The Boatman's Call

I know I’m gonna like some of the other albums but this one is a little too slow for me

Absolute poetry.

talky

Not a bad set of songs, but quite downbeat & depressing/sad.

I honestly dont know how to feel about this.

More like No thanks mate and the bad album

This is my fifth(!) Nick Cave album on the list. My ratings of the other four average to 3.5 stars, and I feel much the same about The Boatman's Call. But I'm bumping it down to a 3 for being a little underwhelming despite seemingly being the Bad Seeds' most popular record. Into My Arms is a simple, beautiful piano ballad with a memorable chorus. A cool way to start an album if you're planning to pick up the pace, and Cave doesn't really do so. Lime Tree Arbour is more texturally interesting and comes across almost like a medieval bard's song, structurally and lyrically. Pretty unusual for a fairly popular 90s band. It works, but it doesn't deliver the energy I'm looking for in a sophomore track. Nor does People Ain't No Good, which made me worry a little about the next 40 minutes of my life. Was The Boatman's Call destined to become calm, lullabye-esque background music? The end of People Ain't No Good hearkens to the more interesting Everybody Has A Dream (Billy Joel), which itself is the weakest song on its album. Brompton Oratory has this specific minor chord in the chorus that hits incredibly hard for some reason. Immediately following that is a passable but unremarkable slow-sway song that seems to encourage group singing but is just not at all catchy enough to get away with it. However, the double-tracked vocals *does* accentuate the fact that Cave's vocal is kind of out of tune when it's single-tracked. Darn. The latter half of the album is also near-objectively duller than the first half, with lacklustre melodies left and right. The easy-listening slow swings and solid instrument choices partially make up for this, though. West Country Girl's melody is horrifically unmoving but I can still see myself coming back to it. 3/5 Key tracks: Into My Arms, Lime Tree Arbour, Brompton Oratory

Hyvä levy. Monta aika herkkää biisiä jopa romanttista. Lisäksi kappaleissa pieni uskonnollinen fiilis. Mutta siitä huolimatta tykkäsin biiseistä. Parhaat: Into My Arms, (Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For?, Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere

I don't know the dynamic of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds but I'm going to give a 1 to Nick Cave for his terrible not trying vocals and stupid AF 16 year old girl diary lyrics. 4 for The Bad Seeds. Enjoyed the music, would be immensely better as an instrumental album.

At the time, The Boatman's Call seemed like the inevitable realisation of what the band had represented up to that point. The heart of what they had always done, refined, distilled, and laid bare without bombast to obscure the emotional heft. They may have gone on to create works with a better claim to “definitive” but there’s part of me wants to reserve that position for this. It’s all here, the drama, darkness, introspection, religious reference, comic trip wires, language steeped in a knowing respect for tradition and so on. These are tropes that all seem to reference Cave’s contribution, but aside perhaps from the unexpected comedy, they also apply to the arrangements, musicianship and tonal quality of every Bad Seed note and beat present. It's a mood for sure, and won’t be for all. Even fans will pick their moments for returning; I generally prefer a broader range across an album, but The Boatman’s Call is nevertheless the sound of a band tuned up and firing on all cylinders, yet with the sense to keep the revs low.

It's Nick Cave with a broken heart more water images and an adaptation of a 16th century Louise Labbe poem and a song about an oratory in brompton what's not to like?

not my favorite.

Im more of a murder ballads kind of person I think. It's not that this is bad, it's just not as good at holding my attention Standouts Into My Arms 3/5

Too much slow music

Loved the voice and lyrics, absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Background melody sounded a bit monotonous between songs, making it harder to differentiate between songs(perhaps more listens might help). But, it did provide a nice stage for the vocals. I am not a fan of religious themes(specifically not an interventionist God), yet it was a good album.

I found this LP to be surprisingly interesting.

Crazy to get this after a PJ Harvey album

A bit boring.

