I was never a big fan of 80s music. There were always some exceptions that, though. The Cure were definitely one of those exceptions. I have owned several of their albums over the years. I've always liked their sound. I don't think I've ever really appreciated them quite as much as I do after watching these two concerts on video. I am sure that hardcore fans of the band will need no push to buy this. For the more casual fans, though, get this. It's that simple. This showcases two 2018 concerts. One is an intimate club show. The other is a huge outdoor gig celebrating the anniversary of the band.

Looking to the club show first, as that's the first disc, the band seemed to really play off of the smaller crowd vibe really well. The performance is top-notch. The one issue I do have with this particular show is that there is quite a bit of in-studio video manipulation going on. At times it works really well to enhance the show. One such example is a song that is all in black and white except that all the red tracks as red. That's a stunning effect that really works well for the music. There is one tune where the video is made to look like it's glitching repeatedly. That did not work for me. In fact, I found it pretty annoying. Still, this concert is well-worth having in this video form.

The second show starts in the daylight, and the sun gradually goes down. Of the two shows, I think I like this one better. That probably has a lot to do with the track list, this one a bit more diverse. I have to say that Robert Smith's voice is so strong in this concert. It's not that he was off in the other show. It's just that as much as I listened to these guys in the past, I never really noticed just how good a singer he is. It's impossible to miss here. This show is such a powerhouse. As good as the first one was, this just raises the stakes even higher. Also, the videography is less intrusive, essentially capturing a pretty authentic recording of the show.

I like that this set really gives a look at two different sides of the band. For that reason, it makes sense that the videos are so different in style. This whole thing comes in a great package that is like a hardcover book, and includes a nice (attached) booklet in the center. The Cure is a unique band, and this set is a great testament to their talents.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2019  Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2019.