Customer Reviews

Best Of Rare Cult

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

During a recent trip to Kansas I got tired of the local radio stations in a hurry (like twenty minutes). With four more days before my return home I new I needed to find some new music for the rental car, fast.

Despite being a huge Cult fan I had been leary of purchasing this compilation of "Rare" tunes. You know, the type of music that only the true diehard fan can truly appreciate. Being desperate I took a chance. Right from the opening drum beat of "Love Removal Machine" I had a feeling that I had made a good decision. I like this version better than the original. It has a live type intensity, but with a studio production quality. I kept waiting for the applause at the end. "Zap City" continues with the same live type urgency that has you leaning over to crank up the volume. What else can be said about "She Sells Sanctuary". A classic rock tune that is included here with "Long Version" in the sub-title. It's is similar enough to the album version to make it instantly recgonizable, but with enough variation to give it a subtle freshness. The lone applause at the end makes you feel as if you just sat in on a private session with the band. The acoustic version of "Edie" rounds out a four song set that alone would make this album worthwhile.

While there are some songs of the variety that I was afraid the whole album might be made up of, there are more than enough quality songs to make this an often played addition to even the casual Cult fan's collection.

The Cult, from their Gothic beginnings of Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and then Love. Ya stop there and ya got what ya got here. This CD steers clear of the heavier side (Electric, Sonic Temple) and perfectly bridges the gap that as they explained in the liner notes, was too far to cross for hard core Love fans to get to Electric. As with Love Removal Machine, hell- this version with more of the Love sound is just as good and it's Metal brother on Electric to me! All the songs are catchy and very spiritual, as you would expect with any Cult CD. The sound quality is great, so you don't feel cheated as with some "rare cuts and live stuff" CD's. The material here is like having a brand spankin new Cult album, and it feels the same cuz radio Still won't touch the good stuff. Hell, I thought the Cult CD that came out in about 94 (the one with the black bull on it, or whatever that is) was amazing. It was heavy , it was alternative, and for some reason , you were lucky if you heard Coming Down maybe once a month anywhere , so be your own person, screw the mainstream trendy Ted's , and get this awesome CD.

THIS SET IS A SAMPLING OF THE FULL 7 cd BOX SET RARE CULT WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF PRINT. FOR THOSE UNABLE TO LOCATE OR AFFORD THE EXPANDED SET THIS IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE. MANY OF THE TRACKS TAKEN FROM ELECTRIC ARE ORIGINAL VERSIONS WITH THE FLAVOR OF THE LOVE ALBUM-MORE ALTERNATIVE-LESS RAW. A MUST...........

"The Best of Rare Cult" is a compilation of tracks from the exhaustive "Rare Cult" boxed set, and much to the chagrin of someone like myself who ponied up the cash for the box, also includes five tracks not in the "Rare Cult" boxed set. I'm actually a bit shocked that Beggars' Banquet would have resorted to this sort of marketing ploy, but nonetheless, the set is what it is.

For the casual fan of the Cult, there's really not a whole lot here that's worthwhile-- yeah, you get an early take of "Love Removal Machine" replete with overdubs galore, different (although in many cases subtlely) mixes of some early tracks like "She Sells Sanctuary" and "Go West", an acoustic version of "Edie (Ciao Baby)" and a couple leftovers, b-sides and so on that are really worth noting ("Zap City", "No. 13"), but really it's hard to judge this as critical.

If you've gotten all the albums and are looking for more, then this has more value-- admittedly-- the above mentioned material as well as some other leftovers, usually those that are glaringly in some camp or another (uber-goth "Little Face", melodrama monster "Bleeding Heart Graffitti") are probably of interest to deeper fans. And of course, if you're totally hardcore, five tracks here are not readily available elsewhere, so it's essential.

But truthfully, this one kind of stinks of marketing to me, and I always hate that. I'd give it 3.5 stars, but I'm always bothered by these sorts of compilations.

First I'll say I'm a guy who has all of The Cults studio cds & I was very surprised at the quality of this cd. These aren't throw away songs,they're mostly b-sides of the 45rpm/ cassette singles & songs that weren't finished when the record/cd where to be released & finished at a later date. This was great addition to my collection and if your already a fan who's thinking of getting this I think most of you will like most of this cd. I LOVE it, and can't quite afford the now out of print 5/6 cd box set "Rare Cult" so this was perfect for me.

This best of b-sides and outtakes is an absolute must have for Cult fans, not only for the three previously unavailable songs, but for the remastered quality of the tracks that you may be familar with (Love Trooper, Zap city etc). The liner notes are a very informative reference to the history of each track. This cd is hopefully just an appetizer for whats included in the forthcoming box set!!

She sells sanctuary whith a kind of "primitive, tribal" introduction is amazing, unique, really what Duffy knows to do. re-invent The Cult.
About the seller, promised what advertised, CD and Case like new, delivered on time. No doubt that I will buy again from them.

I'm not all long winded-so I'm going to keep it simple. One of the most underrated rock bands that continue to put out great albums and continue to rock. Just got Good and Evil-Love It. Can't wait for the next release

While The Cult are stringing us along creating their new masterpiece check out this compilation. There are some low points, I will not lie, but all in all this is a great cd.

The song's you know are in slightly different versions and there are 5 songs that you will not get from the box set coming in November. This is a must for any true fan.

The Cult are one of the best rock and roll bands of my generation. I cannot wait until they unleash their new cd.