Disintegration

I know exactly who you are if this is your all-time favorite album. Your favorite film director is Tim Burton, but you don't want him involved in adapting The Book of Mormon into a movie. Jim Steinman's death hit you harder than you expected. You never considered cigarette smoking a habit and still refer to it as a "hobby". You became a Seattle Mariners fan only because they've never been to the World Series. The only Seattle Mariner you can name is Ichiro. You know that former NFL Running Back Robert Smith is agnostic but refuse to learn where he went to college. You think Anne Rice was overrated but own all of her novels. You remember what getting dumped felt like when you were 21-years old, and you've written it down so you always will. You once started a "Dear John" letter by writing "By the time you read this, I'll already be dead" just for shock value. You shake your head any time you hear a story about Morrissey. Shoplifting.

Rober Smith: *is tired of mainstream success and wants to release a less accesible album* *releases Disintegration with Plainsong, Pictures of You, Lovesong, Lullaby, and Fascination Street* The public: :D Robert Smith (for all eternity): >:'(

When I was a kid my older sister was a goth. She loved The Cure (and she really loved Robert Smith). I was into rock music; AC/DC, Motley Crue, Def Leppard and other bands of that ilk. As far as I was concerned Rock was cool, Goths were ridiculous and my ears were to remain closed to The Cure. Since then this band remained elusive to me. That is until earlier this year when I listened to Seventeen Seconds for the very first time. I immediately seen the error of my ways and began exploring more of The Cure. As a lifelong the Cure fan of approximately six months now Disintegration has already become one of my favourite albums. It’s a mesmerising album, seductive and atmospheric this is the band at the peak of their powers delivering a gorgeous, an epic laden album.

Disintegration sustains an atmosphere that is gloomy, yet thoroughly gorgeous. It somehow manages to feel both claustrophobic and seductive. Thirty years after its release, Disintegration still holds up. The songs are written and produced excellently, with a clear direction to preserve the general moodiness.

Brilliant, moody, atmospheric, introspective goth rock. A haunting and memorable experience. It’s a soundtrack to your feelings.

Hands down my favorite Cure album. This is one of the most sonically gorgeous albums I've ever heard and is exquisite on headphones. The atmosphere is so intricate and detailed it's like your ears are on drugs. The contrast of the shimmering/stereo panning chimes and then the deep hit of the bass/synth at the beginning is like a 1-2 punch that just immediately knocks me out. The first two tracks are my favorites and pair so well together. Reverb, delay, and EQ all brilliantly balanced in such a way that they create this practically narcotic effect on me where I just want to shut everything else out and listen to this album over and over again in the dark as I go in and out of consciousness. I want to stay in it forever. The contrast of elements throughout the album from delicate to saturated and intense is so thrilling and dramatic in the best possible sense. A masterpiece.

This album goes into the (very small) pile of albums that are so good I can't listen to them anymore. I still remember the eeriness of listening to the end of the album slowing down as my walkman batteries died.

Powerful, dark, orchestral, ambient album that's super depressing. At first I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't think I'd like it very much, but it was engaging and fascinating from front to back.

Admittedly, I actually listened to this album 2 days ago, so this is great timing! I love this album, I think it's one of the most melodically rich and textured new wave albums out there. The synths here are so full and heavy, they're layered perfectly with the guitars and drums that give each song a meaningful impact. Everything here sounds like it would work well in a film soundtrack. I feel like the way the vocals are layered into the songs was a precursor to shoegaze, the way they melt into the songs make them sound so dreamy. The lyrics match the melodic, pretty, romantic and emotional melodies. I guess part of the reason I can see these songs being in movies is that they're crafted as these kind of sentimental beautiful romantic stories. Overall I love the rawness, the layers upon layers of melodic components and overall great feelings this album inspires. I just want to end this review by saying 'Lovesong' is one of the greatest songs ever created.

Goddamn beautiful. Deserves every bit of praise it gets. The production, the songwriting, the personality and everything that comes along with it. It flows so well from one song to the next, it feels like one giant, wonderful experience. And that is what albums should strive for: experiences. I've had a string of 3-star albums for a bit now so this will break the streak, and I couldn't be happier that it did.

I do believe they refer to this as a fucking classic

I honestly tried to like this. It's just so damn boring to me. I listened twice thinking I must be missing something, but still just hmmmmmm. Not for me I guess

Just such a good album. It's clearly one of the top albums for the band, as well as one that defines a particular moment and genre of music. People who love the Cure mostly love Disintegration, but it's also the sort of album that someone who doesn't really like the band and who doesn't listen to any of their other music might still have in their collection and love. It's also pretty perfect as a complete album, the songs are great but the flow and feeling of the whole thing is also clearly carefully considered.

This is the music that sits in a corner by itself at a party waiting to be discovered. This album makes me relive, uhhh revile, high school and this album was played perpetually from the sidelines amongst my group of friends. Robert Smith, the personality, overshadowed the music within. When Disintegration came out it was difficult to enjoy this album without dressing up like Robert Smith or Edward Scissorhands. But today, separating the Robert Smith-goth fans from this music is pretty easy. Time has moved on. There are some great takeaways from this that even today I'll listen to. That intro to Fascination Street is incredible, Pictures of You, Lullaby and Last Dance all are on some playlist of mine somewhere. Disintegration is a late-80's early 90's piece of nostalgia that, no matter how terrible high school was, I'll always want to remember.

This is my favorite album from the Cure. Go ahead. Put on some headphones (this is a headphones kind of album), sit in a dark room and just listen. The album is filled overlapping waves of sound that can fill a room. The album is dark, but comfortable. Favorite tracks include "Lullaby", "Fascination Street", "Pictures of You", "Plainsong", and "Disintigration". I will listen to this one again, and I might make someone listen with me. 5 stars

Wouldn't be the cure without being too long and too self-indulgent. That said this is my favourite Cure album so far

Beautifully gloomy, atmospheric and grand. An intimately claustrophobic but seductive album that rewards repeated listening. It's main drawback (if it has one) is that it feels a tad too long, but this doesn't majorly detract from what's a pretty outstanding record overall.

