The Cure [CD + Bonus DVD]

True, The Cure doesn't have any immediately accessible pop moments, but they were always a great album band who only periodically stumbled across a radio-friendly tune--after all, even their classic Disintegration only boasted one obvious pop tune in "Lovesong". And while it's true that The Cure isn't as good as Disintegration (few albums are), it's still the best album they've recorded since then. Producer Ross Robinson, best known as the man behind the dials for metal acts such as Slipknot, seems to have inspired Smith and the boys to do that which they do best, i.e., sound like the Cure. It's good to have them back. --Robert Burrow