Album Club: 16.08.2011: Nick Cave - Murder Ballads

[John]

Nick has a very creative soul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Cave

[griffo104]

He also did things with PJ which had nothing to do with music, for which I'm very jealous of the man.

[John]

He also did things with PJ which had nothing to do with music, for which I'm very jealous of the man.

[Welder]

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Murder Ballads.
Original CD ripped to file.

I hadn’t heard this before. I have a copy of the The Good Son which I like but don’t seem to play so Nick Cave isn’t completely new to me if somewhat neglected.
I managed to listen back to back twice before I felt the need to listen to something else.

Very pleasantly surprised overall and I think I’ll be playing a bit more Nick in the future.
There aren’t that many songs with a narrative as such, a notable exception imo and relatively recent is Carolina Drama by The Raconteurs which I think is tremendous.


So, firstly, trying to match a narrative, which tend to not have a catchy chorus for singalonability and keep the listener interested, is an art largely forgotten in much modern music.
Next, even though Nick strays away from what one might technically describe as singing at quite a few points in the album, he just about gets a way with the slightly husky shouting. Maybe we have a new genre here; Nicks Bad Seed Rap
I really enjoyed the instrument mix in this album. I’m still trying to work out exactly what they all are.
It is a dark album but not in any way depressing thanks to the humour that permeates the entire album. If this was Leonard Cohen I prolly wouldn’t be around to write this.

Great choice John. Thanks for coming up with something very entertaining and unusual.

[Thing Fish]

I actually quite like Nick Cave. Just not that album. Am I the only one not afraid to say so. Baaaa Baaaa...

That album even made Bryter later sound like a celebration...

[John]

Cheers for the link John I must check out the band a bit more.
I totally agree what keeps the album subject matter from getting to dark is Nick humour throughout the album I am glad ypu enjoyed the album

[keiths]

I wasn't really looking forward to this as I'd tried to get into Nick Cave before and hadn't really enjoyed anything I'd heard of his - either with the Bad Seeds or as Grinderman. However, I'm glad to say I very much enjoyed this relentless flow of murder, violence, rape and buggery.

The album's opener - the somewhat ironically-titled 'Song of Joy' sets the scene for the album as Cave tells the macabre tale of the cold-blooded murder of his wife and three infant children. His dead-pan, half-spoken/half-sung delivery and the varied instrumentation draw you into the song leaving you with the feeling that the narrator isn't quite telling the full truth.

The second track 'Stagger Lee' is one of the highlights of the album for me. A gloriously sweary re-telling of the traditional 'Stack 'O Lee' blues that makes for an uncomfortable yet compelling listen.

A couple of duets, the first with Cave's ex PJ Harvey, the second with Kylie Minogue make a welcome change from Cave's monotone, however the body count continues unabated and it is almost with relief that the final track, a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Death Is Not the End' (the only song on the album where no-one actually dies) brings things to a conclusion.

A fascinating and compelling album that should be on everyone's 'must hear' list.

[WAD62]

There aren’t that many songs with a narrative as such, a notable exception imo and relatively recent is Carolina Drama by The Raconteurs which I think is tremendous.

Superb track John...

Probably the standout one from the album, which is very good too IMHO

[Z-A]

Good choice John, and from my sig it would appear that i think he's cool. I admire him, and a lot of what he's done, a deeply emotional writer and man, accomplished musician, not ever afraid to do something many wouldn't, and do it beautifully.. Cave always for me has something whatever mood i'm in, from pretty accessible albums like this and Nocturama, to Let Love In and Lyre of Orpheus, through to the Grinderman sets, and then onto film scores, the proposition and White Lunar, which is sublime. Bump in to him from time to time too, first time was looking at cheap cd's in Woolworth's in Lewes!

If there was another human i would choose to sit on top of a crumbling cliff with, it may well be Cave..

[Themis]

Excellent album.

4 stars - no hesitation !