Starting the week with a classic! I can't remember if I've listened to this in full before, but I know I've seen it on many a list of great albums. Very quickly I could hear how influential this is--it sounds like a blueprint for so many alternative/emo/dreampop artists that followed (like Mazzy Star, M83, even Hatchie). Probably not the first of it's kind, but it feels seminal. Deep, spacious instrumentals, and Robert Smith sounds perfectly ethereal (though I didn't love his vocal performance on "Lullaby"). It's a long album, and the tracks are long, but I don't mind at all. It gives time for me to settle into these tunes. I liked a lot of songs on here, especially "Pictures of You." Man, that's a perfect, beautiful song. I really dug this album immediately, and I can see it growing on me even more. Definitely deserving of the classic status. Favorite tracks: Pictures of You, Lovesong, Fascination Street, The Same Deep Water As You. Album art: I recognize this one of course. I don't love it, but it's cool. Trippy if you will. Makes the album seem way older than it is. If that's Robert Smith in the picture, he looks like a creepy ghoul from Carnival of Souls. 4.5/5 (potentially a 5, and I hereby symbolically downgrade Rio and ArchAndroid to 4.5)

minha vida é dividida em 2 momentos: pré disintegration e pós disintegration não ironicamente esse álbum foi meu coming of age de adolescente feliz pra adolescente completamente fudido

Easily one of my favourite albums ever! While being one of The Cure's darkest albums each song fits perfectly into an overall theme of despair, a feeling Robert Smith was famously experiencing at the time, with an intensity unparalleled by many artists. The title track is my personal favourite, with its consistent tempo it leads you further and further down the rabbit hole commanded by Smith's powerful lyrics, while songs like Lovesong and Lullaby marry the elation of love with an underlying feeling of dread through the fear of losing that love.

This must be my college-age heavy-hitters' week. "Disintergration" is the The Cure's 8th album and a return to the Goth dark side. Robert Smith was depressed at turning 30 (oh boy) and the band was not happy about the "pop" success of the previous two albums. This prompted a return to Goth and a more depressed style of music. However, this album is not a totally depressing album; some of these songs are actually happy (to me). But, yes, there is an overriding atmosphere of darkness. Also, Smith had lapsed back into taking hallucinogens to deal with his depression, affecting the music (more on that later). I've always felt this album was their culmination combining their earlier Goth and recent pop. There's a few ways you can go with songs on this album: the popular, more upbeat or those representing the more deep, dark atmosphere/mood. Let's do both. When I think of The Cure, the first song that pops into my head is "Pictures of You." Just a great rhythm, Goth guitar progression and chorus and of course, the lyrics (smashing my pictures of you). The most Cure Cure song. "Lovesong" was written for his future wife and has a great innovative music base with its bass/drum/ guitar intro and synthesizer chorus and bridge. "Lullaby" might have my favorite lyric of the 80's: "Spiderman is having me for dinner tonight." A great example of combining LSD with "Nightmare on Elm Street" thoughts....throughout the song actually. The title track "Disintegration" is my favorite song for capturing the album's mood with a killer bass line and dark groove. Some people say The Cure reached their peak with this album. Maybe. I think they have a couple good ones after but no doubt, this is a great one.

Oh my gosh, what a first album to get. Truly one of my favorites of all time, an absolute CLASSIC. Re-listening right now :) Love the atmosphere it generates right from the get-go. There's just something comforting about the two minutes or so of Plainsong, right before it decides to rip your heart out. Pictures of You just makes me cry. Not sure why, but as soon as it starts, I just well up with tears. Absolutely gorgeous song, especially the instrumental bits. Closedown's opening is a great break of pace from the previous two, but it still blends in with the rest of the album's recognizable tone. Reminds me very much of King Lear - in that it's something that I think will grow in relevancy as I age. "If only I could fill my heart with love", what a haunting last line, even as the song continues for at least a minute after it. Ugh and then Lovesong! Honestly, if you ever need to refresh your belief in the concept of True Love TM, this song (and Robert Smith's relationship with Mary Poole) should help you find it again. It's also a nice breather in such a heavy and gothic album. While Last Dance wasn't on the vinyl, I'm gonna include it here anyways. I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals on it for some reason, but I love the backing instruments, especially whatever's going on in the bass region. Lullaby creeps me out still to this day. I love it, but something still sits in the back of my mind, freaked out. The bass on Fascination Street bangs so hard. Honestly, on this re-listen, this is probably one of my favorites so far! Robert Smith's vocals on this are *great*. Forget what I said about Fascination Street... the bass on Prayers for Rain is even better. I love love love love love this song. It drags you under and just keeps going down. I could listen to this for hours. The outro with the backwards notes is a nice touch. 9 minutes... this song is 9 minutes of depression and I LOVE IT. The Same Deep Water as You just vibes so hard. Sure, the thunder is cheesy but can you really have a Cure album without a bit of cheese? Disintegration's beginning is a good change of pace once again from the 9 minutes of slow gloom - granted Disintegration has its own special brand of gloom. Huge fan of the instruments once again, they really complement Robert Smith's voice on this track. Especially the steady, hyper pulse that creeps underneath it all. Such a good track. Again, Homesick isn't on the vinyl but damn it, this is MY listening party and I'll choose if I listen to it or not! As always, the instrumental parts of this album blow me away. The Cure does such an insanely good job of creating an overall atmosphere on this record. Vocals and lyrics hit on this one too!! Untitled's beginning blows me away again for some reason. I love Robert Smith's vocals on this too, they lock in so well with what the rest of the band is playing and it just works as a fantastic end to such a depressing album. Stellar song, stellar album, stellar band.

I agree with Kyle Brofloski

Masterpiece. Depressing. Goth. 10/10 1. Lullaby 2. Plainsong 3. Lovesong

Whiny goth/emo rock. It was crap in the 80s and is still crap now.

Did not like it. Long, boring and drawn out instrumental intros on each song were a turn off. Probably won’t listen again.

i guess i have the illness

Been feeling a little down lately because of listening to musty old hip-hop with the Fungal Brothers plus a double dose of Wilco so I’ve been moping around wearing a lot of Goth make up. This album couldn’t have come at a better time. No doubt The Cure’s grand opus. From the off with Plainsong this is full of epic, magisterial widescreen rock with pining vox, tingly guitars and rich oozy ooze bed of rich synth. Lovesong and Lullaby are probably the most upbeat eerie bops here but songs like Pictures Of You and Closedown are where the band are at their most glim glum, glacial and also gobsmackingly beautiful best. The second side sort of disintegrates truly into a deep Disintegrationy bogland. It’s sort of like the Cure equivalent of turning over Sgt Peppers and every track being their version of Within You Without You. Melodically nothing as golden as anything off the first half but still nice to wallow in. And overall this is getting 5 stars. A true classic.

