326 - The Cure - Disintegration

[csberry]

If this album didn't ride up the American charts because of the popularity of "Lovesong," would this album be at this place on the list? Disintegration is possibly one of the most consistent sounding albums released by The Cure, but is it "great" and better than their other releases?

Don't get me wrong. "Fascination Street" and "Lullaby" are easily two of my top five songs ever recorded by The Cure. But once "Fascination Street" is done, just after the halfway point, I tend to stop the album. The songs that follow maintain the mood, but don't stand out to me other than how "Disintegration" is a tiny bit more uptempo than the surrounding tracks.

Instrumentation on the album seems to focus on creating a sound with little to no edges. Everything is echoed or muffled into smoothness. Many of the songs sound as if there is a steady rain falling in the background and are constructed by layers upon layers of basic keyboard tracks - much of it of the single-finger variety with an occasional chord being held for several bars. The guitars are barely distinguished from the keys with all the the reverb and drone. The drums frequently sound as if someone threw a sheet or blanket over the kit.

I can't help but think that the strong singles combined with Disintegration's complete embrace of sadness is why this release gets so much praise. The album exemplifies the stereotype of what The Cure's music was to much of the public. It is more iconic in that way, IMO, instead of being a particularly great album.

Songs I knew I liked: "Lullaby," "Fascination Street," and "Pictures of You"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Disintegration"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: Most of the second half, but "The Same Deep Water As You" and "Homesick" in particular.