I believe the best version of “A Night Like This” is on the show 93 album. I love reeves but can’t stand his solo on the song. Every time he plays it does not capture the magic Porl/Pearl had on it. I understand it’s his own take on it but it’s just not for me
The best version of A Night Like This is from the In Orange show in 1987. The best versions of a lot of Cure songs are from that show.
Boris Williams adds the missing magic.
That is true.
100%
I agree! The solo makes me cry, it’s just perfect and fits so well. It’s a beautiful solo and makes me feel nostalgic, I don’t know how to explain it but I cry whenever I listen to it.
He absolutely is an insane guitarist. His resume speaks for itself. But there is a piece of me that is sad I wont see them with Pearl. Ive only seen them twice and both times with Reeves, when they were inducted into the Rock Hall and then when they did the most recent tour. I was bummed about the Rock Hall appearance because there was an opportunity to have Pearl and other members who had at some point played with them play as well. While I dont think everyone should have joined them, at least have Pearl AND Reeves play. There are so many layers and parts in these songs for more than two guitarists to cover. I heard a live version a while ago of Disintegration (the song not the record) and there was this one guitar part that Pearl was playing that isnt on the record. It brought such an added energy to the song. So while Reeves is probably a bit better of a player and has done significantly more impressive things than Pearl, he somewhat lacks a level of creativity and style that Pearl has/had.
Pearl sensibilities as a guitarist is unique. Emotions shines through. Did get to see them live 1992, 1995 and 2008. And I saw Pearl with Page&Plant in 1995. Amazing. On the other hand I ❤️ Reeves as well since I saw him with Bowie in 95. I have no problem with technical genius and futuristic approach. The songs play differently. As Cooper also gives another flavor.
Cooper totally gives the songs a certain level of “life”. But yeah Reeves lacks that emotion like you mentioned. Theres just a flow and ease with Pearl and Reeves is stiff and calculated.
My ears miss Boris like Pearl, since he started Coopers drums have no presence and he has no idea how to fill the spaces, seems to me to always be going through the motions, SOALW could have for sure had some more complexity to the drums to truly make it like Disentigration vibe
The best is having a Sax solo not a guitar solo. Love Cure songs with Sax!
This! ☺️
I think his solos are great in some songs and really out of place in others.
Agreed, the solo in From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea really blew me away, like all the way out of the venue.
The original studio saxophone solo makes me nostalgic and oddly horny .. much like the saxophone in I Still Believe by Tim Capello or George Michaels careless whispers.
I wish Robert would go back to playing the solo like he did on the Wish tour.
As Lol said in his book, Robert usually has a “less is more” approach with songwriting. Some of their best music is relatively simple but moody and textural. It would be odd to imagine Reeves on an early Cure record and in some ways I’m very happy he’s not. I will say though, I think he did a good job balancing his flashy style on the new record. I was worried he’d have a bunch of out of place solos. I think he proved that he knew how to still be himself while not compromising The Cures signature sound.
And even more so when they play From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea.
Thats the one that stands out to me. Its such a great solo (written by Robert and played by him on Wish) and its always butchered live like they don’t make an attempt.
From memory the Show version gets close. Reeves sounds like he is playing a different song entirely!
Every word demonstrably true.
On the contrary I think Reeves makes it 10x better of a song. It's killer, live.
Yeah this. His wah pedal work on that song is what stood out to me.
Granted I didn’t listen to them as a kid - so I don’t have the nostalgic hooks in me like you guys do 😂
the version live from 1995 with perry on it is my favorite live version perry played arguably a better solo than anyone else
I just heard that on Youtube and its excellent.
I’ve always liked Perry, shame he was so underused on his brief return last year.
To each their own.
I've never understood posts like these. It's all a matter of opinion and vibe. There is no right or wrong. Personally I love what Reeves adds.
They’re almost always some version of “I want Reeves to be Pearl” or “I want Jason to be Boris.” I mean… fine, I guess. The heart wants what it wants.
If Robert hired a group of sidemen and told them to make everything sound like it did in 1993, I’d have lost interest a long time ago. If I want to hear that version of the band, I’ll listen that version of the band. It’s well-documented.
