Expanding the latent arena rock sensibilities that peppered Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by slowing them down and stretching them to the breaking point, the Cure reached the peak of their popularity with the crawling, darkly seductive Disintegration. It's a hypnotic, mesmerizing record, comprised almost entirely of epics like the soaring, icy "Pictures of You." The handful of pop songs, like the concise and utterly charming "Love Song," don't alleviate the doom-laden atmosphere. The Cure's gloomy soundscapes have rarely sounded so alluring, however, and the songs -- from the pulsating, ominous "Fascination Street" to the eerie, string-laced "Lullaby" -- have rarely been so well-constructed and memorable. It's fitting that Disintegration was their commercial breakthrough, since, in many ways, the album is the culmination of all the musical directions the Cure were pursuing over the course of the '80s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
This album is why the Cure belong in any hall of fame. One of THE best albums EVER period. It captures every aspect of a relationship , starstruck love, to breakups and desperation. No other albums before or since match the mastery of this sound. It makes sense that NME would give them a "Godlike Genius Award"
An amazing album from a band that has had more than their fair share of amazing albums. This one's probably my personal favorite and it's withstood the test of time better than virtually ANYTHING released at the same time.
Remember, the "normal" kids were still deeply in love with hair metal when this came out and this album sounds MUCH less dated than... say... Poison or some of the other usual suspects.
THIS IS ONE OF THEIR BEST ALBUMS. JUST LIKE MIZZOU90 SAID "EVERYTIME I HEAR PICTURES OF YOU, I CAN FEEL THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE THAT SHOULD NOT BE LOST" I FEEL THE SAME WAY. THE SONG BRINGS TEARS TO EYES.
Topping Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, is impossible, but this effort is right there with Kiss Me, which I consider a masterpiece...This album is disturbing and moving at the same time.Every time I hear Pictures of You, I can feel the loss of a loved one that should not be lost
You always here people say that the 80's sucked for music. The problem was that not one station would play the good stuff. This band and this album are but one example. As gina stated, "classic"
I love The Cure & am going to see them tonight for the 2nd time. I know I should have seen them more but never had the chance. They are to me "the greatest band ever" with the music & the words that romantically roll off Robert Smiths lips... They are "Right as Rain"
wow gina, that is an awesome story.. . I was 16 when this came out, and it holds all kinds of similar feelings for me as well....
I just saw THE CURE last week (for the first time)!! a long time waiting!
I hope they keep it up for 20+ more years..
A considered classic by today's measures but a lifesaver for me in the 80's. My 14 year old bfriend introduced this album to me then. We fell in love, broke up and healed our wounds using this album as the soundtrack...Ah, good times.