The Cure | Disintegration | Retro Album Review

Fiction Records

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Listening to Disintegration is an experience that is hard to put into words. The dreamy post-punk sound of The Cure mixed with the lyrics discussing love, loss, and other deep emotions make the listener feel deeply connected to both themselves and the music. The Cure expresses emotions that are often hard to discuss, like heartbreak, through poetic lyrics and ambient guitars.

A perfect example is one of the most popular songs on this album “Pictures of You.” The melancholy lyrics hit the listener straight in the heart. “There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more than to feel you deep in my heart / There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more than to never feel the breaking apart all my pictures of you.” This is the verse that ends the song, leaving on a powerful but melancholy note.

“Pictures of You” is not the only love song on the album, however. In fact, “Lovesong,” the fourth track on the album, takes on a more romantic, positive, and loving tone than its predecessors. “Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again” is just one of the lyrics that warms the listener’s heart and may remind them of someone special.

The fluctuation between heartbreak and being hopelessly in love may seem like a bit much of a turnaround, but The Cure’s songs flow so effortlessly from one into another that it just fits, regardless of juxtaposing lyrical themes. Disintegration is a post-punk staple that is essential for anyone who loves poetry, finds beauty in darkness, and experiences emotions on a deep and personal level.