When The Cure shared their new song a few days ago—something fans had been waiting for over 15 years—we didn’t rush to write about it immediately. Instead, we spent the weekend listening to the new track, “Alone,” which serves as the lead single from the band’s upcoming record “Songs of a Lost World (2024)”, their first studio album since “4:13 Dream” (2008), sixteen years earlier.
We loved “Alone” so much that it brought us back to their legendary trilogy: Pornography, Disintegration, and Bloodflowers—often hailed as goth’s great ‘Dark Trilogy.’ The haunting, atmospheric vibe of the new track reminded us why we were drawn to The Cure’s darker side in the first place.
This inspired us to immerse ourselves in Robert Smith’s curated Spotify playlist, “The Cure Songs of a Darker World,” which led us to create this article—celebrating the band’s favorite mood. Here are The Cure’s 10 Best Songs (The Darker Cuts).
1. “Three Imaginary Boys” – Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
This title track stands out with its feeling of detachment and ambiguity, setting the tone for The Cure’s early work. The lyrics, “Walk across the garden / In the footsteps of my shadow,” capture a sense of loneliness and reflection. The sparse, angular guitar riffs paired with Robert Smith’s understated delivery give it an eerie simplicity, making it a haunting opening chapter to their career.
2. “A Forest” – Seventeen Seconds (1980)
One of The Cure’s first major hits, “A Forest,” takes listeners through a vivid, almost nightmarish journey. The driving bassline and atmospheric synths create an unsettling atmosphere, perfectly aligning with the lyrics of someone endlessly searching in a dark, unfamiliar place. This track became a cornerstone of their live shows, where its haunting repetition often extended into a hypnotic experience for concertgoers.
3. “Faith” – Faith (1981)
“Faith” is a stark, solemn reflection on despair and the absence of meaning. Written during a time when Robert Smith was grappling with feelings of emptiness, the minimalistic arrangement of this song enhances its emotional weight. The echoing guitar and melancholic tempo create an almost funereal atmosphere, reinforcing the themes of uncertainty and longing.
4. “Cold” – Pornography (1982)
“Cold” is a chilling portrayal of emotional numbness, with haunting orchestral synths that add to its oppressive mood. The relentless rhythm and Robert Smith’s stark vocal delivery depict isolation and inner turmoil. The line “Your name like ice into my heart” exemplifies the bitterness that permeates throughout the “Pornography” album, often considered the darkest chapter of their discography. “Pornography” represents the conclusion of The Cure’s early dark, gloomy musical phase, which began with their second album, “Seventeen Seconds” (1980).
It’s also worth noting that Chino Moreno of Deftones has cited this album as a significant influence, which speaks to its lasting impact on darker genres beyond goth rock.
5. “A Night Like This” – The Head on the Door (1985)
While not immediately as brooding as some of their earlier work, “A Night Like This” carries a powerful emotional weight. The lyrics revolve around regret and unfulfilled desires, highlighted by the haunting saxophone solo by Ron Howe from Fools Dance, which gives the song its distinctive edge. It shows a more polished yet deeply melancholic side of The Cure’s sound as they began branching into broader musical territory.
6. “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep” – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Exotic instrumentation, including sitar-like effects, gives “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep” a dreamlike, almost otherworldly quality. The lyrics speak of a yearning that borders on obsession. The result is a song that feels suspended in a timeless, dark trance, offering a glimpse into a restless mind searching for solace. The album “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” helped bring The Cure into the American mainstream.
7. “The Same Deep Water As You” – Disintegration (1989)
Clocking in at over nine minutes, “The Same Deep Water As You” is a slow plunge into sorrow. The layered guitars and echoing drums create a soundscape that feels like being submerged, which aligns perfectly with the lyrics about a relationship sinking into hopelessness. This song exemplifies the epic, emotional storytelling that made “Disintegration” one of the band’s most celebrated works. The record returns to the introspective gothic rock style the band had established in the early 1980s.
8. “Apart” – Wish (1992)
“Apart” is an intimate look at Robert Smith’s vocals, capturing a profound sadness and loss. The delicate interplay between the guitar and synths adds to the feeling of something beautiful slipping away. It’s a song that portrays emotional distance, making it a standout on the “Wish” album. It was the most commercially successful album in the band’s career, debuting at number one in the UK and number two in the US, selling more than 1.2 million copies.
9. “The Last Day of Summer” – Bloodflowers (2000)
With its dreamy guitar intro and reflective lyrics, “The Last Day of Summer” conveys the passage of time and the melancholy of change. It carries the spirit of “Bloodflowers,” an album that revisits the mood of their earlier work, bringing a mature perspective on themes of regret and nostalgia. This album closes The Cure’s dark trilogy 20 years after the first one, completing the thematic journey that began with “Pornography” and “Disintegration”. The song feels like a farewell—to summer, youth, and moments that can never be recaptured.
10. “Alone” – Alone (2024)
“Alone” returns to the atmospheric depth that characterized The Cure’s darker eras. The track’s expansive, echoing guitar lines and Smith’s pensive lyrics create a sense of isolation poignant and familiar to long-time fans. As the lead single from their upcoming album, it hints at a continuation of the themes that have always been at the heart of their most compelling work—solitude, longing, and the beauty of sadness. Released on 26 September 2024, it was the first new studio recording from the band in over a decade and a half.
