Songs Of A Lost World

The Cure – Songs of a Lost World (Polydor/Fiction/Capitol)Oh My God!Although it seemed that the Cure, like Andrew Eldritch’s Sisters of Mercy, was destined to be a concert-only remember-when? band, Robert Smith and Simon Gallup (as well as the new players) have defied all odds and come roaring back after sixteen years with a stunning new release that seems to have created a brand-new type of fusion music: progressive Gothicism.Maintaining the somber sound that is the trade of the Gothic genre, Smith has added lush atmospheric keys that sound like they’re borrowed from progressive rock giants: a mesh of synthetics and possibly mellotrons that hearken back to the keyboard work of Tony Banks in the Genesis heyday (think the LP “Foxtrot” and the song “Watcher of the Skies”) or even the mellotron work of early King Crimson. Or the pure synthetics of electronic giants such as Klaus Schulze.It is masterful and a total redefining of the genre. Yet, it is obviously an outgrowth of their earlier works, primarily the band’s “Disintegration”. This from the mind that first fused Gothic with pop, now fusing Goth with an intense otherworldly sound.At its heart is still the semi-wailing cries of Smith, now trying to be heard through the Cocteau Twins-like web of pulsing guitars and beautiful keyboard chords. The atmospherics often take the lead over the vocals. For example, in “Alone” the cavernous/stellar mix continues for over three minutes before voices are even introduced. And in “End Song”, a ten-minute opus where the instrumentation is prevalent to such a degree that the emotion is already established by the musicians and the vocals seem an afterthought.You may have thought that earlier masterpieces by the Cure such as “Faith” and “Pornography” would be rated as the best works, but “Songs of a Lost World” now stands as probably Robert Smith’s finest contribution to contemporary music.(5 stars out of 5)MC Mahan

The Cure’s *Songs of a Lost World* is an absolute masterpiece, and it has quickly become one of my favorite albums from them. From the moment I hit play, I was reminded of *Disintegration*—it has that same haunting, atmospheric feel that made that album so iconic. The melancholic yet beautiful melodies, the intricate layers of sound, and Robert Smith’s signature voice all come together in a way that transports you to another world.The album flows so seamlessly, with each song building on the last, and it’s clear that the band has poured their heart and soul into this. The lyrics are deeply introspective and poignant, capturing that sense of longing and introspection that we’ve come to expect from The Cure but with a fresh, evolved sound.What really struck me was how it manages to evoke nostalgia while still feeling like something new. It’s like a perfect blend of the old and the new, with echoes of their earlier work but a more mature, reflective tone. Every track is rich with emotion, and the music just seems to wrap around you, making it the perfect album to get lost in.If you’re a fan of *Disintegration* or just love the unique sound of The Cure, this album is a must-listen. It’s everything I hoped for and more—a true testament to the band’s timeless ability to create deeply moving and unforgettable music.

They're Back!(and there's not a bad song on the album)It's like they went back to Disintegration and thought it was too bright.Songs from a Lost World slows it down just a bit, adds some heavier guitars and bass, keeps the classic Robert Smith vocals.Overall, the album feels a bit darker. The poppy undertones from Wish are (thankfully) gone.

First listen I would have given this a 4, but the more I listen to it the better it is. The first three songs are some of the best ever.

This is a really good album; but I am not hearing the breakout radio ready hit, The critics love it, and I like it too, certainly not a fail. As a fan from their first album (I still have an old collection of their first 10 releases or so on vinyl) there have been albums that were fantastic and others that were just ok. This is about a 6 1/2 on that scale for me,Definitely glad I purchased it and would recommend it to any fan of the band.

Been a Cure fan since 1985; saw them on the Kiss Me tour and nearly every other tour since (Great Woods on the Disintegration tour, up front for both shows -torrential rain and unforgettable). Bought every album on the release date and I am one of those fans that loves every song they have ever written.In short, this album is a requiem and I have mixed feelings about it:likes:Pensive lyrics with the appropriate dark music and great song writing to accompany them.It's a Cure album and I love this band.I like requiems (think Mozart). Be prepared.Dislikes.The Cure is at its core a guitar band. Simon's bass and Robert's bass VI / electric guitar melodies are there but sparse or too often lost in the mix.Every song feels like it was recorded with Pro Tools and is locked to the grid. The organic, natural swing and rhythm that the band is capable of seems to be missing.Bittersweet as this may be their last.Of course I would always want more. But nothing lasts forever. Robert knows what he is doing though and if this is his offering at this late stage of his life I will gladly take it.