Disintegration - Cure (The)

...'The Cure' released this album, Disintegration in 1989. The English alternative band, fronted by Robert Smith, had released the depressing and reflective album 'Pornography" back in 1982, and although albums had been released between the release of 'Disintegration' and 'Pornography', none were quite as dark as the latter, until now. Robert Smith said he was aiming to make an album as depressing as 1982's 'Pornography'; although 'Disintegration' ...
...has the same flavour to it.

The album is pretty much a solid one, while listening to it, you get to explore the darker side of your thoughts and with the album's entire duration amounting to 1 hour 7 minutes, and you will have plenty of time to do so. The songs on the album are not what you'd dance to - they are songs that absorb your emotions and thoughts and allow you to reflect and perhaps put some perspective on things. I know ... more

This is a great album, so I hope that I can produce a review that will do the album some of the justice is deserves.

'The Cure' released this album, Disintegration in 1989. The English alternative band, fronted by Robert Smith, had released the depressing and reflective album 'Pornography" back in 1982, and although albums had been released between the release of 'Disintegration' and 'Pornography', none were quite as dark as the latter, until now. Robert Smith said he was aiming to make an album as depressing as 1982's 'Pornography'; although 'Disintegration' isn't quite as dark and depressing as 'Pornography' it definitely has the same flavour to it.

The album is pretty much a solid one, while listening to it, you get to explore the darker side of your thoughts and with the album's entire duration amounting to 1 hour 7 minutes, and you will have plenty of time to do so. The songs on the album are not what you'd dance to - they are songs that absorb your emotions and thoughts and allow you to reflect and perhaps put some perspective on things. I know that sometimes I like something a bit more heavy or upbeat to listen to, but there are times when you want to think, however - silence doesn't help. This is where an album like 'Disintegration' or 'Pornography' come to play. Saying that, The Cure fans often say - these albums either provide a safety rope - or provide you with a suicide rope!

Personal experience has made this album and the songs on it very meaningful to me, personally I think that beauty can be found in this 'depressing' album, there are quirky lyrics along the way (in the song, 'Lullaby') and moments of hope (the song entitled - 'Lovesong') - perhaps there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel?

The album cost me £10.00 from Fopp (though it can be purchased cheaper- I was desperate to get it!) and the songs that forced me to buy it was in fact the title track 'Disintegration', 'The Same Deep Water As You", "Love Song" , "Fascination Street", "Lullaby" and "Prayers For Rain". I had previously heard these songs from downloads (and in the case of 'Lullaby', I had heard it years ago).

The CD's packaging is very fitting and the linear notes include all of the song's lyrics. The CD design is also very fetching with a flower like design on it. However, enough of that - what are the songs like?


PLAINSONG: Duration: 5:15

The song begins rather soft, with bells tinkling away, which gradually get a little louder, but not too loud. Next, the keyboard and gentle synth effects blast on, along with a very slow steady drum beat, giving the song a very reflective atmosphere. As if that wasn't enough, the guitars have a rather Eastern feel to them creating a place of mystery. The synth on this song gives it a symphonic, monumental feel.

Robert begins singing about three minutes in to the song, in a rather monotone sad tone. His vocals have a rather heavy echo effect on them, which continue well in to the next line he sings. It doesn't sound messy; it just creates more of a haunting atmosphere to this already sad and reflective song.

From the moment I heard this song's keyboard effects I knew that I liked the song, and Robert doesn't sing for long at all in this song either, so it is almost all instrumental and great for reflecting to.

PICTURES OF YOU: (A single from the album) Duration: 7.28

This is probably one of the better known songs by The Cure. When I got this album and this song started I was shocked to find it sounded different to the previously downloaded version that I had. This song starts with a twinkling like effect, which soon launches in to a song mainly driven by bass and guitar. It also lasts for almost 8 minutes, unlike the 4 minute version on 'The Cure's Greatest Hits' album. The guitar work on the song is exceptional, and really creates yet again, a rather haunting atmosphere.

The song basically paints the picture of somebody reminiscing over some photographs of their ex-lover.

'Remembering you, how you used to be, so , so much more than everything'

The guitar solo towards the end of the song on this version is a little drowned out by the bass line, unlike on the 'Greatest Hits' version, which I actually probably prefer to this one, this seems to drag on a little too long. However, it still works well towards creating an atmosphere of a sad theme for the album, so I can't really fault it just because I prefer another version of the song.

