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Putlocker.to Alternatives, Mirror & Reddit Updates

Sebastian Bickley
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Putlocker.to Alternatives, Mirror & Reddit Updates

If you are an avid movie fan, you probably know what Putlocker is. It saved many people from paying expensive subscriptions for top streaming platforms worldwide! You can watch your favorite films and shows with just a few clicks. However, due to a high rate of legal issues and shutdowns, users have started looking for alternative sites. If you are one of them, you are on the right page! In this article, we’ll explore the best free Putlocker alternatives, tackle mirror sites, and streamline updates from Reddit to provide you with all the information necessary. 

Best Putlocker Alternatives in 2024 (Free)

Yes, our dear Putlocker.to is no longer widely available. But don’t worry, there are plenty of options that offer similar content. 

123Movies

Topping the list is the famous 123Movies. It is perhaps the best alternative to Putlocker when it comes to free movies online. 123Movies lays down one of the largest selections of films and TV shows for every genre available out there. More importantly, it is absolutely free to use. Plus, individuals can stream HD-quality videos all the time.

Pros:

  • Registration or creation of an account is not required.
  • Contains a vast library of content.
  • Updates frequently to provide the latest material.

Cons:

  • One has to endure the advertisements and redirects.
  • Select regions may encounter legal concerns.

Fmovies

Landing on the second spot is Fmovies. This website is recognized for its easy-to-navigate and user-friendly interface. Similarly, it holds an extensive collection of movies and TV series. At the same time, every content in the library is available in high quality for everyone to enjoy.

Pros:

  • It has a simple design.
  • Broad content collection.
  • Uploads often to keep content updated.

Cons:

  • Like others, pop-up ads can be frustrating.
  • Some users may face unreliable links. 

SolarMovie

Ranking third on our list is SolarMovie. Compared to the previous alternatives, this streaming website offers high-definition movies and TV shows with minimal advertisements. Users can access a variety of content, ranging from the classics up to the newest releases.

Pros:

  • Continuous streaming with the tiniest interruptions.
  • Search filters are easy to use.

Cons:

  • There have been reports of broken links.
  • Sometimes, sign-ups might be required. 

YifyMovies (YTS)

Holding the fourth position is YifyMovies. It is also commonly known as YTS. This website would be very useful for users struggling with their internet speeds. YifyMovies offers high-quality films and shows in compressed file sizes.

Pros:

Cons:

  • TV show content is limited.
  • Pop-up ads appear in a few mirror sites.

YesMovies

Yes! Completing the list of Putlocker alternatives is YesMovies. It offers a huge number of movies and TV series or shows. The website also includes several streaming links to choose from. YesMovies is easy to navigate and use with frequently updated content.

Pros:

  • Its interface is user-friendly.
  • It has multiple streaming links.

Cons:

  • Advertisements always appear.
  • Other links for titles are outdated. 

Putlocker Mirror Sites

If you still want to use Putlocker, then you can turn to its mirror sites. These sites will give you the same content amid the constant changing of domains. Many users often visit these links when the main website is not working.

Here is a list of common Putlocker mirror sites:

  • Putlocker.is
  • Putlocker.vip
  • Putlocker.bz
  • Putlocker2.io

Disclaimer! These mirrors are often prone to security risks, including malware and phishing activities, despite offering similar content to the original Putlocker. So, be careful in using them, and make sure that you have a VPN to protect your identity. An ad blocker would also be helpful in avoiding malicious advertisements. 

Reddit Community Updates and Insights

Reddit has always been a significant resource to access updates about the latest streaming platforms and online websites.

To stay informed, visit r/Putlocker for the site’s status and alternative options. Also, follow r/FreeStreaming to check out website reviews.

Furthermore, Reddit has provided information to users regarding the ways to protect identity while streaming in Putlocker. It has also shared warnings about harmful domains and the recent shutdowns of popular websites. Reddit has been helpful in avoiding risky and untrustworthy domains.

Conclusion

As we have mentioned, there is no need to worry if Putlocker is down for there are countless alternatives that deliver the same content. You can continue to enjoy your comfort movies and TV series as long as you stay updated on Reddit and are mindful of the risks attached to using other sites.

The Best Modern Casino Games to Play Today

Our Culture Mag & Partners
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The Best Modern Casino Games to Play Today

The classics can’t certainly be beat but there are a few modern games that want to make a strong case when it comes to casino games, mobile or physical. The casino games industry’s most recent developments generated an influx of new concepts adapted to present exciting new challenges for the modern patron of the gambling establishment. And these concepts turned out simple and beautiful. But do not be fooled! Behind the easy mechanics to remember lies a deep potential to enjoy the complexities that may arise when playing this new generation of casino games in the market.

Crash games

One of the more recent modern casino games that has been gaining popularity for a good while has been crash games like Aviator. Most prominently featured on casino websites or mobile apps such as betway, this simple game consists of waging bets on a plane that keeps on rising. As the plane soars into escalating heights, a player’s earnings will increase. 

