Rating: 1/5 stars

The Cure, the band who brought us classics like, “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Friday I’m in Love” and “Just Like Heaven” has released new music this month, almost 16 years after the release of their album “Wish.” 

Did I think that The Cure would release a song this year; no. 

Did I think there would be an entire album being released later this October; also no. 

As far as the release of the two singles “A Fragile Thing” and “Alone,” they sound exactly  as I expected them to: an aging band trying to reclaim the success of their youth while modernizing their sound into something almost unrecognizable when compared to their older music. 

Technically it is The Cure, but in the same way that your aging decrepit cat was once a kitten, or your Converse with a hole in it used to be brand new.

The first song “A Fragile Thing” has heavier rock elements while also leaning more thoroughly into an edgier grunge sound than earlier albums. It is something that while fine to listen to, overall lacks the catchy lyrics and melodies that made their top hits such successes and the musically whimsical nature of their youth. It is not The Cure that many older and younger fans would recognize, given the 16 year absence. 

“Alone” is no better than “A Fragile Thing” when it comes to having the recognizable style and sound The Cure is known for. 

The instrumental is something that they have featured in some of their other songs. It takes up the first three minutes and 26 seconds, which would have been tolerated if it was used as an interlude or an intermission not attached to lyrics. It is an interesting composition choice to have on the only two songs released before the album, both lacking distinguishing traits associated with The Cure. 

In full, I was disappointed by the attempt to modernize the classic sounds and enjoyable music of their more recognizable songs. 

It is distinctive in a disappointing way, along with leaving little to no hope for the upcoming album to be, in the simplest terms, good. 

Overall, listen out of curiosity. I have never been a fan of heavy grunge or industrial goth music, preferring to dip my proverbial toe into the genre, so, I will be staying with good stuff back when they used sparkle sound effects.

Image from The Cure via thecure.com