The Boatman's Call

Album 36/1001 I enjoyed this way more than i was expecting. Maybe it's being in my 40s now and thinking about death all the time, but I found Nick's preoccupation with all things morbid a lot more relatable this time than I did in my more carefree younger years. 🚣‍♂️ 🗣 Favourite lyrics: PEOPLE AIN'T NO GOOD "It ain't that in their hearts they're bad They can comfort you, some even try They nurse you when you're ill of health They bury you when you go and die It ain't that in their hearts they're bad They'd stick by you if they could But that's just bullshit baby People just ain't no good" Favourite song: People Ain't no Good 👥👎 (Morrissey has got to be jealous that he didn't write this misanthropic anthem) Honourable mention: Into My Arms ➡️🫂 (Are You) the One I've been Waiting For? 👉👰☝️🤵‍♂👈⌚️ Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? 🗺🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️🤷‍♂️🚷🚷 There is a Kingdom 🤴🏰

This is just wonderful

Surprisingly good! His voice is great, but a couple of songs fall completely flat for me. However, the songwriting and imagery he is able to picture in the rest of this album makes it a very solid 4/5, and I even re-listened to a couple of the songs again.

In Plato’s Cave, we emerge from darkness into the light, having spent however long held in the thrall of shadow puppeteers. It’s tempting, in the case of the Boatman’s Call, to suggest that Nick Cave seems to do something similar. In and out of rehab – famously writing modern masterpiece “Into My Arms” while in a facility – the album’s stripped back instrumentation, it might follow, reflects the mien of a Nick Cave gaining clarity after however many inky years. It’s never that straight forward, though. Easy categorisation offends the quiddity of Nick Cave to such a degree that even a contrived, baroque analogy is doomed to failure. And as Warren Ellis proves – time and again, but nowhere more majestically than on the wonderful “Where do we go now but nowhere?” – you can’t follow Nick Cave, everything exists in tension with him. It’d be easy to let this record just wash over me – to fail to rouse from the supine position I’m worked into by “Into my arms” and its waves of gorgeousness. It would have been a tremendous shame to have missed it, though. What‘s here is a mixed bag of jagged pebbles, the sort that’ll skim well but will draw blood if you grab for it at the wrong angle. Somewhere between the devil and god, the bed and the grave, darkness and the light is the The Boatman’s Call. It’s an album of shadows; shadows chased, shadows boxed.

Melodic and easy to listen to.

Nick Cave strikes again. A big revelation from this list indeed. Listened to while walking around the 13e and finding a bag of records in Buttes (all classical, but some find nonetheless). Into My Arms is a classic, People ain't no Good sounded familiar (Shrek 2), (Are you) is great and my favourite of all - Far from Me. On repeat, bass line was fire. I'd say 4.2/5 (84/100)

jako lijepo, dobro, baš dobar glas, moram još slušat :)

This was a good listen. The lead's voice reminds me of the lead from The National.

There are tow types of people in the world - those who get Nick Cave and those who haven’t experienced grief and loss. OK, that’s a little dramatic, but so is Nick Cave’s music.

Haunting and beautiful.

More appropriate moody vibes, as the seasons change. Underrated genius.

tremendo, melancolico

Just a pure heartbreaker through and through. Love, regret, self loathing, hope, redemption, failure, sadness it’s all here in a surprising package.

It's a very bleak and stripped down Cave, and I like it a lot!

Taba relajante de escuchar, mg

Into My Arms is one of their best songs. Such a powerful opener for the album. This album showcases Cave with ballads which is where he's at his best. The style isn't for everyone and it's unique with pros and cons, but I really enjoyed this album. It doesn't feel commercial at all and it truly feels honest.

It’s quite good. He doesn’t do much vocally but he delivered a load ton of emotion. A good album if you need somewhere quiet to dwell on anything.

This is the one about PJ Harvey. Not as dynamic as his earlier records but strong, melancholic songwriting that began his middle period.

Fav: (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For? Least Fav: Black Hair I’ve heard two very different Nick Cave albums now, I’m hoping that his subsequent ones continue this trend cos he seems to do a good job. I just tbh ink I prefer some of his faster stuff such as some of his stuff on Abbatoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus

4/5

Really effing good.

There are some artists and albums that require intentional listening to appreciate. By this, I mean few distractions and a decent audio system (headphone or equivalent high end speakers). This album, like many Nick Cave albums is a great example. The beauty of this album comes from subtle details that cannot be appreciated if listened as background music. There is a place for this sort of production and this is something that Cave excels at. Put the album on a good system, close your eyes and listen intently. Listened in this context, which is the space music critics do, this album is beautiful and far more nuanced than many of the reviews here suggest.

I do love music that heavily features piano. This album is gentle, and his voice is lovely.

Nick Cave is really good, one of the best artists I've started listening to because of this list. Beautiful album

Live a little Nick Cave when life is feeling too good. Always a nice little reset.

Good, at times moving

Hard to deny this is a quality album 4.5*

Into Your Arms is a wonderful song. Rest of album not quite so good and little dark.

One that suffered from being in the wrong environs at the time of my original review - a subsequent revisit, after almost exactly 3 months to the letter, has unlocked its majesty to me. A specific headspace is needed to appreciate this to its fullest extent, but what a stunner of a record. Less of the typical Cave-drawling on this one and a greater emphasis on tender beauty.

Очень нежный и романтичный альбом. Мне нравится разный Ник Кейв, но трогательные вещи давались и до сих пор даются ему лучше всего. Лучшая песня - Into My Arms.

Very nice, its calm good study listen I really like the depth of his voice

Este es mi disco favorito de Nick Cave, el primero en alejarse del sonido clásico del post punk, acercándose al folk y a la canción de autor. Intimista, minimalista y, sobre todo, muy bello, las canciones de este disco me llegan al alma cada vez que las escucho. 4'5/5

Very good album, but he plays in Israel so only 4 stars

O happy day! I like both Nicks, but Cave > Drake, and this is probably his best-known album (at least by me). The cover brings me intense nostalgia, and I support the font decisions. Nick Cave is part of a Wainwright - Cohen natural class and I am glad to see him represented here. Highlights: 'Into My Arms' (Not overplayed imo -- properly played), 'People Ain't No Good', 'There is a Kingdom' (feeling somewhat "Girl who has only heard 'Within You Without You'" about this) Almost highlight: '(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For' (I want to like this song, but it is too distractingly Hootie-and-the-Blowfishy) Lowlights: 'Black Hair' (not much going on here; it's giving poetry reading), 'Green Eyes' (far too much going on here; put 'em together, it's the harry potter special (which I disavow))

Bueno, no es difícil. Cohen o Nick, obviamente Nick y de lejos..

7/10

He's a miserable bugger sometimes but Nick Cave does have a beautiful way of finding joy within the melancholia

This is Nick Cave’s chamber pop singer-songwriter album. It’s definitely a more intimate record, with the focus mostly on his voice, backed by piano and acoustic guitar. It’s often seen as his heartbreak album, written in the wake of his breakups with PJ Harvey and his ex-wife Viviane Carneiro. I actually think this would be a good place for someone new to Nick Cave to start. It’s a little more accessible than some of his other work, but he still stays true to his style.

