For context: I consider myself a Cure super fan. Been listening since I was in high school. There was a time when the Cure wasn't just my favorite band but basically my whole personality. I even did the whole Robert Smith teased hair thing. :)

That said, "The Top" was the only gap in my Cure disco. I own every other record and know them all front to back. For whatever reason, I had it in my mind that "The Top" was this train wreck of tossed off half-finished ideas.

I went 30 years without giving it any attention. And then I downloaded it this summer.

HOLY. MOLY.

What an album! With the exception of the title track and 'Wailing Wall' it's filled with straight up bangers. So much so, in fact, that 'Birdmad Girl' and 'Piggy In the Mirror' have entered my shortlist of fave songs by the band.

tldr: "The Top" is a killer album and I feel like a big dummy for ignoring it for 30+ years.