Today, exactly 30 years ago, The Cure released Disintegration

On this day, exactly 30 years ago, The Cure released their 8th studio album Disintegration (Fiction Records, 2 May 1989). The record marks a return to the introspective and gloomy style the band had established in the early 1980s. As he neared the age of 30, vocalist and guitarist Robert Smith had felt an increased pressure to follow up on the group's pop successes with a more enduring work. This, coupled with a distaste for the group's newfound popularity, caused Smith to lapse back into the use of hallucinogenic drugs, the effects of which had a strong influence on the production of the album. The Cure recorded Disintegration in Oxfordshire, with co-producer David M. Allen who was The Cure’s producer from late 1988 to early 1989. Following the completion of the mixing of the album, founding member Lol Tolhurst was fired from the band. Disintegration is characterized by a significant usage of synthesizers and keyboards, slow, "droning" guitar progressions and Smith's introspective vocals.

Disintegration became the band's first commercial peak, charting at number three in the United Kingdom and at number 12 in the United States, and producing several hit singles including "Lovesong", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains The Cure's highest selling record to date, with more than three million copies sold worldwide.

Disintegration - Tracklist

DISCOGS