The Cure’s latest album, Songs of a Lost World, has cemented itself as a milestone in the band’s career by topping five US Billboard album charts and ranking as America’s top-selling album in terms of physical sales. Released on 1 November 2023, the band’s 14th studio album marks their first full-length release in 16 years, following 2008’s 4:13 Dream.
In the United States, the record has reached the Number One position on five Billboard charts: Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Alternative Albums. It also debuted at Number Four on the Billboard 200, the band’s second-highest placement ever, surpassed only by 1992’s Wish, which reached Number Two. Additionally, it became the top-selling physical album in the US, according to industry reports.
Songs of a Lost World has been equally well-received in the UK. Earlier this month, the album debuted at Number One on the UK Albums Chart, making it the first Cure album to achieve this feat since Wish. The record has already been certified Silver in the UK, reflecting strong sales. This achievement solidifies The Cure’s enduring legacy in their home country, resonating strongly with both long-time fans and a new generation of listeners.
The band celebrated this milestone with a live performance at London’s Troxy, where they showcased the album in full alongside a 31-song setlist. The album’s release was accompanied by a live event at London’s Troxy, where the band performed a 31-song setlist, including the new album in its entirety. Two additional performances were held at the BBC Radio Theatre, which can be watched back here.
Reflecting on the album’s reception a post on the band’s Instagram, frontman Robert Smith expressed gratitude, saying, “It is enormously uplifting, genuinely heartwarming to experience such a wonderful reaction to the release of the new Cure album. To everyone who has bought it, listened to it, loved it, believed in us over the years – THANK YOU!”
Smith has disclosed that the album’s themes are deeply personal, shaped by his experiences of loss, including the deaths of his parents and brother. The track I Can Never Say Goodbye specifically addresses the loss of his brother, while Smith credited his wife, Mary Poole Smith, with helping finalise the album’s tracklisting.
Critical reception for Songs of a Lost World has been overwhelmingly positive. NME awarded it five stars, describing it as “arguably the most personal album of Smith’s career,” adding: “mortality may loom, but there’s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.”
Looking ahead, The Cure have plans for extensive touring. Smith has confirmed that the band intends to begin a worldwide tour in 2025, with performances expected to continue through to their 50th anniversary in 2028. He also hinted in an interview with NME at the release of a second album, which is “virtually finished,” as well as a potential third album.