The tone is set from the get go with this intro.. This is a record that will take its time. It will be sparse and lush at the same time. The music drips from the ceiling. The voice comes in. The keyboards fall while the guitar ascends. Pictures of you. The grace. Curtains of sounds, upwards and downwards, through which the voice appears. Wanting to feel, touch and be touched. Looking for a connection. It gets funky in all the right places (lullaby). It’s has humor and night terrors. It opens up the curtains on paradoxes and opposite directions. Up and down. Dry and wet. Low and High. Hard and soft. The bass sometimes is retreating, at other times driving the whole, like it it drives this stroll on fascination street. Agressive, steady, round. Guitars swirling around this line. The whole thing has warmth to it, but has the cold edges of punk rock in some of the vocals. Music is full of paradoxes and they are well exposed here. The end is always near. Bouncy sounds. A voice in a room full of walls, looking for space and finding it. It is a record where containment talks to freedom. There is space and there are constraints. Water is a theme. Lots of cascading sounds praying for rain. What is the process of disintegration? What does it mean for things to lose integrity? Particles separate, humans move away from each other. Disintegration is what happens when something is moving away from itself. When it stops holding together. The forces that held it let go, and particles drift. It sure feels like a lot is falling away here: sounds, relationships, people. I seem to constantly hear the sound of water flowing, falling. The ghost of a stream. THis music is wet. Prayers for rain. Even when songs have a bounce to them, like disintegration - voices are a bit behind in the mix, like trying to stay afloat. An echo responds. This record invites impressions. The songs hold multitudes - Yearning for connection, falling and yet full of life. It’s a record full of alienation, but there is a surprising light to it that comes through as well. And perhaps that is the first paradox here. Homesick- its hypnotic bass, cascading piano, all surrounded and enveloped by the ascending guitar. Until the voice comes in. A dramatic, inspired landscape as the backdrop for a voice that is set loose from the song that this guitar is tracing in the sky. This is a dance between the elements. When the piano comes back, the exile is complete. The record ends with Untitled. As if when all is said and done, when the disintegration is complete, we lose the ability to name things. Time is undone. But for all that has passed and gone, something emerges whole. It is a simple song. Maybe the closest to the idea of a Ritournelle - a spiral motif, that closes the record with a lift. When all is said, this might be the most beautiful thing Robert Smith has done.

Solid 5 star stuff.

I've always been a sucker for moody and ethereal post punk, and The Cure are easily one of the best to every do it. Every track on this record carries so much emotion and creates a whole soundscape of overwhelming melancholy. And it manages to do this without every becoming dour or static, despite an impressive 77 minute runtime and only one track below 4 minutes its hard to get bored listening to Disintegration. The album blends these beautiful overwhelming ambient walls of synth with jangly guitar riffs and strong baselines, its truly the kind of album you need to listen to with no other surrounding stimuli and just get lost in the world the band have created. All of this is perfectly topped off with Robert Smith's beautiful vocals crafting images of long lost romance and forgotten emotions, his voice perfect for the dramatic and gothic world of Disintegration. This is probably the easiest 5 I've given so far. Highlights: Plainsong, Pictures of You, Fascination Street, Prayers for Rain, Disintegration

One of my favorite Cure albums, and immediately transported me back to the time when it came out. Which was kind of a relief after Just Like Heaven started getting played at frat parties. Back to gloomy songs about being cold, dark, and alone. Probably in the rain.

Makes me want to lie in a field with headphones on and float away

The Cure is just great. This is Robert Smith and the boys firing on all cylinders.There's a great mixture of the lengthy, moody tracks and the great pop leaning tracks that can occupy your skull for days. There's just so much to love from beginning to end. Just thinking about the album makes a medley of songs pop into my head. Man, I love The Cute. I love me some 80's UK sad boy music and they are on the Mount Rushmore of that...very specific genre that only exists in my mind. Jesus, I have to go listen to the title track now because it's just won't get out. Smash that 5 star button!

5 stars. Loved it then, love it now. Somehow, this sadsack never came off like a phony. This album was necessary for a fifteen-year-old kid with big feelings and nowhere to put 'em. Good stuff.

Their absolute high point and peak for me - I used to laugh at the goths dressing like Robert smith and wrote the cure off as a teenager. Thankfully i wised up as I got older - lovesong and fascination street are two of my absolute favourites but this album is full of brilliant tracks - plainsong, pictures of you, disintegration, lullaby… an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So atmospheric, that guitar effect which they so heavily use is like an electric harp from heaven.

I love Lovesong so much. And Lullaby- so eerie and beautiful. Very into the rest of the album, too. Cool atmospheric 80s alt-rock.

