Robert Smith
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
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About the Album
The Cure’s eighth studio album — a slow-burning, synth-and-guitar–textured masterpiece of melancholy and melody. Disintegration returned the band to a darker, more introspective sound while producing enduring singles like “Lovesong” and “Lullaby.”
After the expansive pop success of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), Robert Smith felt pressure to produce a more enduring work as he approached his 30th birthday; he deliberately moved back toward the darker aesthetic of earlier Cure records. Recording took place November 1988–February 1989 at Hookend (Hook End Manor) in Oxfordshire. Sessions were fraught with interpersonal tension, largely due to Lol Tolhurst’s escalating alcoholism; Tolhurst was effectively dismissed from the band by the time mixing finished. The album’s title and themes reflected a sense of things falling apart in Smith’s life and in the band dynamic.
The Recording Story
Location
Recorded at Hookend Recording Studios in Checkendon, Oxfordshire, England. The remote countryside location provided the perfect isolation for the band to create their darkest and most atmospheric work.
Production
Produced by David M. Allen and Robert Smith. The recording sessions spanned several months, with the band embracing a more expansive and layered sound.
Band Members
Porl Thompson
Guitar, Keyboards
Simon Gallup
Bass Guitar
Boris Williams
Drums, Percussion
Lol Tolhurst
Keyboards
Roger O'Donnell
Keyboards
Tracklist
12 tracks · 1h 12m
| # | Title | Duration | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plainsong | 5:12 | |
| 2 | Pictures of You | 7:24 | |
| 3 | Closedown | 4:16 | |
| 4 | Lovesong | 3:29 | |
| 5 | Last Dance | 4:42 | |
| 6 | Lullaby | 4:08 | |
| 7 | Fascination Street | 5:16 | |
| 8 | Prayers for Rain | 6:05 | |
| 9 | The Same Deep Water as You | 9:19 | |
| 10 | Disintegration | 8:18 | |
| 11 | Homesick | 7:06 | |
| 12 | Untitled | 6:30 |
12 tracks
Total Duration: 1h 11m 45s
Singles
4 singles released from this album
1
Lullaby
April 1989
#5 UK
2
Fascination Street
April 1989
3
Lovesong
August 1989
#2 US Hot 100
4
Pictures of You
March 1990
Music Videos
Lullaby
1989Directed by Tim Pope
A surreal nightmare featuring giant spiders, this became one of The Cure's most iconic videos.
Lovesong
1989Directed by Tim Pope
Written by Robert Smith for his wife, this tender love song became a major hit.
Pictures of You
1989Directed by Tim Pope
A melancholic masterpiece featuring burning photographs and nostalgic imagery.
Critical Acclaim
A towering achievement in gothic rock, this is The Cure's masterpiece of atmospheric melancholy.
Breathtakingly beautiful and devastatingly sad, this is The Cure at their most expansive and emotionally raw.
An epic exploration of loss, longing, and despair that transformed alternative rock forever.
The Cure's crowning glory, a record of stunning emotional depth and sonic innovation.
Album Era Gallery
Studio session
Recording at Hookend
Live performance
Promotional shoot
Behind the scenes
Album artwork session
Instruments & Gear
Guitar
Fender Jazzmaster
Played by Robert Smith
The signature guitar tone throughout the album
Bass
Fender Bass VI
Played by Simon Gallup
Providing the deep, melodic bass lines
Synthesizer
Roland Juno-60
Played by Roger O'Donnell
Creating the lush atmospheric pads
Synthesizer
Oberheim OB-Xa
Played by Lol Tolhurst
String and pad sounds
Synthesizer
Yamaha DX7
Played by Various
Electric piano and bell tones
Drums
Ludwig Drums
Played by Boris Williams
Powerful yet restrained drumming
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