However, every object that goes up, must come down. And before the ride goes down, players must get off the plane with their earnings intact. Otherwise, the object might crash and fall down to the ground, alongside their wager and earnings! This delicate balancing act provides thrills and challenges for patrons of aviator games, the most popular example of a crash game today. The plane keeps on rising and the players must withdraw their wagers from the flying aircraft before they lose their bets.

Fish games

Another engaging format for the modern casino player can indulge in is fish games. These games originated from Asia, which are also known as fish hunter games. As its popularity rose in local regions, it soon caught the attention of other more mainstream casino games developers, shining a spotlight on this fantastic new casino game to enjoy!

While there is a bit of reliance needed on good probabilities, success in fish hunter games will heavily rely on the skill of a player. Gameplay is primarily multiplayer and players are gathered in a virtual pond filled with different fishes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. The objective of the game is for a player to obtain the most points from catching these fishes. Every catch corresponds to points and naturally, the player with the most points wins.

Fusion table games

There are some casinos that incorporate elements of the classic to create something very engaging, especially in the online casino space. There are casinos that combine traditional casino card games like blackjack and poker while also embedding different cultural sensibilities for a more distinct experience for different kinds of audiences. It has made for some fascinating combinations geared for a more inclusive but growing market.

The industry has made such an impression when it comes to challenging themselves in creating new and modern casino games. So long as the industry continues to walk down this path, players can expect even more casino games integrating the best that technology and innovation will offer.

Zipei Zhang Bridges Culture and Modern Aesthetics Through Animation

Abbie Wilson
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Zipei Zhang Bridges Culture and Modern Aesthetics Through Animation

In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of art and animation, where the lines between cultural narratives and modern aesthetics are often blurred, New York-based artist and animator Zipei Zhang stands out as a remarkable storyteller. Today, we delve into her creative journey and her latest series, Love is Here. Through this work, Zhang transforms animation into a sophisticated medium, bridging the timeless themes of love with cultural heritage and contemporary design. Divided into three poignant chapters—Hug, Bridge, and Collision—the series transcends mere visual appeal, offering a profound exploration of the interplay between tradition and modernity, and establishing Zhang as a visionary at the crossroads of art, culture, and emotion.

Zhang’s work goes beyond the realm of visual storytelling; it operates as a cultural bridge that connects ancient symbolism with contemporary design principles. Her ability to translate the complexities of love into minimalist, impactful visuals has established her as a transformative figure in the art world. This series, in particular, resonates deeply with global audiences, offering both an introspective look at human connection and a striking aesthetic that aligns with the principles of high fashion and modern design.

Bridge, by Zipei Zhang

Cultural symbolism plays a central role in Zhang’s work, particularly in Bridge. Inspired by the Chinese folktale of the magpie bridge—a story of connection and reunion celebrated during the Qixi Festival—Zhang reinterprets this age-old narrative through a modern lens. Two magpies traverse difficult terrains, leaving glowing red trails that converge into a symbolic bridge. This reinterpretation preserves the story’s emotional core while introducing a sleek visual style that resonates with contemporary audiences. The choice of red, a color symbolizing love and vitality in Chinese culture, reflects Zhang’s cultural sensitivity, while the graphic precision and simplicity of the trails bring the piece into dialogue with global design trends.

Hug, by Zipei Zhang

In Hug, Zhang focuses on the intimacy of a farewell embrace. The minimalist composition emphasizes fluid movement and emotional nuance, turning a seemingly simple moment into a meditation on connection and separation. The restrained palette and elegant lines evoke the pared-back sophistication often seen in high fashion editorials, where subtlety and focus replace unnecessary complexity. Zhang’s approach to motion mirrors the aesthetic principles of modern couture: deliberate, refined, and emotionally resonant.

 

Hug, by Zipei Zhang
Hug, by Zipei Zhang

Collision shifts the tone to explore the fragility and resilience of love. Two spheres collide and crack but remain bound together, their imperfections becoming part of their unity. Zhang’s use of clean, geometric visuals reflects the minimalist ethos of contemporary sculpture and design. The deliberate simplicity allows the emotional intensity to shine, much like the way a well-constructed garment uses its form and fabric to convey meaning without excessive embellishment. This chapter exemplifies Zhang’s talent for combining emotional storytelling with an aesthetic that feels timeless yet distinctly modern.

Collision, by Zipei Zhang
Collision, by Zipei Zhang

Zhang’s work transcends the boundaries of animation, offering not only a visual exploration of love but also a profound reflection on the harmonious coexistence of cultural storytelling and contemporary design. Her ability to reinterpret traditional symbols through a modern, global lens allows her animations to resonate deeply with today’s audiences while honoring her cultural heritage. Take the magpie bridge, for example—a cherished Chinese folktale that Zhang transforms into a universal metaphor for perseverance and connection. Her innovative design language breathes new life into this age-old story, making it relevant and accessible to a global audience.