I don't like it

1001 Albums Vol. 0005: Disintegration ============================================================ Introduction: My God! Getting Off The Wall as my third album and this as my fifth album is absolutely crazy. I know for a damn fact that this album is great. I haven't heard it in full before, yet the songs that I have heard are easily some of my absolute favorites. I'm already 99% sure what score this album will get, yet I'm here to review every track regardless. I really shouldn't have to give this album anymore of an introduction than simply stating how good it is, yet I guess I will anyway. Disintegration is the eighth studio album released by The Cure in 1989. It manages to blend...I really couldn't even say how many genres together to make one great production all the way through. At its core, this album is defined as rock, specifically gothic rock. I've heard some songs in full and some songs in snippets, and I can say for a fact that there is absolutely no filler on this album. Critical and even casual reception for this album went absolutely crazy at the time of its release and is still crazy now. Many consider it to be one of the greatest releases of all time. Today, this album still sounds extremely distinct and unique through a combination of vocals, genre-blending, and extremely strong songwriting. Obviously, many consider this to be the absolute peak of The Cure's entire career. They simply never achieved this level of greatness again. This is objectively a bad thing, yet it would be almost inhuman to imagine that The Cure would be able to create something better than their best release by a long shot. That inhuman ability is only gifted to specific artists and bands which I know we will be seeing later down the line. (If you know, you probably know. The two bands and one artist I'm thinking of should instantly come to your mind when you think of the best albums of all time from a critical standpoint.) With all that said, let's get into what I imagine will be one of my highest rated albums when I'm done with this journey. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: Plainsong - This is such a great way to open an album. The melody, the grandiose sound, the vocals, all on amazing display in this song. The way the song opens manages to instantly capture my attention as well. It may be because I've heard songs like 21st Century Schizoid man, but hearing the chimes in the intro made me feel as if I were about to hear a grandiose release into a great song at any second. The song itself is great too. The grandiose, atmospheric, depressive, magical, orchestral, dark, psychedelic sound of this song manages to sound absolutely amazing all the way through. The grand yet contained drums, the occasional chimes which become more frequent later in the song, the amazing guitar work, literally everything about this song is perfect and manages to get me into the mood of what I'm about to listen to perfectly. It may be partially because I've heard this album before, but I already felt in the mood this song wanted me to be in before even a minute had passed. Again, this should either communicate how extremely powerful this song is or how much I've listened to some songs off of this album. I briefly mentioned this just a few sentences ago, but the guitar work on this song is absolutely amazing. The drawn out tones create sounds which are gothic, magical, dark, and unique to this album all at the same time. Much like everything else with this song, it's unbelievably great. This album's singer is absolutely amazing too. We don't get to hear him on full display yet, however, due to echoes when he sings, sublimed vocals, and a more quiet voice. Anyone who has heard him before absolutely knows what I'm talking about though. The more sublimed and echoing vocals on this track are not bad at all. They add to the song's overall feeling and depth in a meaningful way which reflect the melody. The lyrics themselves reflect this tone as well. While highly interpretable, it's pretty clear that The Cure is trying to communicate a dark, depressing message with this song. I personally interpret it as being a message for someone's inner pain, yet one can make whatever they want out of it. Nevertheless, the lyrics are literally perfect in every way regarding the feeling the song was going for. In fact, this song is pretty much perfect in every way. There is not a single thing that I would do to change it. There is not a single instrument that I can possibly think of that I could add or get rid of to make this song sound better in any way. It is simply sublime, magical, perfect. This is the third eleven I've given on this site, and yet this I personally find a few of the songs I've already heard to be better than this. Like I said in the intro, this is one of the best albums of all time. Plainsong Score: 11/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 2: Pictures of You - Well, I'm sure everybody knows what score I'm going to end up giving this song. I'm still going to make comments about it nonetheless. This song is absolutely fantastic, I'd say that it's the best I've heard off of this site so far. The melody is simply magical. The occasional dazzling sound that strums across both channels instantly kicking off the song should instantly capture one's attention into the amazing melody that follows. Said melody may last over seven minutes, yet there are plenty of small elements being woven into the melody to keep it fresh throughout the entirety of the song. The drums carry over the same foreboding tone, the guitars are played at a faster pace, yet the way their strumming is exaggerated lets them retain the dark feel, this song is just musically perfect. This slowness combines to make the song sound both oddly mature and dramatic yet magical and free-spirited at the same time. It's truly bizarre if you don't know what I'm talking about. Nearly every verse ending with the same dazzling effect heard at the beginning of the song is just perfect as well. Like I said, this song is just musically perfect. The vocals are absolutely perfect too. Like I said previously, the singer's voice is absolutely amazing and iconic. His high pitched yet mature voice is something that I really can't describe. If I had to, I would describe his voice as having a slight British tone, high in pitch, yet having a strange sense of edge to it as well. It's one of those rare voices that is so distinct that one would easily be able to know which artist they are listening to simply based off the singer's voice alone. As for the lyrics...they're absolutely beautiful. I would go as far to say that they near the point of being just poetry. They're just vague enough that small details of the song are up to interpretation, yet the big picture of it is still present. In general, the song is clearly about longing for a lost love. However, the descriptions of this lost love are just beautiful. The line about only using the right words is especially beautiful. The song seemingly goes into detail about how our character copes with this lost love as well. It seems that they may have either stored mental images in their memory of their time with their partner or had physical pictures of them as a coping mechanism. It seems that out character may have either lost or broken these pictures of their lost partner. These pictures could be a metaphorical representation for love as well. Like I said, a lot of this song is up for debate. Even so, the descriptions that this song provide are just vivid and depressing. This combined with the extremely great vocals and the dark, magical, yet mature mood of the song all form into something that is just beyond perfect. I would go so far as to say that this is genuinely one of the greatest songs of all time. I can name a lot of songs off the top of my head that are better, yet if I were simply asked by someone to name some of the greatest songs of all time, Pictures of You would probably come out of my mouth. Unbelievably good, definitely the best song I've heard on this site so far. I know for a fact that I will eventually hear better, yet as long as I don't get Dark Side Of The Moon or something of similar quality as my next album, this one will hail king for a while. Pictures of You Score: 11/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 3: Closedown - Going into this album, I had heard that this song was the weakest out of everything. That doesn't mean that this song is weak at all, yet it is noticeably worse than the previous two songs. Musically, the song is still creative and different than the previous two. It relies much more on echoing synths and consistent drumming for its melody. Musically, its still extremely great and manages to capture the mature, dark atmosphere that the entire album has presented so far. The guitars present on this song as well have that drawn out magic in each pluck of their string that add to the gothic rock style. Like with the two previous songs, the guitars are great. The vocals and lyrics, while brief, are on point as well. The vocals sound almost the exact same as in the previous song, yet I would describe them as a bit more nuanced. It sounds as if the singer knows that this song won't be as successful or magical as the last. That being said, they're still absolutely amazing and this vocal tone actually fits with the melody of the song too. Like the others, this song is extremely vague and up to interpretation with its lyrics. To