The Cure: 'Disintegration' - The Meditative Jangle of Grouchiness

The Cure's 'Disintegration' is considered by many to be their best album, a sprawling soundscapy record that places the emphasis on atmospheres and mood.
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DISCLAIMER: This video features materials protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Clips are used with commentary for educational purposes.
#thecure #ranking #classicalbum

[@theskidmarkoforion4829]

Walking in the country on a freezing frost bitten day with Disintegration on the Buds . Wonderful

[@marpsr]

Landmark album that still holds up. The high water mark for their career.

[@psychedelicsanctuary.]

I absolutely love this album and one of the things I love about it the most is how the guitars often sound like Sitars.

[@adamfindlay7091]

Smith , the most underrated guitar maestro of all time. Course, RS is known for moodiness. But no matter. Smith is the patient that's ingenious while his shrink PHD is thick.

[@israelvaldez26]

This album always comforted me through some of the darkest moments in my life, and that's why it will always be my favorite album.

[@tobinharris8107]

That’s what so good about The Cure: the combination of the dark and morose with the jauntiness and quirky sense of humor. Thank you Sir👍

[@michaelmoraga2926]

The "secret" spices of the best albums of both The Cure and The Smiths. 💜

[@MoultrieGeek]

"...a warm bath, at times, for the soul..." Perfect description Barry, I find Robert's grumpiness both soothing and cathartic at times. I get lost in The Same Deep Water As You.

[@johngilmore697]

D minor … is the saddest of all keys, I find

[@TuckerSP2011]

I love that album. As a chronic depressive, I find solace in their music and actually feel happy when I put their music on. There are layers of pure joy in there! I also love their earlier work. I haven't purchased later albums but I should.

[@CasperLCat]

Mate, you inadvertently coined the perfect name for a Cure tribute band: Inevitable Disappointment.

[@ilabelle1]

Disintegration is a milestone in 20th century music. It’s a bone fide classic. End of story.

[@Bopper2010]

Saw The Cure in Dubin a few years back and it was my first time seeing them and I have been a big fan since I was a teen, I was amazed at how good they sounded live and Robert Smith's voice is still so great given he is 65. A great gig I will always remember and recommend you try and see them if you can.

[@tendraftsdeep]

What a magnificent masterpiece. It was released when I was young and broken hearted. I remember watching the sunlight flicker across the lake waters from my cabin, working at a girl's camp on summer break from college, confused and intrigued by this album

[@eddiemethot8925]

I love everything they released.

[@stephanevillatte5970]

Kiss me,kiss me,kiss me is one of the most underrated double album,it's one of the best of all time in my opinion and my favorite of the band's catalog,as a lyricist and composer,this is to me,Smith's most subtle,rich and brillant work .

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Agreed the kiss me album was much better than this dirge

[@nickday9150]

Excellent stuff Barry. One of the best albums of the 80's and one that seems to improve with age

[@johngilmore697]

TMDWU

[@meberg500]

This album came out when I was a sullen 16 year old and resonated in ways I didn't know possible. As a a more mature individual I do think that Pornography and Faith were peak Cure, but we can't deny it's importance at the time and beyond. Nowadays if I'm in the mood I'll reach for Entreat instead - a live set of the strongest tracks (sorry Lovesong) and a phenomenal performance. Pictures of You blows the studio version out of the water, and I can't say enough good things about that recording of Disintegration. I think I'm going to have to throw it on right now!

[@jdiona]

The greatest album ever made in History!

[@markwade2530]

Always love seeing Plainsong open their Glastonbury set. So atmospheric, especially as the sun sets behind the Tor.

[@johnnythefox9830]

Never rated The Cure until l saw their Glastonbury set. It was a masterclass in musicianship.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

Yes it is a great album and the one that stands out as their most atmospheric and album-like statement. Its probably my favourite because of the atmosphere alone

[@billygoth]

This is my favorite band. I really love your description of the album. Thank you for giving them so love. My favorite album by them is faith. ✌️

[@patriddell1900]

never heard it..will explore...loving your work Barry

[@robison5396]

I only own a compilation of their singles, never venturing into their studio albums. Your description has me intrigued, thanks for the review.

[@76ToneCrome]

"Pictures Of You" is my favourite 80s song.

[@montyernst2617]

I love your observation about the influence of Bowie on the 80's. I had never noticed that before, but my eyes (or, perhaps, ears) are open now.

[@earlgrey691]

Haircut 100 they ain't but 'Love Song' is a majestic offering.Brilliant band, great review.

