Closedown (song)
| "Closedown" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by the Cure | ||||
| from the album Disintegration | ||||
| Released | 2 May 1989 | |||
| Recorded | November 1988 – February 1989 | |||
| Studio | Hookend Recording Studios (Checkendon, Oxfordshire) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:16 | |||
| Label | Fiction | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers | Robert Smith, David M. Allen | |||
| The Cure singles chronology | ||||
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"Closedown" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as the third track on their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989). The song is characterized by its long instrumental introduction, prominent percussion, and lyrics concerning self-doubt and the passage of time.
Background and composition
"Closedown" was written by Robert Smith as a "creative exercise" to address the physical and mental exhaustion he felt while preparing for the recording of Disintegration. Smith originally intended the song to be a list of everything he felt he was "losing" as he approached age 30.[1]
Musically, the song is built around a heavy, tribal drum pattern by Boris Williams and layers of shimmering synthesizers played by Roger O'Donnell. The track features a significant instrumental section that lasts for nearly half the song's duration before the vocals begin. Smith's vocal delivery is often described as "breathy" and "resigned," reflecting the song's themes of spiritual and emotional depletion.[2]
Critical reception
The song has been praised for its contribution to the "wall of sound" production style of the album. AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that the song helps establish the album's "alluringly gloomy" atmosphere early on.[3] In a retrospective review, Rolling Stone described the track as a "slow-motion explosion," highlighting the interplay between the drums and the melodic bassline.[4]
Live performances
"Closedown" was a staple of the band's 1989 Prayer Tour. It was frequently used as the second or third song in the setlist to maintain the atmospheric momentum following the opener, "Plainsong." A live version appears on the 1991 live album Entreat.
The band revived the song for the Curiosa Tour in 2004 and the Reflections shows in 2011, where they performed Disintegration in its entirety.
Personnel
- Robert Smith – vocals, guitar, keyboards, producer
- Simon Gallup – bass guitar
- Porl Thompson – guitar
- Boris Williams – drums
- Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
- Lol Tolhurst – "other instruments"
Production
- David M. Allen – producer, engineer
- Robert Smith – producer
References
- ^ Apter, Jeff (2009). Never Enough: The Story of The Cure. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-024-3.
- ^ Ott, Chris (10 June 2010). "The Cure: Disintegration [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Disintegration – The Cure | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "The Cure's 'Disintegration' at 30". Rolling Stone. 2 May 2019.