I think the whole "postmodern cynic-crooner" schtick is one that may be a bit played out in the year 2025, or perhaps not played out but often done tediously, but Nick Cave has to be given a pass. Not only does he pull this off better than most, but I think he is one of the progenitors of the style. A thread can be drawn much further back, sure, but Nick Cave is one of the earliest, strongest, best examples I can think of and I think everyone who's done it since, whether they've done it well or poorly, owes him a small debt. On this album he oscillates between beautiful and sincere and caustic and misanthropic, occasionally even within the same song ("Far From Me"). The highlight of the album for me is the opening track, "Into My Arms", which is one of the more sincere songs on the album. There are bright points throughout the album at several points along the spectrum, though--some other favorites for me are "Lime Tree Arbour", "There is a Kingdom", "Are You the One I've Been Waiting For?", "Idiot Prayer" and "I Do, Dear, I Do". Musically, the sparse and somber piano accompaniment is an excellent foil to Cave's rich baritone and the lyrical themes throughout the album. My only complaint about this album is that it comes to feel a bit one-note, both musically and lyrically. But when it's good it's some of Nick Cave's best work imo. 8.5/10

Kind of mellow, but some real nice lyrics and melodies

Nick is zowaar in een romantische bui. Er zitten daadwerkelijk oprechte liefdesliedjes tussen, wie had dat van de ouwe brombeer verwacht? Into my arms, dat is toch een prachtige hymne, maar dan afkomstig van een atheïst. Helaas moet hij verderop dan weer wat rare grofheden kwijt, wat zorgt voor een stijlbreuk op een album dat zo mooi lyrisch begon; en het zorgt voor een puntje aftrek, helaas.

Wow, is this album nearly 30 years old? I have always loved Nick Cave as an artist and I love that he does not repeat himself. I'll give it a very fat 4 just because there are Cave albums I like even better... for me the sweet spot was his Good Son/ Henry's Dream era. This, for me, struck the right balance between his earlier work (which could be a bit "much" for me) and his later work which is softer, sometimes borderline cheese (non-pasteurised artisanal quality cheese though). This album is consistent with some smashing songs and no bad songs. Consistent lyrically and musically. The fattest 4 I've given.

I feel like a hypocrite rating this so high. The album was objectively monotonous, but every time the music pushed me out the lyrics pulled me back in. Also definitely got shades of The National

Great album, but not quite as great as DLD or AB/LO. Thankfully I've been in a stable relationship for over a decade, but I feel like this would be a perfect break up album for someone else.

Yeah, i liked this one.

I prefer unhinged maximalist nick cave but sad piano nick cave is still pretty great

Intimate and melancholic

I am feeling generous and liked the piano with his voice. I am going with a 4.

I still feel bad for every album since the first one I had in which I gave it a one star. The piano was very good and carried the album

This was really solid. It probably deserves a five but I really didn’t like the last track and it’s a bit on the longer side (we’ve had a lot of long ones so I’m kinda pissed about that). Cave’s voice is great for this kinda album. He always has pretty deep and introspective lyrics and this doesn’t disappoint. Very solid and very well done. Again, this should probably be getting a five but I personally didn’t enjoy it enough for it to get there.

Beautiful in a bittersweet, sad and haunting way. The sparse arrangements work well with the sonorous vocals.

Nice record. Didn’t grab me right off the bad, but turned out pretty good.

Nick Cave is one of the best songwriters we have ever had and this album is the perfect reflection of that. Every single track on this album is written like a piece of poetry, which makes it one of the best break-up albums of all time. I have no prior experience with Nick Caves music but a quick look at his discography before this album was released he was deep in the post-punk genre, which instantly makes this album stand out. This guy sounds as if he was meant to perform this style of music with the slow-paced piano based songs to express his sorrow and grieve the death of his relationship. Now I have never been able to appreciate poetry as a literary form no matter how hard I try, but when it is presented in the form of music, it's like something clicks. Every single song on this album could have easily been released as a poem on pen and paper, but it just sounds so much more devastating when we hear the words come directly from his mouth. We aren't going to talk about the instrumental for this one just because I don't think it matters at all. I am firm believer that artists can either focus on either the lyrics/vocals OR the instrumental and treating them equally almost never works, and this album just supports that point. If we stripped all the music from the background, the lyrics would be just as impactful, and most likely even more devastating. I think the piano ballads were the right move for this album and it just wouldn't have made sense for them to use any other style. Anyway, thank you to PJ Harvey for breaking up with Nick Cave because we wouldn't have had this masterpiece otherwise.

I first listened to a Nick Cave album about a year ago as I'd heard a lot of good things. I guess I was expected something different from what it was the first time around--like he has a more punkish or hard rock kind of name, and it came off very slow and weepy. Kind of like if you took all the slowest stuff from Tom Waits and mixed it with some Leonard Cohen. It sounds like drinking alone at a hotel bar kind of music. Anyway, now that I know what to expect, it's not unpleasant at all. Definitely a big Leonard Cohen vibe. There are quite a few good songs on the album, and it listens pretty well all the way through. I can't pick out individual tracks as they are not numbered/named on the Youtube full album version I listened to. The best bit is just after halfway through. I might go back to this. 4/5.

About time one of Nick Cave's albums finally popped up. It's good all around, but falls shy of being a favorite for me. I prefer the more sonically diverse albums he's made with The Bad Seeds.

Amateurish and pretentious is a bad combination, but shows hints of the inventiveness and gravitas to come

Mi album favorito de Nick.

p809. 1997. 4 stars. Nick Cave moping. Some great songs on this, but there is a lot of filler as well.

Incredible.

Nice melancholic start to this album and my night. I could tell by his voice this would be a very somber, but chill album and I really love the vibes. This is great to listen to late at night. This has been a very great listening experience after getting not very memorable albums. Don't care much for the religious tones, but it doesn't take away from the songs. This is definitely a true 4. The last song is weird with the two voices. My favorite song is into my arms.

*Es ist ein eindringliches Album voller Melancholie und emotionaler Tiefe. Mit seiner sparsamen Instrumentierung und den introspektiven Texten zeigt es Cave von seiner verletzlichsten Seite. Besonders Stücke wie *Into My Arms* und *People Ain’t No Good* stechen durch ihre lyrische Intensität und schlichte Schönheit hervor. Gerne mal wieder.

Ashamed to say I had never heard this album before. Beautiful arrangements and meditations, experiences of the sacred in all its forms, earthly ones especially. Gotgeous and raw

A stark, often beautiful, sometimes plodding acoustic album from the man, the myth, the legend. First three tracks are stellar and some of the best songwriting in Cave's discography. It does drag somewhat in the middle for me, but ends strong with "Far From Me" and channeling Tom Waits on "Green Eyes." Overall, I do prefer nick cave when he's freaking the fuck out, but there are some gems here.

Nick Cave is een grower. Niet alleen zijn nummers of zijn platen maar de hij als artiest. Op een gegeven moment luister je een paar jaar muziek en stuit je op Nick Cave. Vind je jezelf een beetje respectabele snob, dan moet je het eigenlijk wel tof vinden. Blijkt dan toch lastig. Dan verschijnen en nieuwe platen en probeer je het toch telkens maar weer. En nee, toch niet echt raak. Dan is het de titeltrack van een vette serie. Hmm, toch wel vet die stem. Maar dat oeuvre, taaie kluif. En dan toch ineens, hier en daar een track die in de smaak valt. Op een gegeven moment is Nick Cave's oeuvre een aantal jaar onderdeel van je afspeellijsten en is Into My Arms uitgegroeid tot één van de meest prachtige nummers ooit gemaakt. Nummers van Nick Cave zet ik weleens voor een tweede of derde keer aan, op repeat. Ik doe dat eigenlijk nooit, met geen enkel andere artiest of genre. Omdat het dan bijna klikt, omdat je het even voelt en realiseert. Ik vind dat echt zo vet bij Nick Cave. Dus ja, het is 100% afhankelijk wanneer je dit luistert. Wanneer op de dag, in het jaar. Maar ook wanneer in je eigen muziekleven. The Boatman's Call raakte mij wel deze luisterbeurt en deed me weer realiseren wat een unieke artiest Cave is. 8/10 Highlights Into My Arms (waarom is dit je openingsnummer??) People Ain't no Good Green Eyes

Sometimes a bit cringe but otherwise great

Feel like Nick Cave has a lot of albums on this list. This is probably my favorite or his, entirely piano based and somber. Really enjoyed it.