[@dmac4793]

Its a Masterpiece❤

[@orno8906]

One of my favorite bands and disintegration one of my favorite albums from that band. Great video!

[@Railway_Railfan]

Loved it. Big departure from my usual musical choices at the time too...Went on to purchase the "Integration" extended remix versions too. Still listen to (both Dis and Integration) today. Good for cleansing the audio palat between other genres...

[@rushbravado1972]

Love this album. Fascination Street is one of their top songs. I would put it in my top 3 of the band right behind Pornography and Faith.

[@anthonyclarke5579]

Great video with some lovely visual clips to compliment the content. The freebie acoustic/unplugged Hits CD that came with Greatest Hits is wonderful. Those of you that didn't get a copy missed out big time. Smith might look like a misery guts on the outside but he always seems up for a grin both on stage and in interviews...and he loves cats too, so what's not to like about this fella?😺

[@paulbrown4620]

Great view and so eloquently discussed. I always felt Disintegration was more dreamy than miserable! I think Smith's most depressive work is 'Faith' from 1981. Particularly, 'Drowning man' and 'Faith'! I read some where they were 4th division despair, misery, depression and blackness compared to Joy Division! Any chance of a review of 'Unknown Pleasures' and the live sides of 'Still' (3 & 4)

[@marcusistic]

Love this album...! X

[@ianemery4355]

Aways a favourite of mine! Yes underrated here but extremely successful in the states!

[@coughcool3]

I consider Disintegration a perfect album.

[@markshaw-sh6by]

For me it’s their best album

[@johndrx165]

I have the Trilogy live DVD and they play 3 albums complete. Really awesome accomplishment. Disintegration is my favorite.

[@Jojo-yl4qx]

What an album ..

[@feelyvision]

Timeless album..loved this in 1989…and still do. Funny that Melody Maker gave this a poor review at the time…but then made it their album of the year!

[@johngilmore697]

If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain - do you know which philosopher said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a BIG PAIR OF ...

[@bonesjackson81]

Tedious! Ha. Crazy review. This album is a masterpiece from start to finish and i don't even love The Cure. I can hear the influence it had for decades to come. Even in The Deftones. I didn't even hear the full album till about 10 years ago. Bought on a friend recommendation and boy he was right.

[@christiandelorme5324]

Always love your takes Mate!!

[@classicalbum]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@Yellowblam]

20 years ago, when vinyl was *not* in vogue, a relative gave me a big chunk of The Cure’s records. I couldn’t get through ‘Disintegration’, same with ‘Pornography’.

[@rosemeyer1939]

If i remember the vinyl inner sleeve has 'Play Loud' written in the middle... Not wrong.

[@user-ch1by3th8s]

Lovely review. Where's your eye liner ?

[@Jojo-yl4qx]

Lolzerz

[@anthonyclarke5579]

With the lipstick...💄

[@grantwallace1882]

This is my favourite album from The Cure. Do you have any news about the release of the new album?

[@spritefroggy]

One of the great albums of the world. I've had a hard time listening to it since high-school, though. The emotional weight of it is just a bit too much, these days. Prayers for Rain remains a favourite, however.

[@dirtydeadasheville]

I've always championed their album "Faith" as a gloomy masterpiece. It's mostly ignored. Maybe because I had a goth girlfriend at the time.

[@bertkarlsson1421]

What are your top 50 favorite bands of all time?

[@splankhoon]

The Cure were so immensly popular over here in Belgium that I turned away from their music (though I really liked their stuff). Every struggling kid was walking around with those albums under their arm like they were holy scripture. It totally ruined it for me. Then there was 'Lullaby' on super heavy rotation on MTV Europe and on the radio. Overkill. Took me years to enjoy it again. I play Pornography and Kiss Me, Kiss me, Kiss me still more.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Not sure why everyone rates this album I thought the Kiss Me and head on the door were much better. The singles were alright but i dont rate the rest of the album, all a bit self indulgent This was he album where all the plastics goths jumped on. Much like U2, when they started getting popular, I lost interest and certainly the Cure still did the odd good song like Never Enough and Burn afterwards but i dont rate anything after that Babble which was a B side from this album should have been on it as its one of the best things they did

[@Sept1973]

Um your like 30 or so years late.

[@dondesmond7969]

An album isn't great when it comes out, it's great if it's still being listened to 30 years later.and speaking to the next generation. And the next...

[@cockad00dle]

I was just listening to this album today at work! Just wanted to say that I've been subscribed to your channel for a while and I really appreciate the work you put into it. To use your words, your channel is a "warm bath for the soul".