On November 1, 2024, everyone's favorite godfathers of goth The Cure released their first album of new music in 16 years. This highly anticipated musical product is Songs of a Lost World. Was it worth the wait? Let's dig in and see. Long time fans of The Cure will not be disappointed. Their trademark brand of plaintive vocals singing of loss and alienation over a lushly orchestrated tuneful backdrop appears right away in the opener “Alone,” and wends throughout the eight tracks. Of course, anyone expecting a bold new direction in the 48th year of operation of the UK based act would be disappointed. But having spent so many years refining the technique, it would be folly to abandon it. And they are very good at it. Robert Smith's lyrics for this effort tend to dwell on various experiences of aging as the singer enters his 65th year of life. Changing relationships, loneliness, and loss of loved ones feature prominently. While sometimes bleak — “I'm outside in the dark / Wondering how I got so old” (Endsong) — there is bittersweet hope as well — “But it really doesn't matter … / If you promise you'll be with me in the end” (And Nothing is Forever). There are a few new surprises to be found in Songs of a Lost World as well. One wild card played to good effect is the addition of Reeves Gabrels on guitar. Although he has been a band member since 2012, this is his first appearance on a studio album. He brings a layered, thick, reverberating guitar style that fills out and provides an edge to the sound of the Cure. The impact doesn't end with the guitar parts either, as Simon Gallup's bass seems to have gotten angrier and meatier in response. Or perhaps that is just the result of Robert Smith playing with the mix, which he did for several years (most of the album tracks were recorded in 2019). Roger O’Donnell is back behind the keyboards, and provides a combination of clean piano lines and robust flowing synthesizer showers against which the guitars and bass drive the melodies. Not every song from the lost world is a melancholy drone. “Warsong” goes about as hard as Cure classics like “One Hundred Years” (with similar subject matter) or “The Kiss.” “Drone: Nodrone” has about as infectious a groove as the band has ever laid down, comparable to “Fascination Street” or even “Close to Me.” And the soulful piano of “I Can Never Say Goodbye” is reminiscent of “Trust,” though the song goes in a different direction, revealing Smith's grief at the loss of a brother. We reviewed the CD set that included a second disc containing the live performance “Songs of a Live World: Troxy London MMXXIV,” recorded 1 November, 2024. It features once and future band member Perry Bamonte and includes the first ever live performances of “Warsong” and “Drone: Nodrone.” The sound quality is good, and one or two of the performances might be preferable to the album versions. The packaging held two booklets, one for the album and one for the live set. The live set booklet has black and white images of the band on stage The studio album booklet contains lyrics, including to a song “Bodiam Sky” which did not make it on the album, leading fans to speculate on a future “World of Lost Songs” release. Both studio and live albums are available on vinyl and cassette as well, and some packages include a third instrumental-only version of “Songs of a Lost World.” In the opinion of this reviewer, “Songs of a Lost World” was worth the wait. If this ultimately is the last new music we hear from the Cure, it is a fitting swan song. If there is more to come, we hope that the hiatus will be less than 16 years this time.

My stars are obligatory, first and foremost—I would snatch up a new release by the Cure even if it was universally panned by the music elitists of journalism (what's really your beef with 4:13 Dream, poseurs: did you not even appreciate the Cure in the '80s?), but, hearing this one was getting heralded as one of the best albums of the year made my heart swell with pride for my favourite goth-punk hero's snobby comeback. Indeed, this is Smith at his musical best, testing even Disintegration as the DE FACTO Cure album (and unlike that moody Emo classic, there isn't one gratuitously upbeat single in the bunch) while revamping that glorious lost brand with impossibly youthful vigor. Cheers!

Wonderful been waiting for this it seems to me a dogs life has went by thanks Mr.Smith

My husband, Gen x 1970, has loved The Cure since its inception. I, a millennial 1984, had no idea who what when where why Robert Smith and the Band was until I met my husband. T.H.I.S. CD...every single song makes my soul want to weep and feel and play over and over again. Our 3 and 9 year old even have their favorite songs. ALONE is by far my personal favorite. Outstanding that Mr. Smith writes all the music himself. Keep putting out music, please. All generations are being touched.

There is nothing bad to say about this album. It was worth the wait