Ліричний Кейв з досить мінімалістичним та стриманим музичним супроводом з фортепіан в центрі. Є топ хіти. Чудовий альбом

Я дуже люблю Ніка Кейва, але є певні нюанси. Boatman's Call мені завжди здавався надто сентиментальним місцями, і в ньому майже відсутнє те за що я Кейва власне люблю - оця безумна енергія, циклічні паттерни, вокальна розповідь у стилі проповідника. Навпаки - альбом спокійний, переважно базується на фортепіано. Тут звісно є суперхіти типу People Ain't No Good або Into My Arms, яку Кейв грає здається на всіх концертах; але Boatman's Call це точно не мій топ з кейвівської дискографії. 3.5

Despressed shit for depressed people

Nick Cave is so boring. How many more of these do I have left ....? 2/5

I remember listening to Skeleton Tree some years ago and not really liking it, so I was pleasantly surprised to listen to this album and find that I quite liked the sound. It had this Johnny Cash / Leonard Cohen type of sound to Nick Cave’s vocals that made the songs very interesting. Into My Arms was my favourite song from the album

Pretty great for another artist who can't sing very well

Into My Arms (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?

This is a stunningly beautiful album, with thought provoking lyrics mixing love, sex and religion. Delivered in Cave's rich baritone it gives Leonard Cohen vibes. It's close to a 5, but the overwhelmingly sombre tone makes it slightly one-note and prevents it from being an absolute classic for me.

And at last, I come full circle. I'm sure I'm not the only one who discovered Nick Cave because of 'Shrek 2'. It's a great movie and a great soundtrack, even putting aside how I grew up with them. Nothing but straight classics, front to back ... and "People Ain't No Good" was one of them. One of the big ones, as a matter of fact. I may not have played it as much as "Accidentally In Love", the cover of "Changes", or the film's big take on "Holding Out For A Hero", but I've never quite felt the same for any song in the film as I had for this one. It's by far the most melancholic song on the soundtrack, and by goodness, it always just ... got to me. Y'know? Like, every time I heard it, I'd hafta sit quietly and stare off with a stone expression on my face. Just really take in the words and the atmosphere it evokes. I was so drawn in by Nick Cave's voice, and I loved the piano ... it's an incredible tune, plain and simple; a cut and a half above everything else on that soundtrack. I truly do love it, and although I never did until this list, it made me want to listen to Nick Cave, just to see if I could find more songs like this. Which is what made actually going through some of his early catalog via this Randomizer so weird. If I had to make assumptions, I really would've thought he was a sad piano guy. Not this guy who made over-the-top, cinematic tunes like he did on 'Henry's Dream', or someone who could pull out something as badass as "Stagger Lee" like he did on 'Murder Ballads'. Or, for that matter, someone who could be involved in an album like The Birthday Party's 'Junkyard'. Jus' — post-punk. Nick Cave, for a good chunk of his early career, worked in **post-punk**. And he was good at it! (I mean, I think the point of 'Junkyard' is that people are supposed to dislike it, so I can't rag on 'em too hard.) Like, damn, he's got **range** on 'em. It's particularly evident on 'Murder Ballads', where he whizes through a bunch of styles, including sad piano songs. I know most people on this website hate Nick Cave's guts for how many of his albums are on this list, but I gotta say, I appreciated the chance to widen my respect for him before getting to **the big one**. Yes, at last — we're finally here. 'The Boatman's Call'. The one with "People Ain't No Good". And, y'know, I never really expected or wanted too much from this album. As long as there were songs that could live up to the decades-long admiration I'd had for "People Ain't No Good", I'd be perfectly satisfied. That ain't much, right? Given his skills elsewhere, it shouldn't be that difficult. And indeed — it isn't. He's **good** at this. Oh, he is **so good** at this, and I'm **so happy**. Y'know, despite it being such a melancholic record, anyway. I've seen some reviews on this website remarking that Nick Cave comes across as overdramatic. Y'know, he's "the kid who wanted the lead in every play, but he's less suited for Hamlet and more for Rosencrantz." But to me, it's like ... that's what makes this so good? That there **is** a level of overdramatics to this album? I mean, if you were to ask me where this album takes place, it's the same place where you hear "People Ain't No Good" in 'Shrek 2': a tavern. Or I guess in my mind it's more specifically a piano bar, but either way. It's the kind of place, maybe a little dirty, where you can go drink your troubles away, while someone at the piano sings a sad song. And I'd maybe want him to be a little dramatic — it's more interesting than if he tried to undersell the melancholy, anyway. And as a collection of melancholy ... I am sort of amazed that I reacted the same way to these songs the way I've done to "People Ain't No Good" all these years. It's the same sort of stone faced contemplation, soaking in each and every word. There are even a number of parts where I feel moved to sing along with him, just like with "People Ain't No Good". It's truly sort of remarkable. And I think it truly is a testament to Nick Cave as a writer, player **and** singer that he can pull this off over 50 minutes. There's nearly never a moment where I'm not feeling it. If I'm not, it's only because it's hard for anyone to sustain that melancholy if you're not really down in it. Jeez, though, imagine being down there and listening to this thing. Must be a hell of a trip... Honestly, this might be one of my favorite albums I've heard in a **long** while. I really can't think of the last one that hit me and impressed me as hard as this one did. And I know I came in with the bias of loving "People Ain't No Good", but that was no guarantee. I could've thought this didn't live up! And yet, it did, and then some. I mean, what can I say? I'm a sucker for a sad piano song sometimes. So, there it is. My full circle moment with Nick Cave. It'd be a better one if there weren't still two more albums after this (one of them is an ambient pop record? Huh?), but I won't let that spoil the moment. Without having heard either of the ones that're left, or having listened to his full discography, yet having heard both 'Henry's Dream' and 'Murder Ballads', I can safely say that this is his best album. Bar none. It's a tall order to top, and I'm not gonna blame any of the rest of his work for not being able to. I've heard some good things about 'The Skeleton Tree', so maybe...? But it doesn't have the 'Shrek 2' seal of approval. And believe me, that matters.

