The opening duo of Plainsong and Pictures of You open the album on a definite high note, and the appearance of Lovesong shortly after announces the album's commercial accessibility, but I believe it's at the halfway point that Disintegration really picks up. The opening minute-and-a-half of Fascination Street captivates the listener with pounding post-punk bliss, and it doesn't let up from there. The combination of The Same Deep Water As You and the title track – Disintegration – the albums two longest tracks, nonetheless – proves Smith's artistic ability, offering two lush soundscapes that highlight both his atmospheric guitar playing and his way with words. The dark pictures presented in these songs are some of the most emotionally harrowing in pop music, but it doesn't bring down the mood as much as bring it to its natural cathartic peak. The last two tracks, it must be said, don't stand a chance against this one-two punch combination of ethereal glory, and the album could finish there; however, that isn't to say that the final two tracks are worthless. They provide a slower burn to the end of the album, which ended up being their biggest success, one that made them popular with both alternative types and the mainstream, and rightfully so.