The song ends with the character in the song ripping up the pictures of his ex-love: 'There was never nothing that I ever wanted more, than to never be the breaking apart - my pictures of you'.

(Note: You may have heard the 'Greatest Hits' version on an advert that used to play in the cinemas during a phone advert last year.)

CLOSEDOWN: Duration: 4.21

This song starts off sounding rather angry, with some tribal like drum beats and an as equally angry sounding bass line, the keyboard effects start, and create a similar feel to track one, 'Plainsong'. The angriness turns to remorse once the keyboard effects have began, and Robert sings only for a short while on this song, towards the middle.

'If only I could fill, my heart with love...' is the last line sang, and also my favourite, that line alone is full of emotional sadness and really makes the song for me.

A touch more of guitar starts to wind between the drumming and keyboard effects, and then eventually 'explodes' and fades....closedown has finally occurred. What is exactly meant by that is unknown to me for sure; the closedown of his heart from the lack of love, or perhaps the closedown refers to death? Either way, the thought of either of these is rather chilling and sad.

When I was looking at the track listing, this song was one of the least interesting, going by the title, but I was surprised to discover that it is in fact one of my favourites from the album.

LOVE SONG: (A single from the album) : Duration: 3:30

Robert supposedly wrote this for his wife. Many fans of 'The Cure' complain that they are sick of hearing this song on the radio, however I can safely say I've not heard it on the radio - I should imagine that back in 1989 and the early 90s it would have been though.

The song is rather monotone in places, as the bass plays and the drums beat. However the synth effects are great on this song, and give love an eerie feeling.

The song is what it says - a declaration of love in a song. Robert's vocals suit the song perfectly. It isn't a favourite of mine to be honest, but I don't anywhere despise the song.

LAST DANCE: Duration: 4:47

For some reason this doesn't appear to be too popular among fans of 'The Cure', however, this is a highlight from the album for me.

From what I can tell, the song tells the story of two lovers meeting at a place they once had a fateful last dance together when they were younger and in love. Presumably they never met again afterwards....until now. At this reuinion between the two, the character reminisces of the times they had together when younger and now they are both older, the love between the two has faded with time, but the thought of the love they once had for each other haunts them.

The music is equally as fitting, the guitars and synthesizer effects create a slow haunting melody. The drumming is effective as it creates a slight remorseful feel to the song - what could have happened if they stayed together?

"Christmas falls late now, fatter and colder and never as bright as when we used to fall, all this in an instance, before I could kiss you, a woman now standing where once there was only a girl...'" Robert sings in a sad tone. I think his voice really works well on this song, and it is effective enough to bring a lump to the throat.

The song has some fantastic lines on it which bring a chill to your spine: 'I'm so glad you came, I'm so glad you remembered to see how it ended, our last dance together....I really believed that this time was forever..." Also, the second time Robert calls "a woman now standing" is full of emotion and a highlight of the song for me.

LULLABY: (A single from the album) Duration: 4:12

This song is probably one of the more well-known songs by 'The Cure'; the song paints the story of somebody being eaten by a spider, and the fear of spiders.

Lullaby is a rather bouncy song, with fun pseudo-gothic lyrics. You can hear the clock ticking and the creepy-crawling of "The Spiderman" in the music. 'Lullaby' features a nice synth lick, combined with a organ line which conjures up images of moonlight and shadows moving across a dark wall.

Robert's singing tone on this song is almost like a whisper of panic. "On candy-striped legs the Spiderman comes" are the first words whispered, which sets the song's atmosphere off perfectly. This song has some of my favourite 'The Cure' lyrics in it, "His arms are all around me and his tongue in my eyes!" and "My precious boy, don't struggle like that or I'll only love you more".

This song isn't exactly depressing, and this fact alone means that this album is not as depressing as 1982s 'Pornography' - however, 'Lullaby' does have a dark feel to it.

And on a side note - the music video to this used to scare me!

FASCINATION STREET: (A single from the album) Duration: 5:16

I mentioned I was burning some 'The Cure' songs to a CD to somebody I knew and he exclaimed "You like The Cure?! Fascination Street is my favourite song!" - ironically, that was the song I was burning to the CD. This is one of the first songs I had heard by 'The Cure'.