Bit of a different direction from what my group has gotten from Nick Cave, but nonetheless a good album. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 4.5; I’m gonna bump it up to a 5 on the strength of its first 7 tracks, but the last 5 really had me contemplating a 4. I’m a little stretched for time, so I can’t go as in depth as I’d like to here, but I really, really loved this album through its first 7 tracks. I think the choice to go with more minimal, moody & somber piano-driven soundscapes for the whole album works very well, and save for a few tracks near the end, generally do a great job of capturing the emotional vibe Nick is going for. Nick Cave’s writing feels deeply vivid here, and the emotions he’s able to pull out, with a strong sense of empathy for the guy’s philosophically waxed heartbreak & his relationship with religion, is remarkably well done. He’s opening himself up on this album, writing less about the murder ballads of the past, and taking the first person perspective that other great songwriters inevitably grasp control of. The ideas of a non-intervening God, the defeatist attitudes towards the goodness of people, the sudden belief of destiny & the heartbreaking shattering of inevitability play really nicely through the first 7 tracks, and if this album had been just those tracks, I think I’d be at a 10. They’re that good. After that point though, I think the album hits a bit of a PJ Harvey-adjacent snag for its final 5 tracks; when he’s on point with his writing, as on “Idiot Prayer” & “Far from Me”, the album still shines brilliantly. “Idiot Prayer” being about a murderer seeking forgiveness on his way to death row struck a nice chord with me, and “Far from Me” does a great job of capturing the slow deterioration of something full of deep devotion, taking as long to write as his relationship with PJ Harvey lasted. It’s a fantastic track, and it should have ended the album. The other 3 tracks… well, two of them aren’t bad; “West Country Girl” is honestly fine, it just didn’t hook me for whatever reason. “Black Hair” is needlessly repetitive, sure, but I like the idea of an obsessive focal point on a track meant to proclaim love. He’s obsessed with the black hair, just as much as he’s obsessed with the rest of her. It’s just brought down by an accordion that’s deeply distracting and ends up going nowhere, which sort of ruins the attempt at a more intimate vibe. “Green Eyes” is just useless. The spoken word echo doesn’t work, the “twinkling cunt” is an insane two-word phrase, and it just feels like it’s rehashing “Black Hair”, but in a worse & needlessly trite way. It doesn’t need to be on the album, and its presence here as the closing track to the entire package feels like a backbreaker that, if it weren’t for the strength of the first 7 tracks, would bump this all the way down to a 4. That said… man, I really, REALLY connected with the first 7 tracks here. I had to actively stop and pause after “Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?”, because it got me really fucking good. I think those first 7 tracks are brilliant. It might just be that break in between that caused the last 5 tracks to not hit as nicely (though “Green Eyes” is definitely useless). They’re good enough that I feel like this still deserves a bump up to a 5. Hell, if “West Country Girl” or “Black Hair” click nicer in the future (though it’s unlikely for the latter), I might be even a little higher than a 5. No matter what, it’s a damn good album, it deserves to be on the list, and I highly recommend it.

