Songs of a Lost World

A lengthy introduction featuring guitar riffs, soft-toned keyboards, and pounding yet subdued drums marks The Cure’s return to the musical world with the opening track, ‘Alone.’ More specifically, it showcases Robert Smith’s return—the lyricist and composer who plays guitar, bass, and keyboard and provides lead vocals. He also produces, mixes, and more. You can see where this leads: Robert Smith is The Cure. Trusted longtime musician Simon Gallup plays bass on many tracks in their latest album, Songs Of A Lost World. This 14th studio album appears 16 years after The Cure’s previous release and follows years of extensive touring. Many of the tracks were written and recorded years earlier.
I lost touch with The Cure when Robert Smith switched from guitars to bass as his main instrument on Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, on which the poppy electronic-sounding drums and poppy ‘Why Can’t I Be You’ became too poppy for me (even though the album had a few good tracks).
Eight tracks are on their new album, and they feature many familiar features to The Cure fans, such as Robert’s unusual vocals—like a whispering, desperate voice crying out from the void!
Robert’s vocals sound as they always did, and you would never mistake his vocals for someone else’s. Likewise, as in the past, the lyrics on this latest album seem devoid of hope. With a grim outlook on life, love, and relationships, they are similarly familiar. Robert’s lyrics have not become more joyful or hopeful with age.
But many things are different. I am happy this is not a ‘poppy’ album, even though Robert has kept the soft-sounding keyboards on many tracks. But the guitars are ‘noisier’ and more dominant. Likewise, before Robert starts singing, the long intro that we encounter on the first track, ‘Alone’, continues on all the tracks. On many tracks, more than half of the opening is only instruments until his characteristic vocals finally kick in. His guitar use has also changed somewhat, and he seems more atmospheric than on previous albums.
‘Warsong’ plays like a noisy yet melodic funeral hymn about how hateful a couple can treat each other. Likewise, ‘Drone:Nodrone’ is an insightful song about how you can ruin your life, even while you know you are ruining things.
The very personal song ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ is about his brother’s death and is heartbreaking and very catchy at the same time. This track musically stands apart from the rest of the album, with its almost innocent/naive feel. Repeating pleasant piano notes and laidback guitars create a pleasant soundscape. You can almost feel the rain falling on the window as you feel Robert’s tears.
The lyrics of the album, especially the last track, ‘Endsong’, tracking at over ten minutes, deal with him dealing with old age and mortality – “It’s all gone, it’s all gone//I will lose myself in time//it won’t be long//It’s all gone, it’s all gone, it’s all gone.”

If you’re feeling down about your age, you should probably not listen to those lyrics—or maybe you should, as you will most likely feel better about your life.

Robert Smith is the only constant member of The Cure, but nothing indicates that Smith is slowing down musically, even though he might feel he is. On this album, lyrically, there is no hope in sight. But musically, The Cure has created a very atmospheric album, making one recall their earlier albums from the early 80s. This album is a welcome surprise from a man who started the band back in 1976 and who once again has returned with his unique voice and outlook on life. The Cure, a.k.a. Robert Smith, is back!