percussion – Andy Anderson (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10)
Saxophone – Porl Thompson (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10, 2-14 to 2-17)
Voice – Robert Smith (faixas: 1-1 to 1-10, 2-14 to 2-17)
Written-By – Tolhurst (faixas: 1-2, 1-6, 1-7, 2-6, 2-7, 2-11), Smith