genuine torture to listen to the lyrics are so mind numbing its actually crazy everything else is pretty chill tho

3.5

This was my #1 at my very incomplete 1997 dive . And was absolutely my favorite Discovery from that dive. I do like the dark emotional delivery on this album It's just absolutely amazing it almost fits hand in hand with the Leonard Cohen *Songs of Love and Hate* album I also listen to yesterday. I think I slightly prefer the Simplicity of the production of the Leonard Cohen but both of them are just absolutely amazing albums 9.85

Nick Cave is great, but this is not the best example. I think this album is too ballad heavy. Many of the ballads are really good, but the album lack a little spark.4 stars

After three pretty wild albums, Nick returns to the softer side he displayed on 1990's The Good Son. Normally, I'm not high on albums that are really ballad heavy, except the ballads on The Boatman's Call are incredible. The first half of this album is possibly the best thing in Nick's discography. Unfortunately, the second half isn't quite as strong. Still, it's a pretty great listen overall. Nick is possibly at his peak lyrically, and there's just some beautiful songs here, including "Into My Arms", "Lime Tree Arbour", "People Ain't No Good", "There is a Kingdom", and what is possibly my favorite Cave song, "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" Would be an easy 5, but I think it fizzles out at the end. Strong 4.5 stars.

The Bloatman’s Call because it’s quite bloated. A few too many tracks on this. Into My Arms is a strong opener and a super pretty ballad. Although it ventures on with the same solemn, sparse, soul-searching chamber ballad solemnitude, the songs after it don’t tend to have that same special factor so the album often it feels like it’s simply floating deep in the doldrums of the Snoozelantic Ocean. There Is A Kingdom starts off like Lou Reed’s Perfect Day but ends up being Dreary Day. Idiot Prayer towards the end at least is a steelier-sounding highlight although the song itself is still a bit snoozy.

I used to be ambivalent about Nick Cave. Now I hate him. Four albums? Pardon me while I blow my brains out.

I tried listening to this album while I was working. It almost put me to sleep.

A masterpiece. I'd give it 6 stars out of 5 if I could. Listening notes follow. ~~~ Into My Arms is a simple yet lyrically fearless introduction to the album. Damn. Lime Tree Arbour — Simply lovely. People Ain't No Good — How did I not know NCave was such a master lyricist!? Brompton Oratory is the point on the album that I got mad that I've not been enjoying this stuff for years... There Is a Kingdom — This record generally, and this piece specifically, is lyrically similar to or reminiscent of Jeff Buckley's "Grace". The highest compliment. (Are You) The One... — Something simmers beneath the surface. Haunting. Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? —I'm getting Neil Young with this one. Masterful. I realize that I'm 6.5 tracks into this record, but I'm thinking it's going to vault to the top of my favorites list. West Country Girl uses triplets over quarter notes — classic western structure — and it just plain works. Toe-tapper. Black Hair — Wait wait wait... Is this a concept album?? Themes repeating themselves... JFC. Idiot Prayer — A seether. Kinda wish it went a little harder, but it's still very solid. Organ is a nice addition / touch. Long outro is a good choice. Far From Me — Heartbreaking. Another master stroke. Green Eyes — A weird one. The spoken-word portion is off-putting for me. Not sure what he was trying for with this one. Lyrics remain stellar ("Then leave me to my enemy'd dreams / And be quiet as you are leaving, Miss").

Peu d'intérêt

:/

Bah finalement pas si mal, j'avais un peu peur au début mais l'album était constant et il faut juste écouter avec le bon mood chill. Lyrics sympas même si un peu edgy sur les bords, mais étant donné que c'est un album post rupture ça se comprend (PJ Harvey, encore elle)

Not my style of music. Did not like at all.

Pretty good

I just don't like Nick Cave.

