Epic. Grandiose. Expansive. Just a handful of words to describe The Cure’s 1989 magnum opus Disintegration. This was the album that returned The Cure to their goth-rock roots, and what a gloriously incredible return it was. One of my favorite albums this year.
Lead songwriter and vocalist Robert Smith is a musical and cultural icon, and he firmly cemented his legacy with this album. It came with a cost. Massively depressed and staring down the barrel of his 30th birthday, Smith set out to make an enduring record that would stand the test of time compared to the pop-centric releases The Cure had churned out the half decade prior. This crisis of confidence coincided with an unfortunate regression back to hallucinogenic drug use, leading Smith to take an oath of silence during the recording process with the sole objective to create a sense of discomfort in the studio.
It worked magnificently.
A sense of discomfort is found everywhere on Disintegration. When you consider the torrent of moody atmospheric synths that hang over the sky like a thunderstorm, reverb-soaked guitars that cut through the clouds like little beams of sunshine, and Smith’s vocals that flutter through the air like whispers in the wind, it’s easy to mistake this album as a movie soundtrack. And that soundtrack-esque feel is emphasized by The Cure’s affinity for extended musical introductions to each song, methodically building a moment for minutes on end before Smith’s vocals enter the fray.
“Pictures of You” and “Lovesong” are staple songs of The Cure, and rightfully so (they’re great), but for my money “Prayers for Rain” is the best song on this album. It’s a visceral trek into the darkness of Smith’s mind at the time, brutal in its mood and lyrics, but beautiful at the very same time. No song captures the essence of Disintegration quite like it does.
Standout Songs: “Prayers for Rain”, “Plainsong”, “Pictures of You”, “Lovesong”