me, it describes the unstoppable passage of time and the want to feel eternal, the want to experience as much as possible before you run out of time. While not as beautifully written as the previous track, the lyrics here are still well-written and leave out just enough for deviation. Overall, while I can't give this album an eleven simply for the fact that it isn't as overwhelmingly great as the previous two, I can still absolutely give it a well-deserved ten. It's another great song, yet it's probably going to be the weakest off of this album by the end of it. That should say a lot. Closedown Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 4: Lovesong - I haven't heard much of The Cure besides this album, yet from what I can tell, this song sounds much more like classic The Cure than most others off of this album. The production on this song sounds much more clear and less atmospheric than in the previous three songs. This is not a bad thing at all, it only allows the album to explore more unique melodies if anything. The overall tone of this song is much less dreamy and more gothic than the previous three. Again, this is not a bad thing at all. Melody wise, the drums have a much more clear and less sublimed tone, the guitars have a much more clear and less dreamy tone, and the bass is much more audible. These elements all combine into a tone in which I can only describe as more gothic than the previous three songs. This is the first song off the album that has a normal song structure as well. Where the three previous somewhat bounced around melodies and vocals, this one has a clear verse and chorus dynamic that 95% of songs contain. I really shouldn't need to explain that aspect of the song any further, literally everybody knows what I'm talking about. Anyway, the vocals are extremely on point as well. The singer accommodates for this less dreamy tone by subduing the loudness and pitch of his voice by just a bit. It's noticeable, yet it's not noticeable by much. Lyrically, this song is absolutely beautiful as well. The verses are particularly beautiful, their descriptions containing themes of one feeling basic human wants and needs fulfilled when they're with their significant other. It's genuinely beautiful. Seriously, this entire album's lyrics have been nothing but beautiful so far. In my opinion, it's rare to find love songs or breakup songs that aren't just basic garbage or cringe worthy. Lyrically, most breakup songs feel as if the singer is just wallowing in their own misery while most love songs feel as if the singer is too hyper focused on describing how perfect the person they love is. This song having genuinely depressing descriptions of how much love affects them, the singer, makes this song genuinely great and touching. Really, everything about this song is just perfect. I wouldn't call it as great as Pictures of You, yet I would certainly say its up there. Musically, while more basic, it's undeniably perfect and instantly catchy. The vocals are undeniably great and mix perfectly with the more beautiful and reflective tone of the song as well. And, like I just described, the lyrics are perfect as well. There is just so much greatness with this album. This song is the second best I've heard on this site so far. Lovesong Score: 11/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 5: Lullaby - This is an extremely weird song. It has such a different vibe to everything presented so far, yet its vibe it not bad at all. Musically, it is much more simplistic than much of what we've heard so far, yet that actually isn't a bad thing considering the context and meaning of the song. There's also an odd instrument used in this song that plays what I can only describe as a quick tap of a fiddle. I have no idea if this is actually what the instrument is, however. As I stated earlier, this song is pretty weird musically. What I just described is combined with some very soft instrumentation to create a lullaby-like sound. There is still clearly a gothic rock melody under the instrumentation and vocals in the foreground though. The melody is pretty unchanging for most of the song. It only really adds extra layers of instrumentation at the end. This isn't a bad thing considering that is a short song, yet it still adds to the weird vibe of the song. Vocally, the song is very weird as well. Robert (I'm done calling him the singer) whispers every word delivered in a creepy tone. This creepy delivery coincides with the lyrical meaning of the song. Compared to other songs we've heard so far, this one has a pretty simplistic meaning. It's not as poetic as others that we've heard either. It speaks about a little boy being devoured by a creature known as the Spiderman while he is in his bed. It's simple yet sweet. This experience was apparently based on Robert's childhood beliefs. Allegedly, he actually believed in something similar to what this song presented. If you ask me, that's extremely damn relatable. Now, I just can't bring myself to give this song an eleven. I'm all for experimenting within an album and stuff, yet this song just felt oddly out of place. It wasn't as emotionally impactful or surprising as the elevens I've already given out as well. I am still giving it a ten, yet I feel that The Cure was entirely capable of putting another song here that I would have considered to be worthy of an eleven. It's fine, this album is still non-stop greats. Lullaby Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 6: Fascination Street - This song kicks us back into the more dreamy style of the album that we heard in the initial three tracks. The echoes are much more profound and the vocals are back to their original, scream-like state. Musically, this song is extremely good. This time around, the bass is meant to be the main leading force of the song's melody. It provides the song with a weird sense of edge and energy within all the dreaminess. Other than that, there isn't really much else to say about this song's melody that I haven't already explained in other songs. Everything is simply on point while still giving off a different vibe than everything we've heard so far. I've already said this, but the vocals have returned to the state that they were songs like Closedown and Pictures of You. They sound a bit more energetic and edgy, which literally mixes perfectly with the melody this song provides. There isn't much else to say about this song's vocals besides that. The lyrics are extremely on point too. Like most other songs, this song's lyrics are just vague enough that they leave some of the song up to interpretation while still giving a general outline of what the song is about. I only say this after having had to look up this song's meaning, however. Maybe I'm just not as intellectually gifted as others, yet I could barely make sense of this song at all. I really don't ever take off points for that, because like I said that may just be a me problem. Anyway, this song is allegedly referencing the thrill that one seeks out of exploring a city at nighttime. It also allegedly references the overall emptiness and lack of fulfillment that this experience provides. I personally can't relate to this song's meaning at all. That may have been a contributing factor as to why I didn't get this song at all. I don't know. Overall, still an extremely strong song. Not as strong as some of the others we've heard so far, however. Fascination Street Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 7: Prayers for Rain - This album just does not give up. It does not give up at all. This is yet another song that I consider to be perfect. Musically, while less creative and magical than some previous tracks, is still extremely sophisticated and well-written. The backmasked effects in the intro and outro that slowly persist throughout the song, the use of the piano, the great drum rhythm, amazing guitar work, and more are all combined here to make the mature sound that we have come to know throughout this entire album. I'm just going to stop mentioning vocals past this point unless there is genuinely a significant or interesting change in the vocal delivery. It's on point here. Lyrically, this song seems to reference the basic human want of escaping and redeeming themselves in an overwhelming sense of sadness. It does't really provide many lines that could be interpreted as an action that the character on this song has done which led to them feeling this despair. It kind of just talks about it. I'm still all here for that. Like everything so far, the lyrics are essentially poetry. They leave so much up for interpretation while providing the key outlines. The use of waiting for rain is a great metaphor for the want to escape the sense of overwhelming despair as well. Other than that, there isn't really all that much to say about this song. It normally gets like this when I get late into an album, however. That isn't necessarily a bad thing at all if I don't really have much to say about a song, it just means that I yapped a bit too much in the first few songs. Yeah, I definitely did on Pictures of You. Anyway, this song is perfect. Great melody, great voice, great lyrics, great everything. Prayers for Rain Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 8: The Same Deep Water as You - This track is just beautiful in the most depressing way possible. The song starting out with slow building static, made to sound like flowing water, before jumping into the main melody is just an amazing