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.

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.

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.

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.

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): >:'(

I do believe they refer to this as a fucking classic

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I agree with Kyle Brofloski

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

amazing

Wonderful album. Rob Smith is a genius.

It's Friday, im in Cure.

Goth rock with hints of pop softness, and I love it to pieces. Important to me at 17, important to me now.

Really fun listen. Peppy.

Sublime.

One of my favorites

Like the soundtrack to the most quintessentially 80’s movie ever. I love it.

One of the best albums ever.

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

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

Perfection

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Просто золото!

Идеальный

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.

Great album.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

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

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

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.

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

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

one of my faves, 10/10 album

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.

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

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.

Unexpected surprise

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!

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

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

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.

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

“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.

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.

Solid 5 star stuff.

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.

Great album

my favourite the cure album, it's perfect.

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

Sick ass album

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

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

That melancholy Cure sound. A classic.

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

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.

Such a good one - melancholic masterpiece

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.

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

So good

I mean, it's The Cure so it's WAY too dramatic for its own good. That said, this is a remarkably solid album for a) 1989 and b) The Cure. "Lovesong" and "Fascination Street" have both been covered so many times I'd forgotten that the original recordings are as good as they are. And they really are quite good. Overall, pleasantly surprised by how well this album has stood up over time.

Definitely long-winded, but the Cure here manage to avoid falling into feeling bloated and land squarely into a dreamy, moody hypnosis. I dig it. Great for these rainy days going on.

I have never heard this in full before, despite knowing the highlights from their Mixed Up versions. I was really into The Cure at a young age (before this!) and the late '80s/early 90's stuff passed me by. Sounds fantastic as a whole, would probably have been into it in a big way at the time if I was paying attention!

Nothing sounds like the cure. A bit long but nice moody album 4

I I love their truly haunting sound, haven’t heard anyone successfully try to replicate it which I think speaks to how complex and intricate it is. This album is a little long for my liking but I’ll give them a pass because they clearly have a lot of emotions to get out.

I was never depressed enough as a teenager to get into The Cure.

Meh.

I like the cure but this was a touch too whiny for my liking

No patience for the Cure. Who cares.

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

I don't like it

Instrumentals are rock solid, but Pouty White Guy is just not my genre.