Sad Nick Cave is the best Nick Cave

Nick Cave does Leonard Cohen, and he does it well. The Boatman’s Call is so much more stripped down than I expected. I imagine it was shocking to his fans in 1997. Failing relationships and god. 8.2/10

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 📸⬛🔲 Production (2011 Remaster): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎹🌧️📜 Rating: 🚢🛳️⛴️🛥️/5

I came to truly appreciate Nick Cave after watching a film about his life a couple of years back—unique, poetic, full of heart, avant-garde, and all the other best qualities.

This album always felt like the end of a chapter for Nick Cave. He stopped everything away and what you get , front and center - is the words and the voice. Depending on how much you like those two elements will dictate you appreciation of this project. This was my go to NC listen for years because you could put it on a let it roll. Prior albums - while great - had more turbulent moments. Not my favorite but - like visiting an old friend - lovely to spend some time with after too long apart.

Приятная грустная музыка. Для вечернего прослушивания очень хорошо пошло. Под конец только немного поднадоели стенания Кейва. 7 из 10.

Lovely album. I forgot about Into My Arms. My favourite was West Country Girl. The spoken word on Green Eyes was a bummer though.

Not usually what I expect from Nick Cave, but it's still really good.

Nick Cave is a great singer,with a unique voice.

Great, mellow classic type stuff.

Interesting. Nick Cave's stuff is sometimes on the edge of unlistenable for me. This was not that. This is lovely but also bleak, which makes for a great juxtaposition, but you definitely need to be in the right head space for it.

Det er lidt sjovt hvor meget den her plejer at blive fremhævet i den her slags lister for det er virkelig ikke en særlig repræsentativ Nick Cave plade. Men den er stadig pissegod, bandet lyder virkelig godt.

not as strong as Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus but still a stunning album.

Moody dreamy kinda goth vibes. He’s a sad boy. I liked it (shocker).

It was pretty good

4/5 A really beautiful album.

custom_rating:8

4/5

I usually do not like this shtyle of music, but dear lord if Nick doesn't drag you down into his world like nobody else. great stuff

Every song on this album is exactly the same, but without a doubt it's a great song.

Really nice piano music.

🤘

“There is a Kingdom” is basically Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.” Otherwise it’s a great album but for me Nick Cave just doesn’t get into excellent territory for me. But not everything has to be an absolutely perfect fit.

mun betra en mig minnti. fékk (tímabundið?) óþol fyrir mick um það leyti sem þessi plata kom út og er almennt frekar illa að mér um seinni verk hans.

I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the first time I've listened to a full Nick Cave album. I'd probably only heard a handful of songs before, despite knowing that this is a top-5 artist for many people. Well, better late than never. This album was pretty darn good. Love the vocals. Love the piano. Dipped in on the lyrics a few times and found them to be pretty good. Reminds me a good bit of The National. That said, this doesn't *quite* get to a 5 for me on the whole as it all started to blend together by the end of the album; I needed a little more variety from song to song. Good stuff, though, particularly the opening track. 4.4

Dejligt Nick cave album! Elsker nr 1

4.5

Guess 3-4

Sehr entspanntes und melancholisches Album - jetzt schon zum zweiten Mal gehört, wird vermutlich auch in meinem Musik Kanon bleiben

You know, one of the big issues with an artist or band having a ton of albums on this list is that you might worry about the albums feeling a bit samey and, therefore, redundant as inclusions on this list. I mean, what's the point in including 6 albums from Elvis Costello if each of those 6 albums doesn't bring something special to the album? Fortunately, from the two albums I've heard so far, I don't think I have to worry about this for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. The Boatman's Call is a very different album from my first Nick Cave album, Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus. That album was a very unique double album with many differing styles throughout and quite a bit of energy, especially in the first half. The Boatman's Call, on the other hand, is a much slower album with a heavy emphasis on piano. That's neat! The vibes here are great. The piano and Nick Cave's voice are the main focus, but there's just enough instrumentation outside of that to create an atmosphere that I really like. Speaking of Nick Cave himself, his vocals are pretty good here. I like them. But an album like this doesn't really work if the songwriting doesn't capture the emotions that the music demands. Fortunately, Nick Cave is a pretty good songwriter. There are some common themes here like romance and emotions as a whole, but the songs do a good job at feeling unique as far as the writing is concerned. Overall, while I think I personally like Abattoir Blues a bit more (although The Boatman's Call does have an advantage in not being 82 minutes long), The Boatman's Call is a very respectable project that I think is pretty good. High 4/5.

I love Nick Cave, but full on piano ballad Nick is not my preferred style. I lost the post-punky stuff a lot more. It's still nice though.

Didn't find the time to listen to all lyrics, but I give it 4 stars just for the first song

Not in love with this as much as the other Nick Cave albums I’ve listened to for this project but still solid. 4/5

From what I've heard of Nick Cave, he seems to be at his best when he's experienced devastating life events and he's certainly had no shortage of them. I can't imagine having to bury two of your children, let alone one. "The Boatman's Call" is a heartbreak album though, following the end of his relationship with PJ Harvey. It's bleak, completely stripped down to the core, and also beautiful. "Into My Arms" is such a strong opener that it's difficult to get past it. But the entire album is somber and perfect for when you just need to feel sad and apart from the world, as any good break-up album should be.

I still maintain that there’s too much Nick Cave on this list. Not *every* album needs to be on here. But I did enjoy this one much more than last time.

Maybe it's all the terrible albums I've heard so far on this, but this was actually stunning. Mature, well written, well composed songs. It's not 5 stars because the production is a liiiiitle too simple and the vocals aren't quiiiiite interesting enough but I was very surprised overall.

A very good, consistent set that focuses entirely on Cave’s restrained, elegiac side. With this release and his more recent albums providing a contrast to the unholy rackets of his earlier work, he's crafted a pretty huge spectrum of light and shade across his catalogue (hell, even within these songs he’s two parts sincere, one part sardonic).

Cool and quiet

Piano album. Beautiful opener. Somber mood, but lovely. Melancholy. Immaculate vibes to lie around and stare into distance.

Probably my least favorite of the three Cave albums I've heard so far, but still pretty damn good. "Into My Arms" is undeniable. A light 4 stars for now. 4/5

The first 3 songs alone had me ready to give this album a 5. Finally, a moody male vocalist with a smooth, listenable voice! *cough* Leonard Cohen *cough* I will admit, he lost me a bit between the slightly pervy Black Hair and Green Eyes. What even is a “twinkling cunt”? Ehh, I guess I’ll excuse it since he’s Australian.

Really really good Beautiful and moody. First track is a classic Last track is a miss but everything else is great

I don't think that it's Nick's best work but I definitely still incredible.

Like a darker Lou Reed on the piano. Cave’s lyrics are poetic, complex, and almost always melancholy. A couple more songs like “west country girl” to break up the dour piano ballads would’ve been welcome but overall I can certainly see why this is album is so acclaimed

3.5. Into my arms is one of my favorite songs of all time (used it for my 1st dance wedding song too) and there are a handful of other standouts. This album can be a bit of a slog in parts though. I think caves writing in this is still accessible, some of the latest stuff is extremely cryptic. If you haven't signed up to The red hand files an online newsletter, please do so,

i rarely ‘like’ (on spotify) nick cave songs. but i always really enjoy the albums as a whole. this one was an unexpectedly good running album - it has a slow but heavy intensity that really makes you get going. always surprised that he shows up in this list so much but it’s always a good listen

It's nice; I've been a bit generous with the fours lately and wasn't sure if this quite gets there. Once again, I wonder - if only there were any other more interesting albums released this year. Even if we were to delve into an obscure country like, I don't know, Iceland! However...the first half does grab me, and if we removed a couple of tracks it would be a great length. Overall a solid album. 7/10

Love nick cave. There were some interesting choices musically that I’m not sure panned out too well but it’s a nice quiet album. I’d give it a 4.

Got to the Nick Cave game late. Discovered him with Peaky Blinders theme song. First listen to this album. Listened 3 more times… Sounded like some subtle use of the accordion which was cool. Only a few bands that can pull that off-Cowboy Junkies and Spirit of the West.

i love you and your black hair nick cave

holy fuck yes yes yes ye sy eys yes yes yes yes i love knock off leonard cohen yes yes yse yse yse yse ye s yes yes yse

I liked the whole thing. I’ve always liked Nick Cave’s vibe, but never dug too deep. This is more soulful than I’d have imagined.

Nick Cave has a gift for finding new and uncomfortable emotions to convey through honest and beautiful songs. 9/10 Breathtakingly honest songwriting.

A nice listen whilst I worked. His voice is very calming

If Tom Waits were less hatefully intoxicated and more Christmassy you'd have this album...which is a pretty good thing. It's not really for me but I feel like it occupies an important place. The man has talent.

Love this album.

52 minutes passed by faster than I’d thought. Many good songs, Into My Arms and Are You The One… being the pick of the bunch.

Geweldig album met mijn favoriet op (People Ain't No Good - shout out naar Shrek) en Into My Arms, wat natuurlijk een tijdloze klassieker is. Voor de rest nog degelijke nummers, maar geen nummers die er nog uit springen. Daarom een 3.7.

Mentally ill white guys LOVE to made an album like this

3.5/5 Cave's poetic writing and wistful singing create an intriguing listen, but ultimately the quality is lacking on many of these tracks. It's good, but a bit boring. The peaks are truly exceptional though, and we mustn't forget the colour of her hair was black. Into My Arms 5/5 Lime Tree Arbour 3.5/5 People Ain't No Good 3/5 Brompton Oratory 3.5/5 There Is a Kingdom 3/5 (Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For? 3/5 Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? 3/5 West Country Girl 4/5 Black Hair 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Idiot Prayer 5/5 Far from Me 5/5 (FAV) Green Eyes 2.5/5

Definitely liking this more than the other Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds that I've had so far. Feels more consistent. I have a thing for wandering lyrics so this works for me. His voice doesn't blow me away but it does the job. Simple arrangements work well for the sad vibe. Overall would listen to again while sad.

My only dealings with Nick Cave’s music is his collaboration with Kylie. Haha. But I know someone who admires him and his music so when this came up as my review I was intrigued and a bit excited. And you know what I enjoyed it. I imagined that he was hired by a classy wine bar in a city to sit at a piano and sing while people were enjoying themselves and his goal was to suck their happiness out of them so he could feel a little better about himself. He was the in bar entertainment and I liked it.

Never liked him but I liked this. Shades of Leonard Cohen but pretty sometimes too.

A lovely stripped down immersive piece

4-

What I know about Nick Cave has been based mainly on his look - I assumed he was some goth who wrote angsty, punky songs about being misunderstood. Instead this was a pretty album that had a bit of whimsy to go along with touch of melancholy.

Classic - not as good as murder ballads but one of the big man’s finest :)

I found this particular record a bit more compelling than the other Nick Cave record (s?) that I've had in the 1001. Kind of a dark Johnny Cash vibe. This record had a bit more variety in the sound and lyrics, so I liked it more than the other one (s?) that I've had.

Relationship songs and middle-age religious angst for grownups, and. I’m all for it. I’ve never listened to any Nick Cave before but his influence is all over a bunch of indie bands I love, so it was only a matter of time before I had to get here. Beautiful piano chords, and I like his voice. The album’s swampy, moody, yet austere vibe sucked me in pretty early on. I hear a little of the moody musicality of Tom Waits, combined with songwriting chops that reminded me of Leonard Cohen but with more lyrical spit & vinegar. A great first listen.

Deep lovely stuff that doesn’t murder anybody this time. Nice!

Beautiful Nick Cave album still like the fuller sound of the Good Son,.

Dark, bleak, bare, challenging, and yet at the same time beautiful and rewarding. The simplicity of the arrangements, coupled with the raw honesty of the lyrics addressing the loss of faith and love, had me engaged throughout. Truly wonderful. On first listen a solid 4 stars, but I know that on further listens it'll be a 5, as any album that opens with Into My Arms deserves to be.

Unusually I prefer nick caves later stuff. Into my arms is lovely and was a deserved single. The piano is somber , quiet and doesn’t have the heroin haze or pretension of his really early stuff. Should it be here? I’m not sure. But it’s a solid 3.5 rounded up.

Brooding and quite minimalistic; this album is full of very pretty songs like Into my arms and Idiot prayer, will definitely re listen.

Not usually a fan, but this rocks

Nick Cave parece fazer parte de um grupo de músicos de uma latura muito especifica, lembra-me muito de um ponto estilístico o Tom Waits. Este é um álbum que é uma uma viagem, acho muito interessante, mesmo que não seja assim tão criativo. Acho que o arranjo musical e a instrumentação do álbum foram bem conseguidos. Não tenho muito para dizer sobre este álbum para além de ser um bom álbum. No futuro acho que faria sentido voltar a ouvir este álbum. Destaco a música West Country Girl. Nota: 7/10 Data: 09/06/2024

Always been aware of Nick Cave and sort of considered him a Leonard Cohen-lite. Probably a bit unfairly, but this album has done little to deter me from it. That said, there is some stellar songwriting here, he does a superb job of stripping back the production to make the lyrics the focal point. Would have liked the odd change of pace but in the right mood, it's an excellent record.

Dette er et mesterverk i enkel arrangering. Det er ikke et løp eller vanskelig parti i løpet av hele albumet, men allikevel så sitter alle låtene som et skudd. Definitivt verdt å høre på, og mange sanger som også gjerne kan leses som dikt.

Singer songwriter, Mag ich gerne hören Sehr beruhigend.

I'm indebted to Shrek for introducing me to Mr. Cave, a really deep-cutter. Listener: explore his other works, as they are diverse and deep.

Plaintive, poetic, poignant (not trying to stay with the 'p' words deliberately). Sombre (there, no p). Biblical emotions but personal (sorry back to a p). Sometimes I fear he'll just slow down so much he falls off the stage. But he starts again after I help him back up.

No-one does it quite like this. Stripped back, bare, haunting. Into My Arms is just beautiful.

I'll admit, when I first saw we had another Nick Cave album, I was not enthusiastic. I've really liked the records of his so far, but it felt too soon on the heels of Ghosteen. But damned if I wasn't reeled in and forgetting all about that as the record played. It didn't have the immediate vacuum suck pulling me in from the opening notes, and the first lyrics made me wonder if this might be where the limerence fades and I come to Earth. I know, that's all a bit dramatic, and this was great. Lean production, let the songs to the work, I'm more and more impressed by Cave's versatility. Adler listened along with me and he dug it too. Said he heard a bit of a Johnny Cash vibe in Cave's delivery.

no ome does melancholy like nick cave

My dad is a huge Nick Cave fan, so he was a fixture of my childhood (he took me to see Nick Cave when I was like 5). All that is to say I always have a soft spot for him. This isn't my favorite of his albums, but I still very much enjoyed it. This one just barely crosses over from 3 to 4 stars, but I'll definitely keep listening to it. Album Cover: B

Mood: a little down Setting: puttering around in the morning after waking up Sometimes an album meets you right where you're at for any given moment. I don't think I will ever listen to this album all the way through again. That said, it was perfect for this morning. I am giving it a 4 but it was very close to a 5.

This album is solid off of into my arms alone!

So much Nick Cave on this list.

I think I like this but it definitely feels like music for a particular mood. Just not sure what that mood is

i liked it. it reminded me of pj harvey and also shrek.

What did PJ Harvey do to Nick Cave?

Very good!

Lite one-noted men mycket extremt bra låtar med en väldigt unik emotionell ton.

Not usually a fan of Nick Cave, but I really enjoyed this album. Very Leonard Cohen-esque.

A bit melodramatic and tacky at times, but cool soft tunes and melodies. The Lyre Of Orpheus is still better though.

Good music.

Very somber. Still have a hard time processing Nick Cave’s voice.

I love Nick’s type of voice - it’s the type of voice I want to hear and tends to ground me for some reason. I think I like that it is approachable and gritty and how it fits with the songwriting. I am a fan of Leonard Cohen and his way of singing and genre feels similar which is why I’ve enjoyed Nick Cave in the past. And yes I do really like Into Ny Arms.

Into my arms People ain’t no good Brompton Oratory (Are You) the one that i've been waiting for? Idiot Prayer Far From Me

Easily the best of the too-many (by a factor of 2) records in this esteemed list. This works because musically it doesn't try to do too much and it's lyrically raw, obviously. It's lovely and haunting and played with understatement, if slightly one-note in tone. In general, one finds NC to be significantly overrated, but this provides at least some justification.

One of the NCATBS albums I would point as somewhere sensible to start. Full of Nick in Love vibes and with the Bad Seeds in a classic lounge band mode. Some of his loveliest tunes (Into My Arms and Are You The One particularly) and less gnarly guitar from Blixa and 8 minute old testament workouts. Not my favourite though, a solid 4.

Love his stuff and this is a stand out album in a great discography

One of my favourite songwriters. Beautiful album with lots of dark twists and pretty turns. Great voice and a very good band to lift the songs to a higher place. Standout tracks: Into My Arms, Lime Tree Arbour, People Ain't No Good, Brompton Oratory, There Is A Kingdom, (Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For?, Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?, Idiot Prayer, Far From Me. 8,5 out of 10

1997 Standouts: Into My Arms, People Ain't No Good, The One I've Been Waiting For, Exceptional: 4/5

i dig it.

As much as I adore Nick and even though there are a few good songs on this, I just can't give it full marks. Few too many dull moments for me personally.

I’m finding myself to really be enjoying Nick Cave.

Thank you Polly Jean - we all know Cave is at his best when he is grieving and his raw emotions are on display It's an album I surprisingly very rarely revisit in Caves Arsenal but most certainly one of his most influential records to date 4.5 / 5

He’s a harrowing bloke Nick Cave but boy can he make some fantastic music. In love, in love, in love you laugh. In love you move, I move And one more time with feeling 4/5

Surprised me how much I enjoyed it, great songwriting. Moody bloke but it’s all part of the mystique

This was my gateway album into The Bad Seeds, alongside Lyre of Orpheus/Abbatoir Blues, and while I now prefer their rougher and more violent early work than this more polished effort, it’s still a great work of songwriting. “Into My Arms” is truly one of the most remarkable songs of the last 30 years

Such a unique album with the deep soft voice gives it a spooky sort of tone. The piano, bass, and quiet drums all in the background throughout are a great compliment. The strings that come in every so often are another very nice touch. Green Eyes was a bit weird to end it I must say, maybe could have done without that song. But other than that it was a great album. I didn't mind this at all being almost an hour long, it seemed like it flew by.

Best Song: People Ain't No Good. I really like when a writer articulates themselves not just through complexity (metaphors, symbolism, etc.) but also throws in simple, unassailably "plain" bits. "People, they ain't no good" conveys at least as much in its simplicity as the verses do in their complexity. Worst Song: Green Eyes. This is a weird one, because although I liked the lyrics and the sung and spoken versions of the songs independently, the overlaying of the sung and spoken vocals totally detracted from the track for me. It was a jarring device to use only once, snuck in at the very end of the album. Overall: Great songwriting with heady and brooding lyrics. Pleasantly melancholy. Definitely an album to come back to.

Really liked the feelings and the groove of this album, specially the voice.

Really solid album. Enjoyed the lyrics and musicality.

I have fond memories of Into My Arms from my teenage years but I never heard it as part of its full collection until yesterday. A wonderful, beautifully melancholic journey.

Very bleak, yet somehow beautiful album by Nick Cave. I prefer Murder Balldas, it's predecessor, but this is also a very solid effort. 3.5/5

Super cool, did not know Nick Cave existed. Will look into further.

Listening tonight.

You know, I've somehow never thought of The Police as new wave, but they really are aren't they? It makes me see them in a bit of a new light. I really ought to listen to them more, I never remember how much I enjoy them until I do. This album is quite fun and has some of their great songs.

Into my arms 5. Floored me. Don't know why, I've heard it before somewhere, no idea where. Worried that the throat chat on Black Hair was going to turn all murdery like the last Nick Cave I got. This is my 4th I think?? Anyway, I liked it.

Not one of Nick’s greatest conceptual releases, but there’s a consistent introspection that connects all the songs. However, it doesn’t dig nearly as deep as many of his hardest-hitting stuff

I love how stripped bare this music is - raw and emotive, and a bit bleak (whats not to love about a little bit of bleakness?). While I do enjoy Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, I've probably been more of a sprinkling of hits than full album fan, so its good to hear this all in one sitting. One of my all time favourite songs is on Murder Ballads (great album!), and of course I have a soft spot for some homegrown Aussie music, plus his voice is very sexy (even if sometimes more spoken word and a little out of tune, no complaints from me!) I didn't love every track, but there's enough here to make it a solid 4 from me. Fave Track: Lime tree arbour / Into my arms (tie)

Pretty good. Nothing spectacular.

Klassiker... into my arms första versen är så otroligt bra... älskar också are you the one that i've been waiting for. Vissa låtar är inte lika bra som resten, jag ogillar kinda People Aint No Good... men i regel är det originellt, känslosamt, intelligent och smakfullt. Blir bättre varje gång man lyssnar.

8.5/10

Better than Ghosteen. Maybe not quite a 4 but very good. 75/100.

Classic Nick Cave - Slow and melancholic as always. A joy to listen to in front of the fireplace on a dark autumn night!

Quite enjoyable. Love the piano bits and Nick's voice is great. Couple pretty low points on the album but overall an enjoyable listen and something I may even revisit! Definitely can see me playing a few Nick Cave tracks here and there from now on. Thanks Generator!

This is great. Why didn't you tell me about this before today?

Sobre but nice

Good Somber piano tones but not my favorite vocals

Morose, literary, moving, occasionally indulgent, a little ironic generally a very nice album with some very high high-points. Into my arms is perhaps one of the simplest, cleverest little love songs ever written. The album could have been tighter though, more cohesive or captured that essential something that makes an album five stars.

Album 179 of 1001 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Into My Arms Really enjoyed this. Nick Cave is one I'm going to have to go back and check out further. The first album of his I heard was "murder ballads", which was hit or miss. This is more of a straightforward album that shows off his songwriting and delivery. A very chill album. Great storytelling. He is categorized under "Rock" but that is just not right.

Unas baladas de Nick Cave. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Moody and beautiful. Minimalist arrangements are more than ample, even Nick Caves vocal (which doesn't always land for me) is featured brilliantly, particularly on the romantic "far from me". I wish I found this sooner.

What a voice

dark and brooding. intense. piano, drums, bass, and that voice. depressing lounge music, but in a good way. great album. highlights: “lime tree arbour”, “west country girl”, “idiot prayer”, “green eyes”.

This album will always be funereal for me

Sombre and beautiful. Early music memory

I love Nick Cave but I have to admit that this is not his strongest. I love Into My Arms and some others but it doesn't achieve the greatness of Murder Ballads or Let Love In

Lovely stuff. Into My Arms is great. There are so many wonderfully melancholy and depressing songs on the album. It seems to take its time with everything, never rushed, which adds to the mournful sound. His voice sounds great too, really smooth and soaring. I didn't like Green Eyes, and there were one or two other boring misfires, so not a 5, but a solid 4.

This was more like the nick cave I was expecting...I like somber and depressing music, but I must admit that this was approaching a bit too much for me by the end! Very atmospheric Into my arms is a really fantastic track and the best one on this album imo.... Im still unsure why I really like songs with religious themes, while being completely atheistic..... (Are you) the one that I've been waiting for and Where do we go but nowhere were good too. Really did not like green eyes and left a sour taste I actually thought I'd enjoy this more than I did, still good though. I will be back when my mood takes me! 3.5

A wonderfully woeful album to get lost in when you’re lost in your feelings.

This is how you do moody, kids. "Into My Arms" is eventually going to be as ubiquitous and covered as Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". It's inspirational, sad and yet hopeful, and simply gorgeous. There are so many Nick Cave albums on this list, I figured that eventually one of them would have to win me over. Good for you, Nick Cave.

Niet mijn ding, maar begrijp dat dit goed gevonden wordt.

Surprised by how fun this was

Well, this will probably be another spoiler for the group, but I didn't love this one. It does get a bump for being quite different than what I expected when I saw it was Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, though.

instrumentally quiet and airy, the secret sauce of Nick Cave & The Bad Seed’s The Boatman’s Call exist in its dense lyricism, equal parts somber and romantic, as though there were some newfound symbiotic relationship Cave were excavating between the carnal and sacred. of course there isn’t — these are parallels that artists in all forms have drawn since the dawn of any sort of critical thought, but Cave writes about it with such profundity that it seems entirely novel. in a style beholden to people like Leonard Cohen, who spin paradoxically intimate and extravagant tales of soul-baring conviction (or the lack thereof), Cave queries his faith in God and in people, and finds solace in the strength of his unwavering love (which is in turn threatened by his doubts in life and humanity). when he opens the record by questioning the existence of God, while in the same breath beseeching God’s help in leading the object of his attraction to him on “Into My Arms”, you can see that symbiotic relationship warring with infinite casualties. “Into My Arms” is a hell of a way to start a record though — a bulbous monolith of a song that taps into a higher realm of romance altogether; whose composition — equal parts sparse and heavy in the way jazz-adjacent songs are wont to be — give Cave’s lyrics so much texture you are swallowed whole into its universe. it’s a very very VERY high bar to set, which is why it’s all the more frustrating that none of the subsequent eleven tracks (comprising of 45 minutes of the record) clear that bar. some come close to be fair — “People Ain’t No Good”, “Far From Me”, “Black Hair”, and even the closer “Green Eyes” have touches of greatness that allow them stand alongside “Into My Arms” like planets to a sun. but with the high achieved so early in the record, the rest of it sort of drolls on, paling in comparison to that initial brilliance.

"The Boatman's Call" is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. The album is entirely piano based, somber and romantic, and a departure from their previous post-punk style. The lyrical themes are Nick Caves' personal relationships specifically with Viviane Carneiro, mother of Cave"s oldest son, and PJ Harvey, and yearning. Yep, he doesn't stray from those two subjects. The album received universal acclaim. I agree; this is quite an album. The heartbreaking mood is established in the opener and piano only "Into My Arms." A Love ballad probably about the two aforementioned women. He doesn't belive in the existence of angles or God's intervention but he believes in love. Drums and a volin are added to the piano in "People Ain't No Good." An incredible emotional vocal delivery by Cave. There's a spirituality that I hadn't heard up until "There is a Kingdom." A great chorus. I actually got chills listening to this. Cave delivers a much, gentler softer voice in the second single "(Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For." This one is about Vivian Cerneiro. "West Country Girl" is more in the traditional folk area with a prominent violin. It goes to a darker edge and back. No doubt about PJ here. A crooked smile and a heart-shaped face. An edginess to Cave's voice. The album ends with "Green Eyes," another one on PJ. Caves most unique song on the album with layered and repeating ocals, talking and singing. "Kiss me, Re-Kiss me, Kiss me Again." The mood is somber and melancholy and the stories are with not nice endings yet the feeling is one of spiritual hope. The music is perfect with Cave's deep voice and lyrical content. The album is beautiful sounding and emotional. Relgious imagery. This album reminds me a lot of 2019's "Ghosteen" with the heaviness and that's a good thing. High praises all around and another must listen from this week's randomizer.

It was pretty good I think. Nice melodies and writing. Lots of deeper themes about God and religion. Nice overall

This is a good album but I'm a bigger fan of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds earlier, more post punk albums. I was sleepy this morning while listening to this one and it nearly put me to sleep. The songs are really pretty and I don't necessarily dislike any of them, it's just not my preferred style for their music. Still a lot of really strong songwriting on this album and I appreciate what they're doing. Standout Tracks: Into My Arms, There Is a Kingdom, (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?, Idiot Prayer

Beautiful voice. I've never really listened to Nick Cave before but I feel that this is going to change right now.

nicholaus... luola.. heh... tämä on yksi artismo joka ei vituta että olen löytänyt tuotanoin tästä projektin myötä. ruma kuin käki mutta hyvää ääntä tekee.. mutta eipäs liikoja luulla! paskaakin tästä löytyy!!! tarvi rupemaan tollattiin, kehumaan kokoajan...saatana...... into my arms.....populääri biisi paras...huoh..

I think it's interesting that both of the Nice Cave albums I've gotten on this list are from his later period, which, at least according to Wikipedia, is a significant departure from his earlier work. I'm interested in listening to more of his work to see how this stuff compares to his earlier work. This album reminds me a lot of Leonard Cohen, especially Songs of Love and Hate (ironically from Cohen's earlier period). It's not a style of music that particularly appeals to me, but it's something that I can enjoy when it is well-executed as it is here. His voice and lyrics are both beautiful and moving, and the music backs this up well. I'm not sure that I'm ever going to be a Nick Cave fan, but I can't deny that he makes for a compelling listen whenever I've put his music on 4/5

interessante o som, bem tranquilo e tal, vozeron

One finds this mostly lovely and exquisitely played and much easier to take seriously than his more overdetermined works (which is basically all of the rest of them) largely down to the sincerity and understatedness. “People Ain’t No Good” is quite good and a mixed-emotion sort of ballad whose sentiment one can largely get behind, but "Lime Tree Arbor" and "Idiot Prayer" and "So Far From Me" are also very good, though tbh every song has its merits and the unified and consistent sense among them is what makes this record special. There are too many NC records in this book; this is easily the most deserving.

Very nice smooth, emotional album. I can see why some folks really gravitate to Nick Cave. Especially for someone losing their faith with religion and changing their outlook on the world I could see this being a very powerful album. Love the Leslie sounds on Far From Me. Listened to the 2011 remaster.

So close to a 5, but a few too many songs are a bit bland and unmemorable

achei o álbum bem calmo e fácil de ouvir, gostei dos instrumentais mais focados em piano e em alguns momentos com cordas também. um dos melhores que ouvi dessa lista, tranquilo.

Nick Cave let go of his sombre persona for the first time and goes sentimental on us. This marks the second phase of his career, where his music would be increasingly based around piano melodies and a more "mature" approach overall (this is excluding the Grinderman albums of course). This is also his first album with Warren Ellis, which would slowly take the place of Mick Harvey as his sideman. The Seeds would never be the same anymore with him on board, and for the better I think. That being said, this isn't his best album and I think it is slightly overrated mainly because it's some sort of a breakup album. Still, the first half is magnificient and the fact that I'm not including this in my top only goes to show how strong this man's discography is.

Classic album that deserve his place.

Best Song - Into My Arms

Starts like a masterpiece but tapers off somewhat by being too overlong. The first half is perfect - and probably my favorite nick cave album from this exercise so far - but self editing would have helped make this record a timeless one. As it stands it feels like the remnant of an era of Compact Disc stuffing to give value for money - even though some of the fillers here put many other songwriters to shame. Still it’s a 4 star album but would have loved to make it one of my all time faves.

Pretty good! Not what I was expecting. I wasn't super into it at first, but it's actually quite nice to listen to, and the sultry tones and sort of minimalistic accompaniment are really nice, and some songs were very emotional. I didn't love the song where he just like talks as the echo (Green Eyes). That was weird and sort of off-putting (but it was interesting at least).

Nice album. Pretty different from what I have heard previously from Nick Cave

My first artist with two albums generated! This one is decidedly different than Murder Ballads; a lot more sincere love, and not, you know, bloodshed. The songs here are good and flow well, but I don’t enjoy it quite as much.

Unas baladas de Nick Cave. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Very moving songs - new album to me

I liked how naked and melancholy this album sounded. The songs were kind of long, but they were still good. He has a few other albums on here, so I hope I like them as much as this one. My favourite song was Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?

This feels like the simplest album I've listened to so far (that's not something like jazz). I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. It would be perfect for long easy drives where you get lost in the piano /guitar and his voice

Already listened

Cool lyrical content. Overall solid.

Worth a listen for Into My Arms on its own, but the rest of the album holds up well.

doesn’t sound from the 90s some songs sound like hymns

Really enjoyed the listen, my favorite Nick Cave album thus far. More melancholy than I would listen to regularly, but truly beautiful music

Very good

Dark, beautiful and sad. Sparse and perhaps a little overwhelming in one sitting. One I will definitely return to.

Great poetry put to good music.

Hard to imagine listening to this when I could listen to Leonard Cohen. Good though.

Most of these songs had a certain beauty that was made dark by homeboy’s voice. I enjoyed it.

I love this album. There's just something so compelling about these somber, stark songs and Nick Cave's deep, sonorous voice and dark lyrics. It just all works together really well. 4 stars.

This album opens like an edgy, yet glum 90s movie. Small wonder that Into My Arms has made its way onto actual soundtracks. While I prefer my Nick Cave to be in The Birthday Party, this is a solid listen. It's more down and less out than other things of his, but it's good for a mood.

Excellent album. Hidden gem

Liked it a lot. It wasn’t all for me but most of the songs were great.

Nick is his own genre. Classic record and one of his best. Suffers like many artists by the lure of the long play cd. This would be a better 42 min album Cover art 4/5 great photo

My first full Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds full album listen. I expected something heavier from the sporadic songs I've heard. Sounds like Leonard Cohen in some parts and songs. Saved tracks: Lime Tree Arbour, There is a Kingdom, Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?, Idiot Prayer, Far from Me

L'àlbum més sentit de Cave. El seu to introspectiu, de reflexions de matinada va casat de manera formidable amb unes tonades de bar de mitjanit que tot i el seu to ferit no perden la seva essència mística. Ni falten les melodies en temes tan punyents com 'Into My Arms', 'People Ain't No Good' o '(Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For?'

I don't always like Nick Cave, but overall I liked this album. I'm starting to understand him in relation to someone like Leonard Cohen - strange turns of phrase describing a twisted world view, but one that has love underneath it. The songs sound thoughtful and well crafted. A couple of them annoyed me but overall, solid.

Such a mournful, somber, blue album. Lots of sadness, makes me wanna slump in a puddle while listening. Also, that one song from Shrek 2!

Nick Cave's music has always been out on the periphery for me. Always kind of there for the listening, but I just very rarely did. The odd song might come up in random satellite radio listening, and it was always I could get into. Same with this album. It was a nice enjoyable listen but not even remotely what I've come to expect from Nick Cave. I was expecting something raw and energizing and heavy. This was none of that. But that's not to say it was bad, because I really liked it. I'm definitely going to back and listen to this one again at a later time when I'm in the mood for something just just listen to in the background.

Hauntingly beautiful voice. Interested in his other stuff.

Reminiscent of Leonard Cohen

The National has some explaining to do. Another deep pitched singer with religion-laden lyrics and instrumentation.

Yeah, I'm pretty sad now

Low rent Leonard Cohen, but still good.

oh I just KNOW that Matt Berninger idolizes this man

Sublime. Nick Cave ha tenido una carrera más que consistente.

I almost feel as though I shouldn't be listening in to these songs because of how personal they can get, but I'm glad I can. Although I do find some songs kind of funny (such as Black Hair) I can still respect the message behind these songs, as well as the emotion. Into My Arms obviously being a standout performance that alone deserves the praise the whole album gets.

para nick cave este album fue el que lo "curo" de su pronta ruptura con su pareja (pj harvey). nick cave siempre tuvo un inclinamiento hacia la musica mas gotica y hasta abarcar por completo el movimiento del post punk y varias de sus variantes. Hasta el llegar este album, quizas su album mas lugubre, sombrio o introspectivo. este album de la carrera musical de nick tiene la particular de desligarse de todos los generos anteriormente nombrados y apegarse al "piano rock", un genero el cual intenta separarse completamente del factor primario del rock clasico (las guitarras) y dar protagonismo al piano, el cual en este album cumple el valor de dar ese ambiente que con otro instrumento no se hubiera conseguido. El album arranca con una balada la cual habla de una supuesta "discusion" entre el y su ex pareja sobre si existe o no un "dios intervencionista". Esta da una vibra de inicio ultra relajante y te suma al pensamiento de introspeccion del cantante. La formula de finalizacion sigue el mismo patron terminando con "green eyes". fav songs: into my arms where do we go now but nowhere? ✰ west country girl idiot prayer ✰ far from me ✰ 3.7 / 4.0

Enjoyed it. Not my favourite by them but good enough.

A good listen. Somewhere in between Cohen and Waits.

This contains one of my favourite Nick Caves. Also, it's 25 years old this year, another 1997 classic. Into My Arms. Oh god... Just stunning. The ultimate spiritual love song for unwashed heathens such as myself. (Although 'There is a Kingdom' does confuse this somewhat) The rest of the album is great, understated, sad. Doesn't quite hit those early heights again for me but a good listen.

Well I gave Ghosteen a 2 so I don’t have great expectations for this album… The album opens with into my arms, a rather slow song for an opener but still a brilliant opener for the album. Lime tree arbour is a nice little short piano track nothing amazing but very listenable. There is a nice little story in people ain’t no good and yeah it’s a true statement to how good cave is as a lyricist. Brompton oratory is the first song with a guitar ( very minimal guitar) but it’s still a great song with great lyrics. There is a kingdom is a proper banger to be honest the chorus is simple but brilliant and the instrumental work here is amazing. ( are you) the one that Ive been waiting for is another banger to be fair brilliant all over. Where do we go now but nowhere is insanely gloomy yet really interesting as the song unfolds. The album goes folky with West Country girl, not my favourite but the most unique so far. Black hair is a rather dreary display and to be honest feels a bit filler. Idiot prayer is a very good song one of the most interesting on here. The penultimate track far from me works as the prefect climax to an album. The album closes with green eyes the wired singing/ talking style somehow works really well so that’s cool and as a closer it is a nice comedown. It’s really good but there is nothing that pops up all too much so it’ll have to be a 4.

very unique voice

Nick Cave is the master of vibes. Crazy how, even in this case with just a piano and his voice, he is able to literally paint pictures with his music. No song really stood out to me but it was overall a album full of high quality songs

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a band that everyone should have at least heard of, like in my example. I would often reach for any song from Murderballads period, or go for something funkier, like 'Dig, Lazarus, Dig!'. But I have never approached 'TThe Boatman's Call' before, and if I did, I quickly dismissed it as boring, because it is so much different from the other albums. This record is very austere. Up to two instruments at the same time and the neverending 'wailing' from Nick. This album feels like a private confession, unloading of his small secrets or just deeper feelings. Apparently he admitted, that one of the songs is about his ex, PJ Harvey. This only amplifies the general atmosphere of the album. I think that intimate aesthetics of it can only be fully appreciated in a specific mood of melancholy and posiibly sadness. As an average fan, looking for another crazy Nick Cave's album, I found a really interesting gem, that I would have to revisit once more in a better suited time.

4.4

Loved this one. Never listened much of Nick Cave's work, but the melodies here are light but never understated and an interesting compliment to Nick's somber delivery. Poor man without his girl.

bonitas melodías, me sorprendió ver que comúnmente hacen punk, la voz de Cave parece existir para cantar este género no presté atención a todas las letras de todas las canciones pero lo que alcancé a escuchar me gustó, es bonito también

3.7

Maybe I'm becoming a Nick Cave fan? Maybe... Altough a little bit repetitive, these piano sessions are a great piece of music!

Another solid Nick Cave album. I’ve not recently listened to many until recently and they’re all decent.

feels like every song is a good book that i pick up and read a few words and think i will read that at some point and then don't

I’m happy I gave this album a chance. I had a deep dislike of Ghosteen and Nik Cave’s sound in that album, but I find that all that album lacks is more than present here. The Boatman’s call is a fantastic album and I really loved listening to it.

Beautiful. Powerful. Vibrant atmosphere all the way.

Great album, well written and passionate vocals.

Beautiful, incredibly written album that, in my opinion, goes on a bit long. But that’s just my opinion as someone who thinks most albums should be a max of 40 minutes.

Muito bom.

Its really quite beautiful. A couple of ropey tracks, though.

Hadn't listened to this album for a long time - forgot how good it was. And to note in passing that Nick Cave is one of the best live shows you'll ever see. Last time I saw him, he sang People Ain't No Good - during the song I was thinking to myself that the lyrics sounded a little juvenile. Then at the end of the song he said that he'd changed his views since that song was written and now he things "people are alright"!

Was going to be a 3 as in yeah nice but it didn't grab me. Currently on my 4th repeat playthrough and happy to let it just keep washing over me. Great album. A new artist for me to look into.

Beautifullll

I don't actually know much Nick Cave, shame on me, but both from what I do know and the album name and cover, I'm expecting pretty and depressing. This lovely spring day with happy kids playing on the playground in front of my window might not be an entirely appropriate backdrop, but here we go. Yep, very pretty. Quite somber. Lime Tree Arbour is really quite sweet. Which sums up the whole album. Brooding but romantic. And easy on the ears. Normally I would like more variety but this got into its groove and stayed there and I liked it.

His best album. Into Your Arms is just the prettiest song.

This sounds like funeral music. I like it.

Pretty pretty... Pretty good.

Nick Cave you pretty bitch

Very chill. I like this.

Good love songs to walk on beach to.

Three stars, maybe? Four stars ? A landmark album for many but I'm not sure I'm totally sold on this one. I'm quite a fan of Nick Cave's middle period, and I remember that everyone was struck by this delicate record at the time it came out. But I think Cave has since "refined" his game when it comes to melancholic songs or performances on the piano. For the first, listen to *No More Shall We Part* (a longer and more meandering record, but far more satisfying overall). Or listen to the more recent *Skeleton Trees* and *Ghosteen*. And if you want to enjoy Cave as a piano performer, you can always spin that last solo live album of his. *The Boatman's Call* is still a nice record, though, with some very memorable tracks here and there ("Into My Arms" is a small gem, for instance). And it's well-produced and well-performed, of course. But I can't help feeling that the whole thing is a little too tame and rigid, and that not much is happening in a large chunk of these songs. Maybe this bareness is what draws people to the album (both Cave's admirers and more casual fans). It's just that, in my opinion, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds are always better when they're using "treatrical" tricks to explore emotional moods. Those moods can be anger, lust, fear or infinite grief, it doesn't matter. What matters is that Cave and his pals have enough space to let their histrionic instincts guide them through such emotions. *The Boatman's Call* doesn't use those theatrical tricks at all, save for a few rare exceptions. It's more like watching Cave working those songs at his desk. A gorgeous desk, with all sorts of nice objects on it. But a desk nonetheless. Albums that will end up on my list of favorites: more than a third so far, I've temporarily lost count here. Album that I *might* include on my list: approximately a quarter (including this one) Album I won't include on my list: less than a quarter so far.

TIL folk albums are (personally) more enjoyable as background music. I enjoyed this 52 minute set of moody songs. I guess it's so calming after listening to heavy metal and rave music in the past two days. I love the great voice, and the generic piano thingy. Another entry in the short (2 entries long, to be exact) list of folk (?) albums that I actually enjoyed.

very calming music.

I feel like I've absorbed this album through having friends who played it a lot. And then there are the better-known songs that seemed to be the go-to picks for indie movie soundtracks of the 90s. Some of the track some a little formulaic, but the ones that work, really work.