Songs Of A Lost World

I can see why they took so long releasing this. It seems that this may be the last The Cure Album to be released. Lyriccs such as the starts grew dim with tears, how did I get so old, and the final song "Endsong". But then theres the "I can never say goodbye" so maybe theres hope. Never say Never. Its been a very long time since I am able to say that I have bought an album and thoroughly enjoyed it.

As someone who's been into The Cure for just over 40 years, both loving and loathing their output in that time-frame, I feel entitled to share an opinion or two here. I'll keep it short though ;-) .You could oversimplify things and say that there are two types of Cure music - the insanely jolly and the intensely melancholic. This being the case, I would take the intensely melancholic all day (or rather, night) long! No band (other than, probably, Joy Division) have ever captured, so eloquently, the sound of an isolated and anguished soul. In the case of The Cure, for 'isolation', listen to "Faith"; for anguish, try "Pornography" (the latter being my personal favourite Cure album and probably my favourite album of all time). So, where does this latest offering sit on the jolly/suicidal scale? ....You know when you hear an album that ends on an epic, sweeping, melancholic 'anthem' of a song that seems to perfectly round-off the whole piece? Well, "Songs Of a Lost World" is an album that contains NOTHING BUT those sorts of 'final' tracks. The various songs don't rise and fall much in terms of mood/tone/tempo, with 'jolly jigs' here and 'weepy instrumentals' there (as on many Cure albums) - it's just a series of sublime, but somehow epic, power-ballads and introspective 'confessionals'. I love it! Best of all, Robert Smith is in his '60s now ... and he writes like he is! The lyrics are full of regret and a feeling of hollowness caused by the passing of time. Depressing if you're a teenager, but strangely reassuring if you're (nearly) as old as the band and are wondering where all that time went ;-) .Anyway, if you're the sort of Cure fan who stopped dying their hair black (and crimping/back-combing it) and sold off your entire Cure back catalogue when they released the "Love Cats" single in 1983 (then punched yourself in the face for ever liking them at all when, "Mixed Up" came out in 1990) ... it may just be time for you to come back into the fold. Basically, if you liked, "Faith" and "Disintegration", but disliked most of, "Kiss Me", "Wish" and (most especially) "Bloodflowers", you should probably buy THIS one.Similarly, even if you are a complete newbie to the world of '80s 'Goth rock' (a term that the band, quite rightly, despise and deny), this latest (last ever?) Cure album could well be a really good place to start your digging into their glorious past.As for the product itself, I bought the vinyl LP and am pleased to report that (in spite of the inner sleeve adding a fair bit of 'dust' to the surface of the record) it plays very well and sounds full and clear. You should get Autorip included as well, so you can enjoy the 'click and pop-free' sound of digital, should you wish.Closing thought: If Robert Smith decided to stop making music now and this was the last Cure album that he (and Simon) gave to the world, it would be the most beautiful parting gift imaginable. And, judging by the lyrics, it just might be!Hope that helped!?

One of my favourite bands

Their best since Disintegration - no, it's even better than that. A dark, bleak soundscape that enfolds you then smacks you in the face. Goodbye is their best song ever, especially if you know the back story. Sublime. Not for fans of Love Cats.

Difficult album to get into, but I will persevere with this one. I have always like the Cure’s past albums, they have such a unique sound.

I have been a fan of The Cure since the mid-eighties. I'll admit I haven't listened to all of their albums, but my favourites are "Wish" and "Mixed Up". I bought "Songs Of A Lost World" in November 2024 not long after it was released and I have listened to it whilst in the car, and walking the dog so much that first thing every morning a song from the album pops into my head. This is called 'Ear Worm'. It can be an annoyance if you don't like the song. Fortunately, I love every song on the album.Robert Smith is slightly older than myself (I am fast approaching 60) and I feel that the lyrics reflect many of the feelings I have of life these days: "Remembering the hopes and dreams I had, and all I had to do. And wondering what became of that boy, and the world he called his own. I'm outside in the dark wondering how I got so old."I am writing this review in January 2025 and I still listen to the album every day. Is it depressing? Not really. Is it 'poppy'? No. Will you like it? If you are also a fan of The Cure and maybe at that age: Yes!Buy it!

I got RSV last weekend and have been poorly all week. I had read an article online comparing this album to Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon'. Yes, there is a strong influence of this band's work as well as other bands not only in this album but others that The Cure have released since their 10:15 Saturday Night days. I found myself listening to Alone, I can never say Goodbye and Endsong over and over and over (yes, to be a The Cure fan you need to have this little eccentric attitude - to want to listen to a song as one would read the same book over and over and over). Wilde once wrote that a good book has to be read many times. If this album was a book, it would be the 18th Canto of Purgatory by Dante! You may or may not find my review here being your cup of tea. However, the fact that one song is dedicated to the memory of his brother made an impression on me. I hope you find time to listen to this album beginning to end and find the song that you wish to play over and over and over as I did. It has helped me not to freak out as I let RSV run its course. Thank you, The Cure. You have been with me most of my life (since I was about 14 years old!). Fans, check it out!!!!

I am very pleased with my purchase and was very happy with the way the delivery went.