There are few albums out there that are as ubiquitously loved as 'Disintegration' by The Cure - be it critically or commercially, and spanning across many generations. At times it feels like the band itself is cheating just 'cause of how effectively the members draw up these ear-candy melodies and vibrant soundscapes. It's ecstasy. I think the best way to describe this record is "aggressively beautiful" - as the band uses every trick in the book to ensure your ears are constantly enveloped in these barrages of textured bliss. The idea of drowning in warm paint sounds painful, but if it wasn't, this is what it must feel like. It's really those '80s synths that make me feel this way, they're so thick but still spacious enough to house the underlying guitar that pierces through the mix with its complementary melodies. 'Closedown' perfectly exemplifies this natural balance. On the other hand, a song like 'Plainsong' exerts its beauty through the sole strength of those synth waves that are almost suffocating Robert's whispered vocals. 'Pictures of You' is primarily guitar-driven, while I'd argue the impeccably melodic bassline of 'Lovesong' drives that particular song. No song, however, strikes a better balance between all these elements than 'Lullaby', which plays out like a choreographed dance between the instruments, frequently switching out the sound at center stage. It's a harmonious song that feels like a bunch of colorful little characters dancing in a universe that exists solely within the confines of this one instrumental. My two favorite songs have to be 'Fascination Street' and 'Disintegration'. For the former, the guitars coming back with that newly established layer of keys after the first breakdown is one of those "how can it be this good" moments in music. The song builds alongside Robert's vocals in the verses, with a subtle dance groove established with that aggressively picked and distorted Simon Gallup bassline. It's a song that captures just how many layers these instrumentals can have without ever coming close to cluttering the mix. Then there's 'Disintegration'. I've neglected to mention Robert's lyrics on this album because I just get so excited about the music here, but at times, they're just as perfect as the music. Be it the nostalgic tragedy of a song like 'Pictures of You', the hopelessness of 'Prayers for Rain', the disturbing fever dream imagery of 'Lullaby', or the simplistic yet effective love-ode to his wife 'Lovesong', Robert's always coming through with words that are so tightly interwoven with the sonic themes that they so heavily build upon. The title track though, really feels like a tragedy unfolding before your eyes (ears?) over its 8-minute runtime - a falling-out between two lovers that's littered with lies, deceit, betrayal, and regret. It's another one of those moments where Robert's lyrics build with the music itself in a climactic fashion. It's one of the most poignantly written songs ever - and a testament to Robert Smiths' lyricism. There are some other great moments, like when the drums kick in and how that violin hovers over that sorrowful driving melody on 'Homesick' or how the album sends itself off with those haunting horn-sounding synth leads. It's an album, that even in the modern era of music production and composition, still sounds like nothing else out there. It feels like wandering around a large, vacant castle under a full moon. It's a comfort album if there ever was one, a nocturnal masterpiece, and one of my favorite albums of all time.