From the lost and lonely feeling of the intro, the song then leads in to a bass driven fast paced song (well, faster than anything previously heard on the album). They keyboard effects create a rather dark and lonely atmosphere; in fact when listening to the song I imagine a carnival taking part in a set of dark streets. The guitar work is layered and evokes a rather industrial feel to the song. The guitar solo is great also, the keyboard effects build up quickly along side it, to create a real feel of 'urgency'.

'So pull on your hair, pull on your pout...put on your face, put on your fear, it's opening time down on fascination Street' Robert sings in his rather distant like voice. This song has some terrific lyrics in it that suit the atmosphere that is created in the song perfectly, everything feels like a facade.

PRAYERS FOR RAIN:

This song, and the following song 'The Same Deep Water As You" are almost like "sister" songs to me. Both have the same general feel of sadness and loneliness - and both have a theme of water to them! These two songs are very close to the songs that are found lurking on 'Pornography'. These are both slow and moody, and done in rather a mature way. Not once does the word "die" or "death" appears - yet you get a very cold numb feeling from the songs that suggest that death could be on the horizon - due to the loss of love.

The drumming on 'Prayers For Rain' is exceptional and sounds rather menacing as the synth effects on this song have also an equally as menacing melody and pitch to them. I really love the way this song suddenly ends as the drums sound for the final time and the synth effects fade off.

THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU:

This nine minute long masterpiece opens with the sound of rain pouring followed by a very natural sound of thunder. The rain continues to sound during the song's entirety, evoking a rather lonely unloved feeling. Soon, synth effects and guitar sound and create a somewhat soft yet haunting atmosphere (yet again!). I have really gotten in to this song lately, the synth effects go higher in parts and the drum work is fantastic on the song as it keeps a steady beat, which I am happy to listen to for almost 10 minutes!

The song has a break from the singing, as the music continues on and the delicate guitar solo sounds away, along side the occasional rumble of thunder as the rain pounds down to the ground.

From what I can read from this song, and it can vary from people to people as most song meanings can - is that a relationship with somebody is breaking down, take a look at some of the lyrics, accompanied by the music, it really is a sad song. Possibly my favourite bit being:

"Kiss me goodbye/ bow your head and join with me"/and face pushed deep/reflections meet/ the strangest twist upon your lips./...."so we shall be together... "

The song ends with the effects, drumming and guitars stopping, leaving just the sound of rain pouring and you wondering what really has happened to the desperate coupled portrayed in this haunting song...

DISINTEGRATION:

This is one of my favourite songs, not just on the album, but from any album in general! The band continues with another lengthy song, with this one last over 8 minutes.

This track certainly is the most moody and atmospheric part of the album but also alienating casual listeners. I clicked with this song instantly when I heard it, and it is one of my all time favourite songs, not just from this album, but ever. The intro sounds like glass shattering. The song consists of a watery effect of the guitars and the very strong bass presence leading into some great keyboards in the middle. Smith's vocals are also more forceful and varied; you can feel the desperation as he calls out:

'I leave you with photographs, pictures of trickery, stains on the carpet and stains on the memory ... both of us knew how the end always is!"

The song is debated to be over the death of a partner in a relationship and then the loved one being left being with lots of memories of their lost love, and things being tainted. Or, it could simply about a break up. Either way, it is an absorbing song and I often have this song on when I am in a reflective mood or need to occupy myself. People complain that this song goes on too long, but for me, it doesn't go on long enough at 8 minutes!

HOMESICK

The song consists of a dominant piano/keyboard rhythm throughout that is slowly joined by the other instruments. Robert begins singing in a gentle tone after about 3 minutes. This song is not a favourite track of mine, but I haven't listened to it much, so chances are it could still grow on me.

UNTITLED

The final song begins with an organ tune before the drums, guitars and bass begin. The song is about regret, and this song is actually growing on me now. Although it is still a rather sad song about regret, musically it sounds slightly happier than previous songs. 'Never quite said what I wanted to say to you, never quite managed to words to explain to you, never quite knew how to make them believable and now the time has gone.."

That concludes the album review, but now just few last comments. I'd recommend this to any 'The Cure' fan or any fan of moody music, though to be honest chances are you either like it, or don't. The album is long and absorbing and although it is dark in places it proves that some beauty can stem from sadness.

 

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