Pornography

Pornography

The Cure

3.6/ 5.0 from 12 ratings
#375 Overall#7 for 1982
Descriptors
darkclaustrophobicintensenihilistic

Reviews

TI
Apr 5, 2026

There's not a wasted second on this record. Even the interludes and transitions feel purposeful. I've seen people debate which track is the best and the fact that there's no consensus tells you everything about how consistently excellent it is.

ZE
Apr 5, 2026

Flawless execution of an ambitious vision. This is why we love music.

EL
Apr 5, 2026

Timeless. I've listened hundreds of times and it never gets old.

FL
Apr 5, 2026

A few good tracks don't save a mostly underwhelming album.

FL
Apr 5, 2026

I can see why this has its fans but it just doesn't connect with me the way their other work does. The songwriting feels less inspired and the production, while technically impressive, feels a bit sterile. A few standout moments keep it from being a total miss.

SO
Apr 5, 2026

Really impressive album that showcases an artist at a creative peak. The range of sounds and moods they explore here is remarkable, and what's more impressive is that it all feels cohesive rather than scattered. The transitions between tracks are so smooth you barely notice them. There are a handful of moments where the ambition slightly exceeds the execution — a lyric that doesn't quite land, a sonic idea that needed a bit more development — but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise excellent record. The standout tracks here are among the best songs released in the last decade.

ZE
Apr 5, 2026

Not quite their best work but honestly that's a high bar. This is still a fantastic album by any reasonable standard. The songwriting is sharp, the sound is distinctive, and it's got great replay value.

CY
Apr 5, 2026

I put off listening to this for years because the hype felt overwhelming. How could anything live up to that kind of consensus? But when I finally sat down with good headphones and gave it my full attention, I understood immediately. This isn't an album you casually appreciate — it demands and rewards your complete focus. What strikes me most is the emotional range. It moves from devastating vulnerability to towering confidence, from intimate whispers to massive sonic landscapes, and it all feels organic. The transitions never feel jarring even when they probably should. That's a level of craft that very few artists achieve even once in their career.

FR
Apr 5, 2026

Not for me at all. I can see the craft but it does absolutely nothing for me.

BO
Apr 5, 2026

An extraordinary piece of art. Simply transcendent.