If people never expressed their opinions there would be no conversations.
Wow thanks starpower it's all so clear to me now
Happy to help, all the best!
Robert always played the lead parts on ANLT, not Pearl.
But I agree with you - Robert Smith, for me, is one of the the most interesting guitar players of all time. His playing is as defined by his limitations as it is by his emotions, like his vocals. I love to see what he comes up with when he let's loose.
For example, Show is my favourite live version of ANLT. There's nothing technically incredible about the solo, but what Robert does is turns on a really long and slow flanger (sounds like a swooshing, circling kind of effect) and he just let's his playing get carried away with the oscillations, rising and falling. Sounds a lot like someone blowing in the wind, which suits the song perfectly.
Reeves is technically a very proficient guitar player, but that doesn't always make him a very interesting one, and he has habits and runs that scream Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen, but it doesn't scream The Cure. That's why his playing jars especially on the older stuff. Little things like the harmonics during the verses of Lovesong, for example, sound so cheesy.
In saying that, I appreciate his playing more on the post-Wish songs. His playing on Never Enough, for example, is brilliant.
He’s a great guitarist, I just feel like his style is at odds with The Cure’s music. Just doesn’t mesh well.
The thing that bugs me about Reeves in The Cure is that, according to some interview, when he first started playing with them, Robert stopped him and said they already had a keyboard player, so he wanted more traditional guitar than what Reeves was first playing. I think that whatever guitar- keyboard thing he was doing would probably be great with aThe Cure -_-
Reeves ruins a lot more than only 'A Night Like This' I presume that RG is a great guitarist but for me he can never be more than Bowies old guitarist that now have joined the Cure. I - (for me , myself and I) will really misses Porl/Pearl terrible on the fourth coming tour...
He comes close to ruining a lot of their songs, imo. I’m just not a fan of his.
+1
I appreciate other opinions, but I believe there would be no Cure today without Reeves. He's an insanely great guitarist, writer and a steadying influence on Robert. The band have always evolved their sound. If you like the sound of the band with Pearl on ANLT then there are lots of examples to listen to. I say this as a huge fan of Pearl too.
Hotter take: Robert seems to like it and his opinion is really the only opinion that matters.
This is absolutely a hot take. Like, as if every Cure fan loves every tiny thing Robert has ever decided for the band. God forbid any of us would dare to feel differently about parts of their oevre than the man himself.
Of course it's his art and he can do whatever he likes with it, but to me, my opinion matters, and these 80s guitar wanks Reeves sometimes does do rip me out of an otherwise ethereal experience during the older songs (while he's of course perfect on the later, heavier stuff).
It seems others round here feel the same way and I really don't get all the attempts in the comments to shut this pretty innocent discussion among fans down with takes like this one.
(Innocent meaning it's nowhere as vile as the unjustified hate Jason used to get when he was the "new" guy).
But your opinion or anyone else’s, doesn’t matter. Robert Smith isn’t asking you what you think.
Am I talking to Robert Smith here, or to other people who are into the Cure?
And if you care so much about Robert's opinion, what do you think would he think about you feeling entitled to berating others on his behalf?
I don’t think you know what berating means dude lol
I’m not berating others on his behalf. It’s simply your opinion means nothing. You don’t care for some of Reeves work. So what? You didn’t hire Reeves to play guitar for the band and Robert obviously gives him the ok to play these parts. Reeves isn’t going to chime in on Reddit say “wdnsybls, I’m sorry you don’t like all of my playing. I’ll do better for you”
Something in your mind must be seriously wrong if you think that I or anyone who says, "This style of playing combined with Cure songs isn't for me" is the same as requesting Reeves, Robert or anyone to apologise for their artistic decisions.
They can do whatever they want with their art. And I can think and say about it whatever I want.
You absolutely can say whatever you want. That’s absolutely true. But that certainly doesn’t mean anyone cares what your opinion is and chances are the band members don’t care either. So your opinion matters to YOU. Cool
I don't care what any band member thinks of my opinion, the only one who keeps on bringing band members into the discussion is you. Bit parasocial? They're mostly likely strangers to you as they are to me.