With Love is Here, Zipei Zhang firmly establishes herself as a visionary at the intersection of tradition and modernity. Her ability to balance cultural depth with contemporary aesthetics creates work that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Each chapter of the series—Hug, Bridge, and Collision—invites viewers to reflect on not only the multifaceted nature of love but also the cultural and artistic lenses through which we perceive it.

Watch Mk.gee Perform ‘Rockman’ and ‘Alesis’ on ‘SNL’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Watch Mk.gee Perform ‘Rockman’ and ‘Alesis’ on ‘SNL’

Mk.gee was the musical guest on last night’s post-election episode of Saturday Night Live, making his debut on the show. The enigmatic guitarist performed his recent single ‘Rockman’ as well as ‘Alesis’, a track from his debut album Two Star & the Dream Police. Watch it happen below.

Alice Phoebe Lou Unveils New Song ‘Better’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Alice Phoebe Lou Unveils New Song ‘Better’

Alice Phoebe Lou has released a new single called ‘Better’. The track, which follows July’s ‘The World Above’, was recorded at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin, Texas while on the road with Clairo. It features David Parry on guitar, Dekel Adin on bass and percussion, and Ziv Yamin on drums and piano. Check it out below.

“I wrote this song on my childhood piano at my mother’s house in one sitting,” Lou explained in a statement. “I tapped into my imagination and past experiences of the way I used to idealize someone when I first met them, imagining an unrealistic future and being blind to their faults. Putting someone on a pedestal then makes the fall back to earth even harder, when reality sets in and you realize everything you’ve projected onto them and that they could never live up to that.”

Hovvdy Announce New EP, Unveil New Single ‘Bubba (Julie’s Version)’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Hovvdy Announce New EP, Unveil New Single ‘Bubba (Julie’s Version)’

Hovvdy have announced a new EP, Live From Julie’s, which features reimagined versions of songs from their self-titled double album. ‘Bubba (Julie’s Version)’, out today, follows the previously unveiled ‘Jean (Julie’s Verson)’. Give it a listen below.

“Sonically this is the most vulnerable we’ve ever been,” the duo said of the release in a statement. “When we make records, we’re always trying to craft this hyper-layered, expansive world; and as much as we love that approach, it’s easy to get lost in it. With Live at Julie’s we wanted to peel everything back— just sit down and play the songs together.”

Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Hovvdy.

half•alive and Jordana Team Up for New Single ‘Songs’

Konstantinos Pappis
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half•alive and Jordana Team Up for New Single ‘Songs’

half•alive have linked up with Jordana for a new single, ‘Songs’. It’s set to appear on the Long Beach-based trio’s upcoming LP Persona, which is out next Friday, November 15, alongside the previously released ‘Sophie’s House’ and ‘Automatic’. Check it out below.

“There’s a certain magic in the room that gets shared by everyone when you’re at a concert,” the band’s Josh Taylor shared in a statement. “‘Songs’ is our attempt to put that feeling in a bottle. Whether you’re singing along with the band or just listening, it all creates harmony. Lyrics like ‘Let it be infinite while it lasts’ let us see the eternal leaking into the present.”

Jorja Smith Shares New Songs ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ Featuring Maverick Sabre

Konstantinos Pappis
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Jorja Smith Shares New Songs ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ Featuring Maverick Sabre

Jorja Smith has released two new songs, ‘Loving You’ featuring Maverick Sabre and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’. Take a listen below.

Smith wrote ‘Loving You’ with Sabre and producer Ed Thomas nearly ten years ago. On Instagram, Sabre commented, “Glad it’s finally here.” The pair previously collaborated for ‘Slow Down’ in 2019. ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, which also has vocals from Sabre, was written around the same time and produced by New Machine.

Earlier this year, Smith joined Childish Gambino on ‘In the Night’ and dropped the song ‘High’.

Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List

Konstantinos Pappis
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Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List

The 2025 Grammy nominations have been announced. Presenters such as Hayley Williams, Billie Joe Armstrong, Gayle King, Kylie Minogue, and Victoria Monet took part in the reading of the nominees. Leading this year’s nominations is Beyoncé, who picked up 11 and extends her career total to a record-breaking 99. Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, and Charli XCX notched seven nods apiece, while Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter follow close behind with six each. Check out the full list of nominees below.

The eligibility period for the 2025 Grammys began on September 16, 2023 and ended August 30, 2024, a period that includes major releases such as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Charli XCX’s Brat, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet. These were all nominated in the Album of the Year category, along with André 3000’s New Blue Sun and Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. 4.

First-time nominees include Sonic Youth co-founder Kim Gordon and Clairo, who were both recognized in the alternative music categories, as well as Waxahatchee, whose LP Tigers Blood is up for Best Americana Album. The Recording Academy added three new categories this year: Best African Music Performance, Best Pop Dance Recording, and Best Alternative Jazz Album.

The 67th annual Grammy Awards take place on February 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+.

