Songs of a Lost World is the upcoming fourteenth studio album by English alternative rock band the Cure, scheduled for release on 1 November 2024 via Fiction,[1] Lost Music, Universal,[2] Polydor, and Capitol Records.[3] All the tracks of Songs of a Lost World were composed solely by singer and guitarist Robert Smith.
| Songs of a Lost World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 November 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2022 | |||
| Studio | Rockfield (Monmouthshire, Wales) | |||
| Length | 49:13 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| The Cure chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Songs of a Lost World | ||||
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Background
editTheir first studio album since 4:13 Dream, released in 2008, Songs of a Lost World was several years in the making; it was originally intended for release in 2019,[3] and it is the band's first full-length album to feature Reeves Gabrels on guitars since he joined as a full time member in 2012.
Most of the songs present on the album, such as "Alone", "And Nothing Is Forever", "A Fragile Thing", "I Can Never Say Goodbye" and "Endsong", had already been played live in 2022 and 2023 during the worldwide tour Shows of a Lost World.[1][4] Perry Bamonte rejoined the band for the tour, but he didn't participate in the album's recording which had mainly been taped in 2019.[1]
The songs were entirely written, composed and arranged by the Cure's leader Robert Smith,[1] marking the second time he has done so following 1985's The Head on the Door.
Artwork
editSmith chose Bagatelle, a 1975 sculpture by Slovenian artist Janez Pirnat, to illustrate the sleeve.[1] The album cover was then designed by Andy Vella.[5]
Promotion
editThe album's release was officially announced on 26 September 2024, with the release of the lead single, "Alone",[5] and a dedicated website.[4]
The track listing was revealed by an email sent to mailing list members on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, and was subsequently posted on the official website.
The second single "A Fragile Thing" was released on 9 October 2024.[6]
On 14 October 2024, Smith said that tour in support of Songs of a Lost World will begin in “autumn next year” after completing the follow-up album to Songs of a Lost World.[7]
Reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 95/100[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10[9] |
| Classic Pop |  [10] |
| The Guardian | [11] |
| The Irish Times |  [12] |
| Louder Than War | 5/5[13] |
| Mojo | [14] |
| NME | [15] |
| Uncut | 9/10[16] |
Andrew Trendell of NME gave the album a five-star review, stating "there's always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you", and believed it was "arguably the most personal album of Smith's career. Mortality may loom, but there's colour in the black and flowers on the grave".[15]
Éamon de Paor of The Irish Times praised the album, giving it four stars, describing the album as "Majestically desolate, gorgeously grim", and said, "It moves like a glacier at midnight – magnificent, unstoppable and with a chill that settles in hard and heavy and does not leave." likening to sound of the album to bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Cocteau Twins, Pink Floyd and New Order.[12]
Sam Walker-Smart of Clash gave a score of 9/10, and felt the album "is one of their most emotionally raw. At eight songs, albeit long ones, it’s their most cohesive set since 2000’s ‘Bloodflowers’ and their most moving since 1992’s ‘Wish’." citing 'Endsong' as the highlight of the album.[17] John Robb of Louder Than War gave the album 5/5, observing, "An album of elegiac, brooding masterpieces that deal with the heartbreak of loss with dark, masterful music dripping with melody, nuance and atmosphere."[18]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Robert Smith
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alone" | 6:48 |
| 2. | "And Nothing Is Forever" | 6:53 |
| 3. | "A Fragile Thing" | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Warsong" | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Drone:Nodrone" | 4:45 |
| 6. | "I Can Never Say Goodbye" | 6:03 |
| 7. | "All I Ever Am" | 5:21 |
| 8. | "Endsong" | 10:23 |
| Total length: | 49:13 | |
Personnel
editThe Cure
edit- Robert Smith – vocals, guitar, six-string bass, keyboards, producer, engineering, mixing, sleeve concept
- Simon Gallup – bass
- Jason Cooper – drums, percussion
- Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
- Reeves Gabrels – guitar
Production
- Paul Corkett – producer, engineering, mixing
- Jack Boston – assistant engineer
- Joe Jones – assistant engineer
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Miles Showell – mastering
- Andy Vella – artwork, design
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Everitt, Matt. "Keeping the Faith". Uncut (December 2024).
- ^ "The Cure officially announce new album 'Songs of a Lost World' and share first single "Alone"". Brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ a b Smith, Thomas (26 September 2024). "The Cure Share First New Song in 16 Years, Announce Album Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b Luamanuvae, Adele. "The Cure Announce New Album 'Songs Of A Lost World'". The Music. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b Zemler, Emily (26 September 2024). "The Cure Invite Loneliness on New Song 'Alone'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "The Cure Share New Song "A Fragile Thing": Listen". Stereogum. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Fu, Eddie (14 October 2024). "The Cure Will Retire After 50th Anniversary of Debut Album in 2029". Consequence. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Songs of a Lost World by The Cure". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Walker-Smart, Sam (14 October 2024). "The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World". Clash. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Earls, John (November–December 2024). "The Cure: Songs of a Lost World". Classic Pop. No. 90. p. 81.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (18 October 2024). "The Cure: Songs of a Lost World review – dark, personal and their best since Disintegration". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "The Cure: Songs of a Lost World track by track review – Majestically desolate, gorgeously grim". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ Robb, John (16 October 2024). "The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World – Album Review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (16 October 2024). "The Cure Songs Of A Lost World Review: An audaciously bleak, beautiful journey". Mojo. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (11 October 2024). "The Cure – 'Songs Of A Lost World': a masterful reflection on loss". NME. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ Watts, Peter (December 2024). "Songs of a Lost World". Uncut. No. 332. p. 113.
- ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; ClashMusic (14 October 2024). "The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World | Reviews". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ johnrobb (16 October 2024). "The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World - Album Review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 19 October 2024.