I’ve mentioned this before, but the last Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album I had to listen to (Murder Ballads) made for one of the most unpleasant experiences of this challenge so far. Because of that, I was equally disappointed to get another Nick Cave entry so soon and thankful to be getting a second Book Album from him out of the way. My first impressions of The Boatman’s Call are that it has higher lows and lower highs than Murder Ballads – there’s nothing quite on the level of "Henry Lee" or "Where the Wild Roses Grow" on this album, but the worst songs here don’t give me that yucky feeling that many of the cuts on the previous album did. I’d also say the concept (if you can even call it that) of The Boatman’s Call isn’t as obvious or compelling as it was on Murder Ballads, but there are still lots of shared elements across the tracks this time around, from the lyrical themes (lost love, spirituality, etc.) to the instrumental palette to the mood and energy of the songs. Although I still can’t say I’m much into Cave’s voice or songwriting style, I did resonate with this one a bit more than the last. Some moments even came across as lovely and/or touching to me – who would have thought? His music just might be growing on me, ever so slowly. The Boatman’s Call is still a two star album for me, but it’s probably also one that I’d prefer listening to over some others I’ve rated the same (including Murder Ballads, which I’m actually beginning to appreciate in hindsight). Who knows, maybe I’ll enjoy the next Nick Cave assignment even more! Highlights: Into My Arms, There Is a Kingdom, (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For

This is terrible and creepy. I still listened to the whole thing.... NOPE!

Into your arms - classic one of his best songs Lime-tree arbour - nice piano People ain't no good Brampton oratory Quite a change from previous bad seeds records, mostly piano based, very reflective songs about spirituality and looking back at previous relationships. Feeling a tom waits influence

Every song off of this sounded the exact same. Maybe this would get a better rating if it had a bit more creativity or spunk. Instead, each song was a copy of a slow and meditative look at the follies of life.

I liked this more than some other NC projects. He this album felt more time and place for the brooding than some others

IIRC not as bad as his other albums we got so far....but there's no way he deserves to be on this list to being with. I think he has 5 albums on this list. WTF.

fuck all the way off

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11

Sad AF but pretty in it's own way. Too much of an art project for me to really get into, but I appreciate the effort.

Green Eyes Jump Scare 1.8

I couldn't get through it.. All the songs sounded the same, and while not absolutely horrible, it started grating on me. Maybe a few songs here and there I can do, but 52 mins straight.

Nick Cave is the white bread of food

I really wanted to like this and I see why many do, but i found it boring and monotone. Mid album - 2.5 - no songs added to collection