design choice. This static stays with us throughout the entirely of the song buried in the foreground as well. It only adds to the song's atmospheric nature. Speaking of which, this song has a very atmospheric nature much like the first and second off of this album. It reminds me very much of the first song, yet instruments are more subdued and sound just a bit more dreamy because of the constant static flow in the background. On top of this, the melody just has a very depressing yet mature theme. This fits perfectly with the song's meaning of drowning in emotional turmoil. Like with every other song, this song's lyrics are just beautifully written. Their written in the same style in which it gives you the main outline yet leaves a lot up for debate, you've heard it all before. One aspect of this song that I personally find very touching is the third verse. It speaks of one fading away and seeing one's smile in their eyes before they finally go. I personally interpret this as one's suicide, which is absolutely tragic in the most beautiful way given the many beautiful lyrics in this song. This song genuinely made me sad. It genuinely made me feel bad for whoever the listener interprets the character in this song to be. It's genuinely an amazingly sad song. The extremely slow outro with instrumentation being slowly taken out of the melody is extremely nice as well. This all culminating in forty seconds of just water-flow at the end of the song...it's great. This may be somewhat of a controversial score I give the song, as I know it is considered one of the weaker off the album, but I think this one genuinely deserves another eleven. I may come back later and change my score like I did with Lullaby, but I believe this is genuinely deserving of the greatest score I can give as of currently. The Same Deep Water as You Score: 11/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 9: Disintegration - This song is just perfect. It almost feels as if the album should have ended here. There's still one more track to go, however. Literally everything off of this album that we've heard feels like is all accumulates here to make one of the dramatic songs I've ever heard. I mean this in nothing but a good way. The melody is very quick paced while still having that atmospheric tone to it. The constant, quick-paced drumming and bass combined with the slow, drawn out guitars create a very strange feeling that I can only describe as a feeling of ascension. This feeling of ascension may come from the added instrumentation as well, but I digress. Despite this song being over eight minutes long, there was not a single segment where I found myself bored. Like I said, it felt as if everything we've heard so far came back here to form the magnum opus of the album. I do consider other songs like Lovesong and Pictures of You to be better, but this is definitely the third greatest off of this album. The rise in vocal pitch and profoundness throughout the song helps with this progressive sense of ascension as well. Of any song on this album, this is where Robert Smith's vocals shine the absolute most. I mean, for around one and a half minutes from the four minute mark we hear some of the best and most profound singing I have ever heard. This song is literally perfect. The lyrics are simply sublime as well. It has the same feature that others have that allows for plenty of interpretation while giving the big outline, yet I personally believe this song to be about the end of...literally everything? The universe, the earth, it feels almost like it's meant to be the final thoughts of somebody. It's hard to say because of how many beautifully written metaphors are scattered across this song, yet this is the best explanation for this song's lyrics I can give. If this is the case, then the dramatic, magnum opus vibe the song gives off would be perfectly fitting for such a topic. This entire song is literally just perfect. This is definitely the third best song I've heard on this site so far. Disintegration Score: 11/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 10: Untitled - Well, we've finally made it to the last track on this masterpiece. Like with every other track on this album, this one is essentially perfect. Musically, it is much more laid back than the previous track. It felt almost as if this track were here to wish a mellow goodbye to the listener. Other than that, there isn't really much else to say about this song musically that I haven't already said in previous songs. The guitars sound gothic and dark, the drums have a nice beat to them, and the dreamy atmospheric vibe is still present. The inclusion of an accordion (or odd sounding organ I can't tell) at the beginning and end of the track is a nice addition that made me feel sad that the album was ending. I mean, this is a masterpiece. This is probably the greatest thing I'm going to hear on this site for a very long time. Anyway, vocally, Robert has a much more laid back tone that he has for pretty much the entirety of the album. His voice is still distinct and recognizable, yet it's the least profound it has been on the entire album other than Lullaby. That being said, this isn't a bad thing at all as it mixes well with the more mellow tone of the song well. Lyrically, the song seems to actually be the most hopeful song that we've heard on the entire album. That being said, it seems as if the world around our character is barren and hopeless. This is honestly an extremely real message to close the album on. To many people, it will likely be the most relatable song on the album. Of course, the lyrics are absolute poetry as well. Other than that, there isn't much else to say about this song. It's somber, saddening, yet oddly real at the same time. It's one of the weakest off the album, yet that doesn't really say anything at all. It's still perfect. Untitled Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: Well, here I am. I've made it through one of the absolute greatest albums of all time. I know I've used the word "perfect" so many times in my descriptions of songs above, yet there really isn't any better word to describe the quality of this album. It is truly perfect in pretty much every aspect. Musically, it is genuinely one of the most creative and unique sounding albums that I have ever heard. The sublime production allows for the album to create a unique blend of dark, gothic, dreamy, atmospheric, whimsical, magical, yet depressing sounds which I am still yet to see ever be recreated to the same extent in another album. The level of production on the instrumentation of this album is simply sublime as well. The drums have a dark and gothic tone to them which allows for more atmospheric elements to take over, the guitars sound dark, exaggerated yet magical all at the same time, the atmospheric elements generally tend to be subdued perfectly in the background to still be obvious yet allow more important instrumentation to take the foreground of the song, all of it is genuinely perfect. The way in which the music mixes with the vocals is genuinely perfect as well. There is never a single point on this album where it feels like one is drowning out the other unless that is the song's intention. Speaking of the vocals, they are absolutely sublime as well. I've said this somewhere above, but I'll go ahead and restate that Robert Smith is one of the greatest singers that I have ever heard. His voice is so distinct, recognizable, profound, yet able to be changed depending on the mood of the song. Songs such as Lullaby, Untitled, and Plainsong show Robert's much more relaxed yet instantly recognizable vocal tone. Robert truly shines in more energetic and whimsical songs, yet even when more subdued he still sounds amazing. Like I said, he shines in high-energy songs such as Pictures of You, Fascination Street, Disintegration, and so on. Seriously, these songs contain some of the best singing I have ever heard. His voice is seriously so distinct, profound, angelic, and recognizable that I would be able to tell that I was listening to The Cure even if I were listening to nothing but Robert's voice. Much like this entire album, Robert's voice is truly perfect. Lyrically, this album is absolutely perfect as well. I've compared its lyrics to beautifully written poetry many times above, yet there really isn't any better way to describe its lyrics. They truly are some of the most beautifully written words I have ever heard from songs. All of these aspects, the vocals, music, and lyrics mix together to create one of the greatest albums ever created. Like I said in the intro, I was almost certain about the score that I was going to give this album, and I was entirely right. As a side not, I will probably come back and add Homesick and Last Dance to this review eventually. I didn't add them because I went way off the deep end with my description of every song and decided to write essay long reviews. Sorry about that. Anyway, yeah, this album is just perfect in absolutely every aspect. There is not a single song I would remove.There is not a single thing I would change about it. It truly is perfect in every aspect. I would go so far as to call it beyond perfect. Which is why, despite this being my fifth album on this site, I am going to give this album the honor of not a perfect score, but a beyond perfect score. It truly deserves it. ============================================================ Disintegration Score: 11/10 Song Average 10.5/10

