The review up top is right: This is the Cure album to start with. But maybe that's because this is the one I happened to start with. Actually, I think it's excellent because it's right at what I would call the middle of the Cure's range of sounds. It's still got some of their early punk edginess, some of their 80's danciness, some of the dark goth-like tones, and a hint of the gloss that you'll find in their more recent albums.

Even though it falls in this niche, the styles of music on this album vary widely and the lyrics are haunting as always. This is definitely one of my favorite albums and seems to fit a variety of moods and settings. I bought this album on vinyl when it first came out and have been listening to it periodically ever since (although I've "upgraded" to a CD version). Every once in a while I forget about it and find it dusty on my shelf. When I clean it off and pop it back in the player I'm always glad I did.

If you only know the Cure's recent stuff, definitely go out and get this album. If you've never heard of the Cure and don't just want a greatist hits album, get this one. If you don't care...well, then nevermind...

Whenever I hear the first drum beats of this album, I get a smile on my face. Since listening to this album for the first time in the winter of '86, I've savored every note, every word, every emotion, every second. It is truly one of the finest releases of the '80's, yet the music really is timeless. It's a happier Cure than found on "Faith", "Pornography", or "Seventeen Seconds". Don't get me wrong, those albums are excellent, but "Head On The Door" was a new direction for Robert Smith and company. The lyrics on this album are still dark, twisted, and thought provoking like earlier albums, but they are matched with a lighter, happier sounding music. Even on tracks like "Sinking", and "A Night Like This" where the images are dark and brooding, the music is unlike any they've done before. I love this album. It always seems fresh and vibrant...even after all these years (15 to be exact) "The Head On The Door" still makes me happy to be a Cure fan.

Track highlights from "The Head On The Door"? Hmm, they're all great but if I had to pick..."InBetween Days", "Six Different Ways", "A Night Like This", "Push", and "Kyoto Song". Some of the Cure classics by far.

Although the Cure has come to the end of the road in what has been an amazing musical career, I thank the musical gods that looked upon Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst, Porl Thompson, Simon Gallup and Boris Williams during the making of this excellent album. Five stars? Nah, I give it six.

I was watching r.e.m's story on behind the music. They were showing some old alternative tv show and they were listing the top five alternative albums of 85. 1. Fables by r.e.m (their best), the rest go like this; one by the talking heads, low-life by new order, the queen is dead by the smiths and this album. Now in 2002 alternative is alien ant farm, limp bizkit, and linkin park. Can I go out on a limb and say there has been a precipitous drop in quality as to what is considered alternative music????

Okay, sure this may be poppish, but The Cure have always wavered back and forth between Pop and Gloom. To be honest, I think most people completely misread this band, either by hating them (criticizing that The Cure are all make-up and posturing) or loving them (I'm thinking now of those wistful days of my youth during the 1980s when girls would dress in black, stare up at their posters of Robert Smith and say "Ahhhhhh"). Truth is, even Smith has gone on record saying that he enjoys BOTH of the Cure's styles--it seems when he gets bored of one, he focuses on the other. The Cure, I feel, are brilliantly playing a postmodern game. Smith is hyper-aware of his image and status, and he milks it for all its worth. Kudos to you Robert!

That said, Head on the Door is the CD to purchase for fans who want to hear irresistably catchy Cure songs. Head is solid and coherent, unlike the rambling mess of the follow-up, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (which would have made a better single record). Head contains "Inbetween Days," "Close to Me," and "A Night Like This" for singles fans. But the record also has "The Blood," and "The Baby Screams," for those who like their Cure, well, Curish!

I half agree with the reviewer from Malaysia. I don't think this is a quintessential Cure record. It's a quintessential mid-80's Cure record, to be sure, but for anyone who's really interested in this band I strongly recommend Boys Don't Cry, Seventeen Seconds (my favorite), Disentegration, and Wish.

1985's "The Head on the Door" is The Cure's most accessible album. 35 minutes long, oozing with catchy melodies and infectious pop hooks.

The depressed lyrics in songs like "In Between Days" and "Push" are overshadowed by the insanely catchy, upbeat synth-pop music.

"Close To Me" is an absolute pop gem; so simple (bass, hand claps, basic synth melody, and Robert Smith's anguished panting), yet so deliciously infectious.

Also really good is "A Night Like This", a meeting of the ways between 'goth' and smooth pop - with a saxophone too!

"The Baby Screams" and "Screw" are two of the less moments on here; the latter is the most dated thing on here, which almost makes it sort of fun in a 'throwaway' sense.

The album closes with the towering "Sinking", a 5 minute blast of detached melancholia that foreshadows 1989's ambitious masterpiece "Disintegration".

Other highlights include the bouncy Beatlesque pop of "Six Different Ways", the flamenco/latin tinged "The Blood", and the dark, chilling "Kyoto Song".

Pop gems galore on this sucker. A great starting point for new fans. Sure, it sounds a little mid-80's dated at times, but you can't deny Robert Smith's songwriting ability.

Best Songs: In Between Days, Kyoto Song, Close To Me, Sinking, The Blood.