Plainsong is and will always be one of the best album opening tracks ever. It sets the tone so perfectly and solidifies what a perfect band The Cure are.
It's not often that you have an opening track so impactful that it immediately grounds the rest of the album. After looking back, I think I agree with you. It carries such an abrupt, overwhelming mood that you don't really shake until Homesick.
I agree the closer sets an amazing tone, but I argue picture of you takes that same tone set on the closer and expands the ideology and emotional depth of it
I am torn because Plainsong is quintessential Cure. It has just about everything the band has come to symbolize but for me personally it will always be Disintegration. Once again it’s the pacing, the lyrics have always been some of my favorites and a good title track is hard to find!