This is a discussion board among fans to exchange about the band's endeavours. There seem to be several people who feel the need to talk about Reeves' part in The Cure. It's all done respectfully and pretty nuanced. I do not understand why you are trying so hard to shut this down.
I can look at a Van Gogh painting in a museum and talk about it to the person next to me, and it doesn't matter what Van Gogh would think of that conversation. I can read a Hemingway short story and go to a book club and discuss it with other people who read it, and it doesn't matter what Hemingway would think of that conversation. I can go to a Cure gig and discuss the experience with others who went, and it doesn't matter what Robert Smith would think about that conversation. As I said, the artists creates their art in the way they see fit.
But I also believe that reception is part of an artwork and that art comes to life in what it sparks between people. And reception doesn't consumption. It means reflection, and reflection may lead to "certain aspects of this feel odd to me".
Whew!!
Yep all these comments saying his sound doesn't fit the cure, sorry if Robert likes him then he does fit. I personally think Reeves is great and love his work
Yeah exactly, there's a bit in Show of a Lost World where Robert bursts into a grin at some insane thing Reeves has just played, so doesn't really matter what I think about it, Robert obviously loves it
This is how I feel. The smiles and such he gives Reeves are completely telling.
I’m gonna show Reeves this post next time I’m at the shop and I bet he’s gonna laugh 😂😂
This
I actually disagree quite a lot here. To me Reeves' solo on ANLT has become one of those live 'moments' where it feels like the band and audience react and increase the intensity of the show.
The only 'bad' side is that he's sometimes a little inconsistent with the solo and it loses that intensity. When he nails it though it's a real treat though.
I've always thought the Orange solo by Robert was a bit naff but the Show version is good.
Same with FTEODGS. Some versions he does are epic - take the Troxy version for example but then other takes haven't been as good.
I do think he can get a bit lost a wanky at times though - although he makes it look effortless.
Reeves is a great guitarist. Unfortunately tho he’s a bad CURE guitarist.
I think he does great when he goes into “tribute band” mode, and some of his original parts like on Alone or And Nothing Is Forever are fantastic. But when he’s let loose to show off his shredding skills, like on A Night Like This or Done No Drone… gross.
Reeves Gabrels is a brilliant guitarist. You dont play with David Bowie and the Hunt brothers if you dont know a thing or two. Gabrels has shown an inability to play Pearls parts or to create interesting interpretations of them. I have never really thought of him as the right guitarist for the Cure.
Agreed
This is interesting, because to me ANLT (which is in my top 5 Cure songs) is an example of Reeves' chops working really well. There are other songs where I think he stands out as not stylistically complimentary, but this is not one of them. I think he fucking rocks on that song.
I literally just made this same comment the other day. 😂 Agreed.
“A Night Like This” from Show is my favorite Cure song.
The real hot take is mine: Reeves and Jason are two of the most talented and skilled players The Cure ever had.
This is a true statement though. Jason is a MONSTER and I bet he’s so fun to play with
Reeves would probably say he likes the other ones better too 😂😂
Don’t know where I missed the memo of calling Porl Pearl.
A friend of mine is a mega Cure fan and has followed them from day one. She doesn’t like Reeves at all, says he is too loud and aggressive and does not fit the Cure as well as previous guitarists do.
Is there any recorded live version with the sax solo, btw? Ty!
People need to get over themselves about Reeves... or Jason. Criticism like this makes me wonder if you're actually true Cure fans or not.
Ugh. So if you have a different point of view or have some critique, you are not a fan? If that’s the case, hard pass.
There seem to be several people on here who follow that take. See the "King Robert wouldn't approve and that's why your opinion is invalid" troll above.
Not what I said really, but you do you.
Im the opposite. His solo on the Anniversary version blew me away.
I love it. I look at the lineup over the decades as kind of like a recipe. If you tweak the ingredients just right, it all tastes good.
Robert changing up the vocal melody has also impacted the quality of the song…not in a good way.
Hell no. Hard disagree. He owns it.
I….disagree
Reeves ruins The Cure as a Whole.
Smashing Pampkins’ cover is sublime
Sounds better than the cheesy 80s sounding sax solo.