CD of The Week

The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World (Fiction / Capitol)

From the very first track, legendary alternative band The Cure launches their new album by setting a mood that permeates the whole album: intensity.  This is not an album that is going to feature tracks in the vein of “Just Like Heaven” or “Friday I’m In Love”. Songs Of A Lost World grabs you from the opening track and never lets go of the overall darker tone throughout the offering.

Coming off their 2023 world tour, the band is as tight and moody as ever, with Robert Smith adeptly wading into the lush production of songs and leading the current lineup of Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Roger O'Donnell, and Reeves Gabrels through a record that is less singles-driven and more of a ‘listen from start to finish’ work of art.

This is The Cure’s first full length album in 16 years (their last studio release was 2008’s 4:13 Dream) and starts with the track “Alone” hearkening back to the Disintegration-era of almost-but-not-quite instrumental tracks; the vocal doesn’t enter in on the tune until 3:20 into the song. The music on this release swings from orchestrated ballads such as “Nothing Is Forever” that ponders the mortality of all things, to more industrial-edged tracks like “Warsong” which covers the general stresses of conflict without getting specifically political; the lyrics could as easily be applied to interpersonal conflict as they could to a larger global scale. On the whole, a common thread throughout the album is a sense of loss and longing that The Cure is expertly skilled at conveying through words and music.

At only 8 tracks, the album never feels like it shortchanges the listener. Sometimes less is more, and on Songs Of A Lost World The Cure conveys exactly what they need and intend to.
Review by John Burke