Is Mixed Up a good place to start with The Cure?

Yes, Mixed Up is recommended as a starting point for new The Cure listeners. A vibrant collection of reimagined classics, blending ethereal soundscapes with infectious dance rhythms and haunting melodies. Released in 1990, Mixed Up is a remix album that follows The Cure's critically acclaimed studio album, Disintegration. At this point in their career, the band was enjoying significant commercial success and had solidified their status as pioneers of gothic rock and new wave. This project showcased their versatility as it transformed previous hits into club-ready anthems, reflecting the band's willingness to explore new sonic territories.

Mixed Up works well if you're into steady pacing for focused listening, vibrant reimagining of classics and infectious grooves for dancing.

How many songs are on Mixed Up?

Mixed Up has 12 tracks, running approximately 81 minutes.

Mixed Up

The Cure · 1990

81 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock

A vibrant collection of reimagined classics, blending ethereal soundscapes with infectious dance rhythms and haunting melodies.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Lullaby (extended mix) Start here — This extended mix amplifies the original's eerie charm, transforming its haunting narrative into a captivating dance track while preserving its atmospheric depth.
→
Fascination Street (extended mix) — The extended remix enhances the song's pulsating energy, showcasing Robert Smith's unique vocal delivery against a backdrop of driving beats and lush instrumentation.
→
Lovesong (extended mix) — This remix transforms a love anthem into a danceable classic by layering synths and reimagining its structure while maintaining its emotional core.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100

Foothills

Higher than 48% of albums we've rated

The remixes create a vibrant yet cohesive collection that reinterprets The Cure's classics for a dance audience.

What we noticed

Each track is a remix of a previously released song, extending the original lengths and altering arrangements to fit a dance-oriented style.
Several tracks incorporate new instrumental layers that were not present in the original versions, adding depth and variation.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing for focused listening
vibrant reimagining of classics
infectious grooves for dancing
peaks of energy and atmosphere

Maybe skip if you

prefer short, standalone tracks
seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — First remix album, showcasing a new approach to The Cure's classic tracks.
Themes: haunting dancefloors· dark whimsy· extended soundscapes
Moods: Dreamy· Energetic
Career context: Released in 1990, Mixed Up is a remix album that follows The Cure's critically acclaimed studio album, Disintegration. At this point in their career, the band was enjoying significant commercial success and had solidified their status as pioneers of gothic rock and new wave. This project showcased their versatility as it transformed previous hits into club-ready anthems, reflecting the band's willingness to explore new sonic territories.
Stylistic neighbors: Siouxsie and the Banshees· Joy Division· The Sisters of Mercy