280. SONGS OF A LOST WORLD by The Cure

This 2024 record came 16 years after the band's last and, boy, was it worth the wait. Perhaps their best since at least 2000's Bloodflowers or even 1989's Disintegration, this album finds the band (and particularly sole song writer and lead singer Robert Smith) in the throes of dark and moody melodicism. So, basically, par for the course for The Cure.

What you'll find when you listen to the tracks are long (but not drawn out) introductions - something The Cure has become known for - followed by Smith's pleading voice singing about death, aging, mortality and other fun topics. A great addition to the studio recordings is the presence of long time touring guitarist Reeves Gabrels. If you've seen The Cure in concert any time since 2012 or so, you've seen Gabrels up on stage. He gives the songs a nice, sometimes snarling and sometimes ominous, rock and roll touch.

Essential tracks include 'And Nothing Is Forever' (my favorite off the record), 'I Can Never Say Goodbye,' 'A Fragile Thing' and 10 minute album closer 'Endsong.'