Disintegration: Prayers in Rain

Ah, Disintegration is one of my favorite albums of all time. After years of waiting Rhino records has re-released Disintegration as a 3 disc deluxe addition. We get the actual album on Disc 1, Disc 2 is filled with demos, as well as instrumental album cuts and Disc 3 is Entreat Plus: Live at Wembley 1989 where Disintegration was played live in it’s entirety.

So, why review a 21 yr old album? Like most Cure fans my age, I was introduced to The Cure via my sisters copy of Wild Mood Songs. Wild Mood Songs is an album that I feel is wrongly criticized as Robert Smiths worst album. I remember the first time that I heard Disintegration, after purchasing it at my local Tower Records store, I proceeded to pop the CD in my car in which the opening waves of synths washed over me like a summer’s rain. As I drove through the night, I knew that this would become a life affirming album for me.

Robert Smith is the mastermind behind The Cure. As the primary singer/songwriter he is often labeled the King of Mope, which is understandable, as he hides behind a rats nest of dyed black hair and
red lipstick. Smith’s look is very much reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands sans the Scissorhands.

Any Cure fan knows that an awful lot of Cure tracks spend a great deal of time wallowing in melancholy. However Smith also has a pop side that is greatly realized on tracks such as “Just Like Heaven,” “Friday, I’m In Love” as well as “Lovesong” to name a few. Smith’s reputation as the master merchant of gloom is often misguided; anyone familiar with Smith knows that he can be lighthearted and quite funny.

Throughout Disintegration we find Smith dressed in all black, painting black shades of blue and gray throughout. Smith primarily wrote Disintegration alone at home in his basement; he wanted to take a break from the zig zag pop music introduced on Head On The Door, as well as Kiss Me,
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which featured the Cures biggest hit to date “Just Like Heaven.” If Smith’s goal was to paint of portrait of failed relationships, lost love, lonely rain soaked winters he succeeded admirably with Disintegration.

Sonically this reissue sounds amazing; we are presented with an up to date remaster bringing once hidden nuances to the foreground. Such as the introductory wind chimes on Track 1 “Plainsong.” The melodic bass lines laid down by Simon Gallup have an added melodic clarity; we can fully hear the importance the role that the bass played melodically throughout. With the added sonic boost, we are no longer having to reach for our volume knobs to hear the subtleties of Disintegration.

Thematically this album maintains a dreary rain soaked atmosphere throughout all 12 of the tracks. Track 1 “Plainsong” opens the album with the sound of wind chimes, followed by a wash of synths that sound like falling winter rain. Smith opens by singing “I think it’s dark, and looks like rain, you said.” Smiths opening lines perfectly capture the main theme of the album perfectly. Disintegration is perfect for rainy days, this is not an album I would recommend throwing on while at the beach on
a sunny day, Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me would be more appropriate.

While writing Disintegration Smith was nearing 30, and like many of us approaching this age Smith primarily reflects on lost love (Track 2 Pictures Of You), disintegrating relationships (Track 10 Disintegration), as well as admiration (Track 4 Love Song). Love Song was written for his soon to be wife as a wedding gift.”Love Song” remains a timeless ode to admiration, devotion and love.

As I mentioned prior, this album follows a consistent theme throughout while keeping the listener engaged for the full 80 minute running time. Also, this album follows a theme of darkness, however there is enough variation to help ensure the overall theme never becomes monotonous or overbearing.

Musically Disintegration is both open, as well as densely layered. We have Simon Gallops melodic bass guitar weaving in and out of Smith’s guitar, as well 2nd guitarist Porl Thompson’s intricate guitar lines. Keyboards as well as synth-strings played by Roger O’Donnell accent each track in a refreshing way, while the drums played by Boris Williams create a unique backup behind each song. The dense combination of overdubbed instruments lend an urgency to the overall feeling we the listener feels, while the layered keyboard as well as synth-strings provide the lush open atmosphere that the listener can get lost in.

Listening to this album several years after it’s release, it’s quite apparent that this was written by a man; a man who is facing adulthood, marriage, looking back upon his past with new found wisdom. With age comes wisdom, as well as new realities. We spend our 20’s exploring youth at our whim. By our 30’s we are expected to conform to a routine; to get married, build a career, maybe even start a family. But what about us who have different goals, who live different lives?

Disintegration is an album for us who see the reality in life. People have come and gone. All we have left is a picture, a memory, the familiar heartache of love lost again and again. We see the reality of how relationships vanish, we miss our home, and we can never go back to them again. We are left praying in the rain, seeking redemption from a falling sky.

At this point in Smith’s career he had already created 4 masterpieces with The Top (Yes, this is a masterpiece) Pornography, Head on the Door and Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss me. Without a doubt Disintegration is Smith’s Opus, the album he will be remembered for through the ages. He perfectly summons up feelings felt while leaving young adulthood for adulthood.

When we need something/someone to remind us that we are alone, Disintegration is that reminder. To quote Kyle from South Park “Disintegration is the best album ever.” And he very well might be right, and if you give this album a chance, you might think so as well. I do.