Record of the Year

The Beatles – Now and Then
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Charli XCX – 360
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight

Record of the Year

The Beatles – Now and Then
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Charli XCX – 360
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight

Album of the Year

André 3000 – New Blue Sun
Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Charli XCX – Brat
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 4
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Song of the Year

Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight

Best New Artist

Benson Boone
Doechii
Chappell Roan
Khruangbin
Raye
Sabrina Carpenter
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Alissia
Daniel Nigro
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
Ian Fitchuk
Mustard

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen
Edgar Barrera
Jessi Alexander
Jessie Jo Dillon
Raye

Best Pop Solo Performance

Beyoncé – Bodyguard
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Charli XCX – Apple
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine – Remix
Beyoncé Featuring Post Malone – Levii’s Jeans
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift – Us.
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile

Best Pop Vocal Album

Ariana Grande – Eternal Sunshine
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

Disclosure – She’s Gone, Dance On
Four Tet – Loved
Fred Again.. & Baby Keem – Leavemealone
Justice & Tame Impala – Neverender
Kaytranada Featuring Childish Gambino – Witchy

Best Dance Pop Recording

Ariana Grande – Yes, And?
Billie Eilish – L’Amour de Ma Vie [Over Now Extended Edit]
Charli XCX – Von Dutch
Madison Beer – Make You Mine
Troye Sivan – Got Me Started

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

Charli XCX – Brat
Four Tet – Three
Justice – Hyperdrama
Kaytranada – Timeless
Zedd – Telos

Best Remixed Recording

Charli XCX – Von Dutch A. G. Cook Remix Featuring Addison Rae
Doechii & Kaytranada Featuring JT – Alter Ego (Kaytranada Remix)
Julian Marley & Antaeus – Jah Sees Them (Amapiano Remix)
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix)
Shaboozey & David Guetta – A Bar Song (Tipsy) (Remix)

Best Rock Performance

The Beatles – Now and Then
The Black Keys – Beautiful People (Stay High)
Green Day – The American Dream Is Killing Me
Idles – Gift Horse
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
St. Vincent – Broken Man

Best Metal Performance

Gojira, Marina Viotti & Victor le Masne – Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)
Judas Priest – Crown of Horns
Knocked Loose Featuring Poppy – Suffocate
Metallica – Screaming Suicide
Spiritbox – Cellar Door

Best Rock Song

The Black Keys – Beautiful People (Stay High)
Green Day – Dilemma
Idles – Gift Horse
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
St. Vincent – Broken Man

Best Rock Album

The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards
Fontaines D.C. – Romance
Green Day – Saviors
Idles – Tangk
Jack White – No Name
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds

Best Alternative Music Performance

Cage the Elephant – Neon Pill
Fontaines D.C. – Starburster
Kim Gordon – Bye Bye
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Song of the Lake
St. Vincent – Flea

Best Alternative Music Album

Brittany Howard – What Now
Clairo – Charm
Kim Gordon – The Collective
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God
St. Vincent – All Born Screaming

Best R&B Performance

Chris Brown – Residuals
Coco Jones – Here We Go (Uh Oh)
Jhené Aiko – Guidance
Muni Long – Made for Me (Live on BET)
SZA – Saturn

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Kenyon Dixon – Can I Have This Groove
Lalah Hathaway Featuring Michael McDonald – No Lie
Lucky Daye – That’s You
Marsha Ambrosius – Wet
Muni Long – Make Me Forget

Best R&B Song

Coco Jones – Here We Go (Uh Oh)
Kehlani – After Hours
Muni Long – Ruined Me
SZA – Saturn
Tems – Burning

Best Progressive R&B Album

Avery*Sunshine – So Glad to Know You
Childish Gambino – Bando Stone and the New World
Durand Bernarr – En Route
Kehlani – Crash
NxWorries – Why Lawd?

Best R&B Album

Chris Brown – 11:11 (Deluxe)
Lalah Hathaway – Vantablack
Lucky Daye – Algorithm
Muni Long – Revenge
Usher – Coming Home

Best Rap Performance

Cardi B – Enough (Miami)
Common & Pete Rock Featuring Posdnuos – When the Sun Shines Again
Doechii – Nissan Altima
Eminem – Houdini
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That
Glorilla – Yeah Glo!
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Best Melodic Rap Performance

Beyoncé, Linda Martell & Shaboozey – Spaghettii
Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd – We Still Don’t Trust You
Jordan Adetunji Featuring Kehlani – Kehlani (Remix)
Latto – Big Mama
Rapsody Featuring Erykah Badu – 3:AM

Best Rap Song

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That
Glorilla – Yeah Glo!
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Rapsody & Hit-Boy – Asteroids
¥$, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign & Rich the Kid Featuring Playboi Carti – Carnival

Best Rap Album

Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1
Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You
J. Cole – Might Delete Later

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

Malik Yusef – Good M.U.S.I.C. Universe Sonic Sinema Episode 1: In the Beginning Was the Word
Omari Hardwick – Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series
Queen Sheba – Civil Writes: The South Got Something to Say
Skillz – The Seven Number Ones
Tank and the Bangas – The Heart, the Mind, the Soul

