Cruelty Without Beauty cover

Cruelty Without Beauty

Soft Cell · 2002

54 min · 12 tracks · new wave · synth-pop · post-punk

A blend of brooding synths and melancholic melodies, echoing themes of isolation and societal disconnection.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady mid-tempo reflective listening
  • brooding synths for introspection
  • melancholic melodies for solitude
  • themes of isolation and disconnection

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer upbeat, fast-paced music
  • seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2002, 'Cruelty Without Beauty' marked Soft Cell's first studio album in over 15 years since their previous record, 'This Last Night in Sodom' (1984). At this point, Marc Almond and David Ball sought to revive their signature sound while addressing contemporary issues, situating the album as an artistic reinvention for the duo.
Stylistic neighbors
Depeche Mode· Gary Numan· The Human League

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Darker Times 4:25
  • 2 Monoculture 3:55
  • 3 Le Grand Guignol 4:14
  • 4 The Night 4:16
  • 5 Last Chance 4:30
  • 6 Together Alone 5:46
  • 7 Desperate 4:45
  • 8 Whatever It Takes 4:37
  • 9 All Out of Love 4:59
  • 10 Sensation Nation 4:05
  • 11 Caligula Syndrome 4:51
  • 12 On an Up 4:26

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata