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The Cure scored their first Grammy wins during the awards pre-show, picking up Best Alternative Music Album for Songs of a Lost World and Best Alternative Music Performance for the single “Alone.” The band did not attend the ceremony to accept the trophies because they were mourning the loss of former member Perry Bamonte.
Historic Grammy moment for The Cure
After decades in the public eye, The Cure finally took home Grammy awards. The dual victories mark the band’s first Grammys, decades after their early nominations.
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Songs of a Lost World won Best Alternative Music Album. The single “Alone” won Best Alternative Music Performance. The band’s absence from the stage was explained by the family’s need to be at Bamonte’s funeral.
Who was nominated and who they beat
The wins came in competitive fields with heavyweights in contention.
Best Alternative Music Album — nominees
- The Cure — Songs of a Lost World
- Bon Iver
- Hayley Williams
- Tyler, The Creator
- Wet Leg
Best Alternative Music Performance — nominees
- The Cure — “Alone”
- Bon Iver — “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
- Hayley Williams — “Parachute”
- TURNSTILE — “SEEIN’ STARS”
- Wet Leg — “Mangetout”
Why Songs of a Lost World connected with listeners and critics
Critics pointed to the album’s emotional depths and mature perspective. The record reflects grief and reflection rather than an attempt to recapture past glories.
Reviewers noted two essential ingredients at work. First, lush, wide-ranging arrangements carry the mood. Guitar swells, strings and layered textures create a cinematic backdrop.
Expressive, sweeping instrumentals anchor much of the album. Band members, past and present, helped craft those soundscapes: Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Reeves Gabrels, Simon Gallup and Roger O’Donnell.
Second, Robert Smith’s voice remains the focal point. The vocal delivery sits above the orchestration and often turns the music into a personal plea. That combination gives the songs momentum and intimacy.
The album as a reflection of life and loss
Rather than recycling earlier Cure eras, the new record leans into lived experience. The songwriting draws from recent bereavements and wider cultural anxieties.
- Personal loss: several deaths in Smith’s circle shape the album’s tone.
- Resignation and resilience: the music balances weariness with small bursts of hope.
- Atmospheric storytelling: arrangements let moods evolve slowly.
Those elements make the album feel like a document of this phase in Smith’s life. Critics said it doesn’t seek dramatic reinvention. Instead, it shows an artist who has shifted his focus.
Where the band goes from here
Smith has previously hinted the group may wind down after its 50th anniversary. If that timeline holds, the Cure could have only a few more releases to add to their legacy.
Even if the band does scale back, the recent Grammy wins underscore that their work still resonates. Albums like Songs of a Lost World will likely be revisited and reappraised in the years ahead.
Follow along with our winners list here.