Best Jazz Performance

The Baylor Project – Walk With Me, Lord (Sound | Spirit)
Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Juno
Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis Featuring Troy Roberts – Little Fears
Lakecia Benjamin Featuring Randy Brecker, Jeff “Tain” Watts & John Scofield – Phoenix Reimagined (Live)
Samara Joy Featuring Sullivan Fortner – Twinkle Twinkle Little Me

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Catherine Russell & Sean Mason – My Ideal
Christie Dashiell – Journey in Black
Kurt Elling & Sullivan Fortner – Wildflowers Vol. 1
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza
Samara Joy – A Joyful Holiday

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Ambrose Akinmusire – Owl Song
Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Remembrance
Kenny Barron – Beyond This Place
Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix Reimagined (Live)
Sullivan Fortner – Solo Game

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – And So It Goes
Dan Pugach – Bianca Reimagined
John Beasley Featuring Frankfurt Radio Big Band – Returning to Forever
Miguel Zenón – Golden City
Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band – Walk a Mile in My Shoe

Best Latin Jazz Album

Donald Vega Featuring Lewis Nash, John Patitucci & Luisito Quintero- As I Travel
Eliane Elias – Time and Again
Hamilton de Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Collab
Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez, John Beasley & Jose Gola – El Trio: Live in Italy
Michel Camilo & Tomatito – Spain Forever Again
Zaccai Curtis – Cubop Lives!

Best Alternative Jazz Album

Arooj Aftab – Night Reign
André 3000 – New Blue Sun
Keyon Harrold – Foreverland
Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin
Robert Glasper – Code Derivation

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Aaron Lazar – Impossible Dream
Cyrille Aimée – À Fleur de Peau
Gregory Porter – Christmas Wish
Lake Street Dive – Good Together
Norah Jones – Visions

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Béla Fleck – Rhapsody in Blue
Bill Frisell – Orchestras (Live)
Julian Lage – Speak to Me
Mark Guiliana – Mark
Taylor Eigsti – Plot Armor

Best Musical Theater Album

Hell’s Kitchen
Merrily We Roll Along
The Notebook
The Outsiders
Suffs
The Wiz

Best Country Solo Performance

Beyoncé – 16 Carriages
Chris Stapleton – It Takes a Woman
Jelly Roll – I Am Not Okay
Kacey Musgraves – The Architect
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus – II Most Wanted
Brothers Osborne – Break Mine
Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses
Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan – Cowboys Cry Too
Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help

Best Country Song

Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Jelly Roll – I Am Not Okay
Kacey Musgraves – The Architect
Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Best Country Album

Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter
Chris Stapleton – Higher
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion

Best American Roots Performance

The Fabulous Thunderbirds Featuring Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal & Mick Fleetwood – Nothing in Rambling
Rhiannon Giddens – The Ballad of Sally Anne
Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve
Sierra Ferrell – Lighthouse

Best Americana Performance

Beyoncé – Ya Ya
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Empty Trainload of Sky
Madi Diaz & Kacey Musgraves – Don’t Do Me Good
Madison Cunningham – Subtitles
Sarah Jarosz – Runaway Train
Sierra Ferrell – American Dreaming

Best American Roots Song

Aoife O’Donovan – All My Friends
Iron & Wine & Fiona Apple – All in Good Time
Mark Knopfler – Ahead of the Game
Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve
Sierra Ferrell – American Dreaming

Best Americana Album

Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy
Maggie Rose – No One Gets Out Alive
Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers
Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers
T Bone Burnett – The Other Side
Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood

Best Bluegrass Album

Billy Strings – Live Vol. 1
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – I Built a World
Dan Tyminski – Dan Tyminski: Live From the Ryman
The Del McCoury Band – Songs of Love and Life
Sister Sadie – No Fear
Tony Trischka – Earl Jam

Best Traditional Blues Album

Cedric Burnside – Hill Country Love
The Fabulous Thunderbirds – Struck Down
Little Feat – Sam’s Place
Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman
Taj Mahal – Swingin’: Live at the Church in Tulsa

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Antonio Vergara – The Fury
Joe Bonamassa – Blues Deluxe Vol. 2
Ruthie Foster – Mileage
Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Friendlytown

Best Folk Album

Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
American Patchwork Quartet – American Patchwork Quartet
Aoife O’Donovan – All My Friends
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland
Madi Diaz – Weird Faith

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Big Chief Monk Featuring J’wan Boudreaux – Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Kalani Pe’a – Kuini
New Breed Brass Band Featuring Trombone Shorty – Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The Rumble – Stories From the Battlefield
Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul – 25 Back to My Roots

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Doe – Holy Hands
Melvin Crispell III – Yesterday
Ricky Dillard – Hold On (Live)
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton Featuring Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr – One Hallelujah
Yolanda Adams – Church Doors

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson Featuring CeCe Winans – Holy Forever (Live)
CeCe Winans – That’s My King
Elevation Worship Featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore – Praise
Honor & Glory & Disciple – Firm Foundation (He Won’t)
Jwlkrs Worship & Maverick City Music Featuring Chandler Moore – In the Name of Jesus
Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore Featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard – In the Room

