The Cure 'Songs of a Lost World' review: The dark lords rise

We live in dark days where people can be overwhelmed by social media trolls and the stress of the working week. We all age. We all sense our impending doom. And we need music to help get us through. This is something the Cure was able to assist with in the late 1970s and most of the 1980s. Then the band his a slump.

From 1992's Wish to 2008's 4:13 Dream, the band seemed bent on overloading albums. That meant some fluff was involved. Plus, the band simply seemed to not fit in the grunge era even though the moral compass of grunge does not exist with Robert Smith giving them a lot of inspiration. The sadness of the Cure was washed away by the anger of bands such as Alice in Chains.

The Cure had also evolved. One might argue they lost their way a bit. There were bits of silliness on happy love songs such as "Friday I'm in Love." A fine song, but one that many bands could pull off. Robert Smith and his mates once separated themselves by speaking to those of us alone in our rooms late on a Friday night knowing we were misunderstood. "Friday I'm in Love" felt like the band was cheating on us.

The Cure release Songs of a Lost World, their best album since 1989

Oddly, maybe Smith needed a lot of sadness to re-enter his life so he could create great art again. His older brother passed, and he lost a number of other family members. Between 2008 and 2024, the Cure did not make albums, but there was certainly a lot of suffering.

This comes across on the band's new record, Songs of a Lost World. Perhaps the band's most adult album, there is no filler, but there is a strong sense that the end is closer now than it was when the band produced Pornography in 1982. For those that believe with great unhappiness comes fantastic, uplifting, art.

Only eight songs long, but every second worth listening to, to add another song or two would have been too much. The albums comes in at 49 minutes and is slowly paced. The Cure pull you in and force you to listen. The same as you would have done as a 15 year old teenager on those lonely Friday nights. Only, now you are a 55 year old who still needs the Cure as much as you ever did.

The record begins with "Alone" and we don't hear Smith's iconic voice until halfway through. The track would have fit perfectly on Disintegration. That makes sense as this record is the band's best since that gem from 1989. The track is stark and elegant and moody. Perfect Cure.

"And Nothing is Forever" and the words are as sad as the title implies. The string section near the end, though, will push you through your melancholy. That was always the trick with the Cure. Sure, they were goth, but they knew when to let a little light shine in.

"Warsong" is more social commentary than you will get from most of the band's records, but you won't doubt where Smith's stance lies. This is one of the musically heavier tracks on the album, befitting of its subject matter. The feedback-layered guitar is nearly Pornography-like.

"I Can Never Say Goodbye" is about Smith's brother who passed away. The words will translate personally to any of us, however. Another gift Smith has always had.

Ultimately, the album is, of course, far more than just Smith. Simon Gallup's bass thumps, and is always perfectly spaced. Jason Cooper's drum somehow mines the depth of the slow burn and gives the album a fuller fill. But there is little mistake that Robert Smith has always been the most important member of the group. His brilliance is on full display on Songs of a Lost World.

Grade: 9 out of 10

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