Cure for Pain

There’s a dark, smoky elegance to Cure for Pain — a record that rewrites the rules of rock with just two strings, a saxophone, and a whole lot of swagger. Morphine’s second album trades guitars for baritone sax, carving out a sound that’s as sultry as it is sparse. It’s noir without nostalgia — lean, late-night music with a pulse you can’t quite place.

Even as lineup changes loomed behind the scenes, the band’s chemistry never falters. Tracks like “Buena” and “Sheila” are brooding and bass-heavy, full of hypnotic grooves and Mark Sandman’s cool, world-weary vocals. “In Spite of Me” offers a brief, tender detour — a mandolin-led lullaby in a sea of sleaze and shadow.

There’s a quiet confidence to Cure for Pain, one that doesn’t shout to be heard. It just slips under your skin. If you’ve ever found yourself awake at 2am for no good reason, this album gets it.