Best Gospel Album

CeCe Winans – More Than This
Karen Clark Sheard – Still Karen
Kirk Franklin – Father’s Day
Melvin Crispell III – Covered Vol. 1
Ricky Dillard – Choirmaster II (Live)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Brandon Lake – Coat of Many Colors
Doe – Heart of a Human
Elevation Worship – When Wind Meets Fire
Forrest Frank – Child of God
Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine – The Maverick Way Complete

Best Roots Gospel Album

Authentic Unlimited – The Gospel Sessions, Vol. 2
Cory Henry – Church
The Harlem Gospel Travelers – Rhapsody
Mark D. Conklin – The Gospel According to Mark
The Nelons – Loving You

Best Latin Pop Album

Anitta – Funk Generation
Kali Uchis – Orquídeas
Kany García – García
Luis Fonsi – El Viaje
Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

Best Música Urbana Album

Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana
Feid – Ferxxocalipsis
J Balvin – Rayo
Residente – Las Letras Ya No Importan
Young Miko – Att.

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

Cimafunk – Pa’ Tu Cuerpa
El David Aguilar – Compita del Destino
Mon Laferte – Autopoiética
Nathy Peluso – Grasa
Rawayana – ¿Quién Trae las Cornetas?

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

Carín León – Boca Chueca, Vol. 1
Chiquis – Diamantes
Jessi Uribe – De Lejitos
Peso Pluma – Éxodo

Best Tropical Latin Album

Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 – Radio Güira
Kiki Valera – Vacilón Santiaguero
Marc Anthony – Muevense
Sheila E. – Bailar
Tony Succar & Mimy Succar – Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional)

Best Global Music Performance

Angélique Kidjo & Soweto Gospel Choir – Sunlight to My Soul
Arooj Aftab – Raat Ki Rani
Jacob Collier Featuring Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal – A Rock Somewhere
Masa Takumi Featuring Ron Korb, Noshir Mody & Dale Edward Chung – Kashira
Rocky Dawuni – Rise
Sheila E. Featuring Gloria Estefan & Mimy Succar – Bemba Colorá

Best African Music Performance

Asake & Wizkid – MMS
Burna Boy – Higher
Chris Brown Featuring Davido & Lojay – Sensational
Tems – Love Me JeJe
Yemi Alade – Tomorrow

Best Global Music Album

Antonio Rey – Historias de un Flamenco
Ciro Hurtado – Paisajes
Matt B & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Alkebulan II
Rema – Heis
Tems – Born in the Wild

Best Reggae Album

Collie Buddz – Take It Easy
Shenseea – Never Gets Late Here
Various Artists – Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By the Film (Deluxe)
Vybz Kartel – Party With Me
The Wailers – Evolution

Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album

Anoushka Shankar – Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn
Chris Redding – Visions of Sounds De Luxe
Radhika Vekaria – Warriors of Light
Ricky Kej – Break of Dawn
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Opus
Wouter Kellerman, Éru Matsumoto & Chandrika Tandon – Triveni

Best Children’s Music Album

Divinity Roxx & Divi Roxx Kids – World Wide Playdate
John Legend – My Favorite Dream
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – ¡Brillo, Brillo!
Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats – Creciendo
Rock for Children – Solid Rock Revival

Best Comedy Album

Dave Chappelle – The Dreamer
Jim Gaffigan – The Prisoner
Nikki Glaser – Someday You’ll Die
Ricky Gervais – Armageddon
Trevor Noah – Where Was I

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

Barbra Streisand – My Name Is Barbra
Dolly Parton – Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones
George Clinton – …And Your Ass Will Follow
Jimmy Carter – Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration
Various Artists – All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Bradley Cooper – Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein
Various Artists – The Color Purple
Various Artists – Deadpool & Wolverine
Various Artists – Saltburn
Various Artists – Twisters: The Album

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

Kris Bowers – The Color Purple
Hans Zimmer – Dune: Part Two
Laura Karpman – American Fiction
Nick Chuba, Atticus Ross & Leopold Ross – Shōgun
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Challengers

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla
John Paesano – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Pinar Toprak – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Wilbert Roget II – Star Wars Outlaws
Winifred Phillips – Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Barbra Streisand – Love Will Survive (From The Tattooist of Auschwitz)
Jon Batiste – It Never Went Away (From the Netflix Documentary “American Symphony”)
Luke Combs – Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma (From Twisters: The Album)
*NSync & Justin Timberlake – Better Place (From Trolls Band Together)
Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now (From The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)

Best Music Video

A$AP Rocky – Tailor Swif
Charli XCX – 360
Eminem – Houdini
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight

Best Music Film

Jon Batiste – American Symphony
June Carter Cash – June
Run-DMC – Kings From Queens
Steven Van Zandt – Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
Various Artists – The Greatest Night in Pop

Best Recording Package

The Avett Brothers – The Avett Brothers
Charli XCX – Brat
iWhoiWhoo – Pregnancy, Breakdown, and Disease
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (Baskerville Edition)
The Muddy Basin Ramblers – Jug Band Millionaire
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
William Clark Green – Baker Hotel

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things
John Lennon – Mind Games
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (The Boxes of Lost at Sea)
Nirvana – In Utero
Unsuk Chin & Berliner Philharmoniker – Unsuk Chin
90 Day Men – We Blame Chicago

Best Album Notes

Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert (Live)
Ford Dabney’s Syncopated Orchestras – After Midnight
John Culshaw – John Culshaw – The Art of the Producer – The Early Years 1948-55
King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists – Centennial
Various Artists – SONtrack Original de la Película “Al Son de Beno”

Best Historical Album

King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists – Centennial
Paul Robeson – Paul Robeson – Voice of Freedom: His Complete Columbia, RCA, HMV, and Victor Recordings
Pepe de Lucía & Paco de Lucía – Pepito y Paquito
Prince & the New Power Generation – Diamonds and Pearls (Super Deluxe Edition)
Rodgers & Hammerstein & Julie Andrews – The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) (Super Deluxe Edition)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Charlotte Day Wilson – Cyan Blue
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well
Lucky Daye – Algorithm
Peter Gabriel – I/O
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Willow – Empathogen

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina
Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams & Los Angeles Master Chorale – John Adams: Girls of the Golden West
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra & Manfred Honeck – Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 – Bates: Resurrexit (Live)
Skylark Vocal Ensemble & Matthew Guard – Clear Voices in the Dark
Timo Andres, Andrew Cyr & Metropolis Ensemble – Timo Andres: The Blind Banister

Producer of the Year, Classical

Christoph Franke
Dirk Sobotka
Dmitriy Lipay
Elaine Martone
Erica Brenner
Morten Lindberg

Best Immersive Audio Album

Ensemble 96, Current Saxophone Quartet & Nina T. Karlsen – Pax
Peter Gabriel – I/O (In-Side Mix)
Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company
Roxy Music – Avalon
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Nick Davies – Henning Sommerro: Borders

Best Instrumental Composition

Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf & Christian Euman – Strands
André 3000 – I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a “Rap” Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time
Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Remembrance
Christopher Zuar Orchestra – Communion
Shelly Berg – At Last

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Béla Fleck – Rhapsody in Blue(Grass)
Henry Mancini & Snarky Puppy – Baby Elephant Walk (Encore)
Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Säje – Silent Night
Scott Hoying Featuring Säje & Tonality – Rose Without the Thorns

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Cody Fry Featuring Sleeping at Last – The Sound of Silence
John Legend – Always Come Back
Säje Featuring Regina Carter – Alma
Willow – Big Feelings
The 8-Bit Big Band Featuring Jonah Nilsson & Button Masher – Last Surprise (From “Persona 5”)

Best Orchestral Performance

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & JoAnn Falletta – Kodály: Háry János Suite, Nyári este & Symphony in C Major
Esa-Pekka Salonen & San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Firebird
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina
ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & Marin Alsop – John Adams: City Noir, Fearful Symmetries & Lola Montez Does the Spider Dance
Susanna Mälkki & Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra – Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Rakastava & Lemminkäinen

Best Opera Recording

Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams & Los Angeles Master Chorale – John Adams: Girls of the Golden West
Lyric Opera of Kansas City & Gerard Schwarz – Moravec: The Shining
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Catán: Florencia en el Amazonas
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Puts: The Hours
San Francisco Symphony Chorus & San Francisco Symphony – Saariaho: Adriana Mater

Best Choral Performance

Apollo’s Fire & Jeannette Sorrell – Handel: Israel in Egypt, HWV 54
The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Artefact Ensemble & Novus NY – Sheehan: Akathist
The Crossing, Donald Nally & Dan Schwartz – Ochre
Skylark Vocal Ensemble & Matthew Guard – Clear Voices in the Dark
True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Jeffrey Biegel & Eric Holtan – A Dream So Bright: Choral Music of Jake Runestad

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion – Rectangles and Circumstance
JACK Quartet – John Luther Adams: Waves & Particles
Lorelei Ensemble & Christopher Cerrone – Christopher Cerrone: Beaufort Scales
Miró Quartet – Home
Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos & Emanuel Ax – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97 “Archduke””

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Andy Akiho – Akiho: Longing
Curtis J Stewart, James Blachly & Experiential Orchestra – Perry: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Mak Grgić & Ensemble Dissonance – Entourer
Seth Parker Woods – Eastman The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc
Víkingur Ólafsson – J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Fotina Naumenko – Bespoke Songs
Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d’Oro & Maxim Emelyanychev – Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder
Karen Slack & Michelle Cann – Beyond the Years
Nicholas Phan, Farayi Malek & Palaver Strings – A Change Is Gonna Come
Will Liverman & Jonathan King – Show Me the Way

