Album of the week: The Cure - Songs of a Lost World

 

For the idea behind the album of the week, go here. (It is becoming more like the album of the month, but I'm defiantly carrying on as best as I can. ;-))   

You'll have to forgive me - I'm late to the party. Until this week, I've never consciously heard a "The Cure" song. Its loyal fan base, its fame, its own musical style - they all eluded me until I picked up their latest record "Songs of a Lost World" this week after reading multiple reviews on greatest records of 2024 hit lists.

So this week, after a few long days of parent-teacher talks, I sat down and listened to it, and you know what, I was immediately taken by the record. Characterized by long intros, these songs weave a spacious, ethereal, sonic curtain over which the elegies are mournfully cast out. Song after song, the bleak aspects of life are expressed. The first lines of the song set the theme for the record: 

This is the end of every song that we sing
The fire burned out to ash, and the stars grown dim with tears
Cold and afraid, the ghosts of all that we've been
We toast with bitter dregs, to our emptiness

 

In other songs, one hears that "I could die of a broken heart today"; another song laments the loss of singer's brother:  

 

Something wicked this way comes
From out the cruel and treacherous night
Something wicked this way comes
To steal away my brother's life

 

It is not surprising that the final word of the album, repeated for emphasis, is "nothing". Some might feel that this album could be a downer, but just like Leonard Cohen's albums, about which a record company once said that razor blades should be given away with it, this album feels like a journey (especially the long last song) and in a strange way has the ability to comfort.

 

I know this was the first record after 16 years, but I might have to go back to their catalogue and listen to a few more albums. For now, I'm happy I gave this album a chance.

 

Standout tracks: "Alone"; "And Nothing is Forever"; "A Fragile Thing"; "I can never say Goodbye"; "All I Ever Am"; "Endsong"