The Cure

Rhino's ongoing deluxe reissue series of the Cure's catalogue finally arrives at the band's seminal album, 1989's Disintegration. Appearing after a string of albums that saw the band perk up into a pop act, Robert Smith and co. dove right back into the gloom that defined them early on and made them poster boys for goth. At the time, Disintegration was deemed "too gloomy for radio," with its dense, majestic production and brooding overtones. But Smith's pain was his fans' gain, and his role as a lovelorn outsider produced some of his most memorable songs, and easily the Cure's finest LP. From the twinkling percussion and grandiose organs that crash in on "Plainsong" to "Lovesong," the greatest wedding gift to reach the top ten, and the hypnotic groove of "Fascination Street," Disintegration is the landmark that rightfully made the Cure one of the world's biggest bands. This three-disc set includes a much-needed remastered version of the album (listen to your old copy and you'll hear a big difference), as well as bonus discs of demos and rehearsals, and a live run through of Disintegration recorded at London's Wembley Arena in 1989. The demos and rehearsals give an intimate listen to how these songs progressed from stripped down to extravagant, but like any outtake disc, it's not one to keep coming back to. The live disc, however, is something to revisit. Entreat Plus is a near-perfect performance of the album in its entirety, attesting to the Cure's reputation as a must-see live act. So close is it to the original that this set gives you the option of hearing them perform Disintegration either live or in the studio.