Best Classical Compendium

Amy Porter, Nikki Chooi, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & JoAnn Falletta – Lukas Foss: Symphony No. 1 & Renaissance Concerto
Andy Akiho & Imani Winds – BeLonging
Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Michael Shapiro – Mythologies II
Experiential Orchestra, James Blachly & Curtis J Stewart – American Counterpoints
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Andrea Casarrubios – Casarrubios: Seven for Solo Cello
Decoda – Coleman: Revelry
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Fleur Barron, Nicholas Phan, Christopher Purves, Axelle Fanyo & San Francisco Symphony Chorus & Orchestra – Saariaho: Adriana Mater
Eighth Blackbird – Lang: Composition as Explanation
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Master Chorale – Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina

Album Review: The Cure, ‘Songs of a Lost World’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: The Cure, ‘Songs of a Lost World’
Robert Smith couldn’t possibly offer a different ending. The last song on Songs of a Lost World, the Cure‘s marvelous first album in 16 years, sprawls cinematically over 10 minutes, brimming with luscious synths before Smith finally sighs, “It’s all gone/ Left alone with nothing/ The end of every song.” Yet his resignation arrives as nothing if not a foregone conclusion. The opening track ‘Alone’, the one that “unlocked the record” for Smith, begins with the line “This is the end of every song I sing,” and the sequencing seems to have been firm in place for a long time; they’ve been bookending their live sets the same way since first introducing those songs on tour in 2022. ‘Dregs’, a poem by the decadent poet Ernest Dowson that ‘Alone’ was inspired by and directly echoes, does provide some useful context: “And health and hope have gone the way of love/ Into the drear oblivion of lost things.” This is the world Songs plunges headfirst into, where oblivion isn’t just an inevitability but the starting point, the throughline, and above all, a container for everything that cannot be restored in the mortal realm. The preposition matters here: not for, or in, but of a Lost World.

It’s tempting, given the current state of the world and the news that looms over the week following the album’s release, to lean into the apocalyptic connotations of its title. But as a writer who was around both in 2016 and through the COVID years, I’m especially wary of taking this review in that direction. Besides, despite the doomful opening image of birds falling out of the sky, Songs of a Lost World hones in on some of the most strikingly personal lyrics of Smith’s career. He wrote and arranged the whole album, producing and mixing it in Wales with Paul Corkett, while grappling with the death of his mother, father, and older brother – all of whom he lost since the Cure’s last album, 4:13 Dream. ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ is a foreboding dramatization of the night his older brother, Richard, passed away in 2019; at the risk of wringing the words dry, Smith keeps the verses simple, leaving in one literary couplet – “Something wicked this way comes/ To steal away my brother’s life” – for its ghostly, evocative power.

For all their overriding sense of gloom, ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ and ‘A Fragile Thing’ work on an intimate level, too, almost conversational. They also both reverse the implications of their titles: the regal ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ doesn’t romanticize the end so much as beautify the promise to be with someone on their deathbed, while the latter, sounding visceral and prickly, reveres love above all else yet falls into the grip of impermanence: “Nothing you can do to change the end.” The album repeatedly beats down the same refrain, but not always in the form of a sigh: “All we will ever know is bitter ends,” Smith spits out on ‘Warsong’, as former David Bowie sideman Reeves Gabrels (making his recorded debut with the band after being with them for more than a decade) lets his guitar wail. The similarly jagged and suddenly upbeat ‘Drone:Nodrone’ finds Smith declaring, “Yeah, I’m pretty much done.”

Placed right in the middle of the record, ‘Warsong’ and ‘Drone:Nodrone’ are its shortest songs and pack the biggest punch while introducing an element of variety. In every other way, though, Songs of a Lost World verges on being almost one-dimensional in its encroaching melancholia, which would be an issue if the Cure weren’t so good at making it feel like a dimension worth getting lost in – so opulent, elegant, and downright epic in its presentation, from Jason Cooper’s relentlessly thunderous drums to the warm cloud of synths enveloping Smith’s voice on ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’. Most bands of their stature would attempt to return revitalized, but the Cure have no reason to mask their despondency, which is the very thing that guides the album’s typically glacial pacing. “My weary dance with age/ And resignation moves me slow,” Smith sings on ‘All I Ever Am’, “Toward a dark and empty stage/ Where I can sing the world I know.” Unlike similarly pensive entries in their catalog, Songs notably shows no interest in disrupting the pervasive atmosphere with a veneer of pop fantasy; ‘Drone:Nodrone’ comes closest, but it’s still more desperate than catchy. It’s precisely this towering yet oddly approachable density that ultimately makes the album stand apart, even if you have to meet it where it’s at: there’s no hooks and no filler.

So you may argue about it being the best since whichever album you hold as the Cure’s previous high watermark, but it might be the most immersive since before then. Robert Smith couldn’t offer a different ending, a way out of all this death and mourning, but that didn’t stop him from delivering the album that would both satisfy fans and make sense of those themes in the realest, most tangible way he probably ever has. It would be a fitting final statement, but Smith has already talked about having two more Cure albums on the way. I wonder if and how they mayexpand beyond the world I know; whether this record carves out space for fading memories and “the dying of the light” so that the follow-up can imagine someplace new. Or the story and the world remain largely unchanged, as they tend to do, and the Cure just make another miraculous record out of it.

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