One of the greatest pieces of music ever made. This is 10 out of 5. Best album on this list.

This album changed my mind about the Cure. Great production, masterful use of effects and thought provoking lyrics.

It's a beauty.

4.5

Few albums seem so well put together from start to finish as this one, as a preconceived complete work rather than just a collection of songs. It's dark and immersive and ambient. But in a melodic narrative way. Always loved this album.

Perfect album in every way. Sooooo good.

My favorite album of all time 5 stars

Awesome x 3, really loved this. Going for an instant relisten and added to the library.

One of my favorite albums ever, definitely my favorite by The Cure, probably their best album. Lovesong and Lullaby are two longtime favorites.

The Cure’s best album imo. Great from beginning to end.

Где-то в этом мире есть пластника, купленная на ярмарке в Минске в очень холодный, но почему-то яркий день, который я рад помнить. Изиест 5 оф май лайф. Лучшая песня - Lullaby

An absolute classic

No one sets a mood , specially an introspective layered and somber mood quite like the cure. Perfectly ragged , polished but raw in the right ways , where other albums get stuck in top of ur mind . Robert smiths disintegration sneaks in the back . Never rushed , it dazzles you slowly by setting a mood and then being beautiful in pieces and being intriguing all the same . a classic, it’s hard to stop listening to it

GREAT BAND, GREAT ALBUM!!!

So good

I've always liked the music of The Cure. Staring at the Sea inspired me. Robert Smith's voice is unmistakable and great. A Forest is one of my favorite songs ever. And yet I missed this album, although not all of it. Good to have heard it now. 5/5

Such a good one - melancholic masterpiece

Gloomy, gothy & droney, yet poppy enough for Adele to cover one of the songs. I've been captivated by this album since it was first released, and this was always going to be 5⭐ from me.

Facking love The Cure, the saddest lads of them all. Pictures Of You is also my favourite song of theirs, so confirms the 5 stars. The Simpsons: No

That melancholy Cure sound. A classic.

One of my favorite albums of all time! So pleased that I got to listen to it yesterday!

Disintegration is one of the most perfect albums ever recorded, a dense musical soundscape that perfectly captures the Gothic origin of Romantic literature by recreating the Sublime landscapes that inspired the movement, and transposing them into a decaying Urban sprawl. This has always sounded like London at 3am, the witching hour, despite having been recorded in a village in Oxfordshire. On top of the sheer beauty of it’s sound, Disintegration never manages to lose it’s emotional core, and confirms my belief that, although teenagers for sure love this, existential dread and despair become all the more potent the closer you get to your 30’s. I’ve never taken hallucinogens, but if I did, I’d take them to this album. Which may be missing a point, possibly but fuck it, Disintegration’s too good

Sick ass album

Absolute classic from the late 80's. Swirling guitars that take you through dreams, moods & nightmares. One of my great discoveries from college.

my favourite the cure album, it's perfect.

Great album

One million stars. If I had to pick just one album from the 80s to listen for the rest of my life, I would pick Disintegration.

I didn't think I was going to be up for Lovesong so soon after Pictures of You, but testament to the flow of this album it does actually flow nicely. I've been bought up listening to The Cure, I think people distance themselves from it as being Goth music, but for me its that's just the aesthetic the band has to help set the scene for the emotional pallet the music is offering. If you're open to it, it's a nice place to visit and get all melancholic and this album as a package is their best offering for that.

“Fascination Street” is one of the greatest 80’s-songs of all time. Keeping that in mind it’s wild that it doesn’t really stand that much out quality-wise from the rest of Disintegration. Robert Smith was apparently but unsurprisingly moody as hell and refused to speak at times during the recording of this to create an uncomfortable atmosphere. A lot of the other guys just had a great time and tried to remain somber whenever Smith was in the room. Pure fun.

A true masterpiece from the 80s. Sounds nothing like anything else that was going on then.

Introduction: Disintegration, released by The Cure in 1989, stands as a pinnacle in the band's discography, representing the apex of their exploration of gothic rock and alternative music. Across its 12 tracks, Disintegration delves into themes of love, loss, existentialism, and emotional turmoil, all wrapped in a sonic landscape that is hauntingly beautiful and deeply immersive. Lyrics: The lyrical content of Disintegration is deeply introspective and emotive, capturing the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of existence. Robert Smith's lyrics are often cryptic yet profoundly relatable, inviting listeners to delve into their own subconscious. Tracks like "Lovesong" and "Pictures of You" showcase Smith's ability to convey deep emotions with poetic elegance, while songs like "Fascination Street" and "Lullaby" explore darker, more surreal themes, evoking a sense of dreamlike unease. Music: Musically, Disintegration is a tour de force, blending elements of post-punk, shoegaze, and gothic rock to create a sound that is uniquely atmospheric and evocative. The album is characterized by lush layers of guitars, swirling synths, and intricate rhythms, all anchored by Smith's distinctive vocals. Tracks like "Plainsong" and "Closedown" exemplify the album's ethereal soundscapes, while songs like "Disintegration" and "Prayers for Rain" build to cathartic crescendos of noise and distortion. Production: The production on Disintegration is impeccable, with each song meticulously crafted to evoke a specific mood or atmosphere. The album's lush, enveloping sound owes much to the meticulous production work of Robert Smith and engineer Dave Allen, who spent countless hours in the studio perfecting every detail. From the shimmering guitars to the haunting keyboards, every element of Disintegration's sonic palette is given room to breathe, resulting in a richly textured listening experience. Themes: Thematically, Disintegration explores the existential angst and emotional turbulence that often accompany love and loss. Throughout the album, Smith grapples with feelings of alienation, longing, and despair, painting a vivid portrait of the human condition in all its complexity. The recurring motifs of decay, dissolution, and disintegration serve as powerful metaphors for the gradual unraveling of relationships and the inevitable passage of time. Influence: Disintegration has had a profound influence on countless bands and artists across genres, shaping the landscape of alternative music for decades to come. Its blend of introspective lyrics, atmospheric soundscapes, and emotional intensity has inspired generations of musicians, from post-punk revivalists like Interpol and Editors to shoegaze pioneers like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. The album's enduring popularity and critical acclaim are a testament to its lasting impact on the music world. Pros: Emotional depth: Disintegration delves into profound themes of love, loss, and existentialism, offering listeners a deeply cathartic and introspective experience. Atmospheric soundscapes: The album's lush production and intricate instrumentation create a hauntingly beautiful sonic landscape that envelops the listener in its dreamlike atmosphere. Poetic lyrics: Robert Smith's lyrical prowess is on full display throughout Disintegration, with each song offering a rich tapestry of imagery and emotion. Musical innovation: Disintegration pushed the boundaries of alternative music, blending elements of post-punk, shoegaze, and gothic rock to create a sound that was both groundbreaking and timeless. Lasting influence: Disintegration has left an indelible mark on the music world, inspiring countless artists and bands across genres and generations. Cons: Bleakness: Some listeners may find the album's themes of despair and disillusionment to be overwhelming or depressing, especially on repeated listens. Length: At over 70 minutes, Disintegration can feel somewhat long-winded at times, with some tracks meandering or overstaying their welcome. Repetition: While the album's atmospheric soundscapes are undeniably mesmerizing, some tracks can blur together upon repeated listens, lacking the distinctiveness of standout singles. Intensity: The emotional intensity of Disintegration may be too much for some listeners to handle, especially those who prefer lighter or more upbeat music. Accessibility: While Disintegration is widely regarded as a classic, its dense production and esoteric lyrics may be off-putting to some listeners, particularly those who are new to The Cure or alternative music in general. In conclusion, Disintegration stands as a masterpiece of alternative music, showcasing The Cure at the height of their creative powers. With its evocative lyrics, atmospheric soundscapes, and emotional depth, the album continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release, solidifying its status as a timeless classic. While it may not be for everyone, Disintegration remains essential listening for anyone interested in exploring the darker corners of the human psyche through the lens of music.

This is the best album ever. This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever This is the best album ever

Disintegration by The Cure is a seminal album that epitomizes gloomy, introspective rock music. Released in 1989, it serves as a defining statement for the band. Amidst its melancholic landscape, the album showcases moments of sheer beauty. Robert Smith, the frontman, faced personal struggles during its creation, including a resurgence in his use of hallucinogenic drugs. This tumultuous period heavily influenced the album's production, resulting in a collection of songs that delve deep into themes of despair and existential angst. Smith's apprehension about turning thirty added an extra layer of poignancy to the album's composition process. Feeling the weight of time, he began writing music in isolation from the rest of the band, giving rise to the somber, introspective tone that pervades Disintegration. Despite not breaking new ground for The Cure, the album effectively refines their signature sound, showcasing their ability to craft haunting melodies and introspective lyrics. Tracks like Pictures of You and Lovesong exemplify the band's knack for blending darkness with beauty. In essence, Disintegration stands as a timeless classic, offering solace in its bleak yet cathartic exploration of the human condition. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 8 STAND OUT TRACK - Closedown

I like this band. This album is perfect, as most of others! The "Lovesong" and "Lullaby" are in the dozen of the best post-punk hits forever!

Unexpected surprise

I was initially skeptical, but this album is so good. SO GOOD. Can't believe I'm discovering the cure in 2024. I've listened to this album 5 times through already.

Outstanding in basically every way. Benchmark for the genre and produced almost perfectly.

Soundtracking misery and heartbreak for 35 years, the ultimate emo album that spawned a thousand more. It’s a beautifully executed dark and gloomy color palette, with short bursts of happy love and angry love. It reminds me of a seaside Victorian pub in the midst of a storm that splashes the tide against a rocky cliff. Incredibly English, incredibly wrenching, Incredible.

one of my faves, 10/10 album

"Disintegration is the best album ever!" (Kyle Broflovski, 1998). I would go as far as that, but it is definitely out there.

Great album among the best! Standout tracks “Pictures if you,” “Lullabye,” and “Fascination Street.”

This album is a walk—no, a romp, a wallow—through a moonlit garden at night, except that the garden is on a planet of lush, thick magic, and the moons are red and blue, mingling to purple, making the petals of alien flowers glow.

A particularly gloomy period for Robert Smith and The Cure that resulted in some truly spectacular gothic rock.

A peak point in the Cure album discography. It might not feature the very best the Cure songs, although it has one or two classics on it, but this album is however not about individual songs. It is more a flow of music from the opening track till the last tone of the last track, hence complete without any unnecessary fillers. True perfection.

A truly amazing album. Melodically interesting, beautiful lyrics. The mic is instrumental and lyrics based songs added for a fantastic range of sounds and vibes. Loved it

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Great album.

it's brooding, moody, atmospheric and amazing how they can take a 9+ minute song (same deep water) and just keep you entranced. They also have dark energy when they need... that dirty bass line on fascination street has a great groove. Fabulous album.

Идеальный

Просто золото!

Just gorgeous atmospheric brilliance. Can't fault it. I think Lullaby is one of the great indie songs

I really liked this album. It's super gloomy and moody, with some great-sounding drums and swirly atmospheric guitars.

One of the best albums in the world of all time!

Yes yes Yes. Love the Cure and this album. 5 stars.

Absolute classic gothic rock. Influenced many of my favorite bands.

Having long hated The Cure's radio singles, I have been pleasantly surprised by each Cure album I've listened to, with this being the best I've heard so far.

Perfection

No bad songs. Classic cure sound. Amazing production as you’d expect. Love song and Fascination street great singles. Album actually gets better as it goes on

5/5 - Yup, this is THE Cure album.

One of the best albums ever.