Ahh Nick Cave. An early pariah in this endeavour as he produced what I believe was my first 1-star review. I will NOT check. His bombastic Elvis impersonation stretched over 90 minutes did not make for a pleasant experience sometime last year. There was the more forgettable murder ballads record as well. Looking back, I stand by my disdain for the records, but I will say, I love “Fable of the Brown Ape.” That shit rips and it’s probably worth the full 1 star I gave Abbatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus. Alas, I’m hoping this is a more mellow Nick Cave with a nod to songwriting and lyricism rather than Vegas stage shows with hack poetic tendencies. I hold no place in my life for performative male Elvis impersonators from the USA of Oceania. With that horrible, biased opener out of the way, it’s time to blast the foghorn in anticipation of the boatman’s call. Or the Coatman’s Ball. Why are you gagging so, he brings you your coat every time you hand him the coat check ticket. Into My Arms - Holy man. This is pretty fucking stinky. Nick Cave, the irredeemable “artiste” composes a boring piano riff to deliver substandard poetry over and I’m in store for about 48 (minutes) to life. Lime Tree Arbour - Slight interest piqued. Nah, this is Leonard Cohen with a brain injury. People Ain’t No Good - I think this was in The Simpsons. Or something like that. This is a fine enough song. Like I would probably tune this out effectively if I were at a bar or something. At least for the first few minutes. Too long! Boooo! Brampton Oratory - Two twos crodie fam. My word fam. Oh I thought this said “Brampton Oratory.” There is a Kingdom - The gardens of Mesopotamia dance with the life of a thousand planted seeds. Not a one planted by the king, yet all turn to the sunlight of his rule. Nourishing to those who can synthesize it, scorching death for those who fall under its radiant scrutiny. Speaking of scrutiny! This song sucks the big brown ape’s weird fuzzy nuts. (Are You) the One I’ve Been Waiting for - Imagine the guy who imagines his love life to this kind of music. The type of guy who criticizes his girlfriend for reading a copy of People magazine in a waiting room. Or maybe the kind of guy that criticizes his girlfriend for getting McDonalds when there are no other options available. A real winner. The keeper type of guy. Where Do We Go But Nowhere - There are people who are attracted this man in a carnal fashion. There’s hope for anybody. Although there is a demographic who are easily swayed by bad poetry. Alright, I audibly heaved when he said that him and his victim uhh I mean partner “fucked up the sun and fucked it down again.” That’s not even a cogent metaphor. West Country Girl - I don’t wanna go to school today. No I won’t get up. Black Hair - Wow, cool song about some poor woman’s hair. What terrible decisions she makes. Idiot Prayer - Please, whichever deity is on the clock, strike down this music. I’m hoping it’s one of the vengeful evil deities people worship for some reason. Good chance it will be as I’m pretty sure that’s all of them. Far From Me - What is where I want this album? No im sorry, it is where is a Nick Cave legally allowed to be from the perspective of his most recent partner. Green Eyes - The background vocals sound like that Bo Daddy Harris guy from instagram. Whoa he said a swear!!! Get this guy a record deal. Oh wait, they did already. Best song on the record and it’s because it’s the only attempt to do something that is in any way interesting and different. Too bad the execution reminds me of a botched execution. I am squirming against the straps of the execution floor’s gurney. Please end this. Nick is the most insufferable front man in music history. No! It’s Bono, but we’re in the same rarified air. This depresses me in a way I didn’t think was possible. I don’t think making depressing music is the artistic benchmark it’s seen as, considering people with real mental health issues don’t actually want to have them (crazy right??). It’s not an aesthetic. It’s not artistic. It usually just means sleeping for 48 hours and eating saltines right out of the sleeve. Not even Prozac could touch this record. It’s earnestly recorded as an artistic statement and fails in every possible way. Music for guys who are writing screenplays in which they are irresistible to several women. Coming to a gentrified café near you. Cover your 7 dollar coffees, ladies. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: *BIG FOGHORN NOISE*

One of those albums that completely missed the fact that the music needs some effort too. It can't just be melancholic poetry. We have an artistic medium for that. It's called poetry. He has a nice voice though. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

man this reminded me so much of leonard cohen: poetry over very sparse arrangements. almost every song is beautifully written and performed, but there is little contrast between them making the entire album feel static. any individual song(except green eyes) could be a five on its own but as album it drags alot.

I wanted to love this - I just listened to a podcast featuring Nick Cave (Old School with Shiloh Brooks) and loved listening to him - but this album was slow and felt repetitive.

Four Nick Cave albums is too much. Genuinely, this is lovely and beautifully produced. But omg it’s just too repetitive and moody for me.

I always try to add a stand out song to a playlist from each album. It was really hard to find one on here. No song was particularly bad but none stood out. 50 minutes of depressing vanilla.

I liked this a lot more than I expected. I understand his voice and lyrics aren't for everyone ( I've listened to a different album of his and couldn't make it past the 4th song) But i loved the overall moody tone of this and it fit his voice very well. Really liked a few of the tracks here.

Interesting

No.

A collection of slow, piano-driven spiritual love songs. Many of these songs, including the affecting "Into My Arms", are brilliant and among Nick Cave's best work. But overall I find the albums suffers a bit from lack of variety. The pace never quickens and the style barely alters. This dilutes the overall impact of some truly wonderful tracks as they can get lost in a deluge of sameness.

Insane how many albums he has on here. These are not all must listens and this is definitely not. Every song sounds the same and they’re all kind of bummers. Light 3.

In general, I’m not a Nick Cave fan (other than Red Right Hand), but I thought this album was ok. Still mellow but far less morbid than I usually find him to be. Never really noticed before but he has a lot of Jim Morrison in his voice.

While i am honestly shocked we got antoher nick cave album, this is the first one we've gotten since Jane's dad brought me to see him live. The show gave me greater appreciation for him as an artist and I think I liked this album more as a result. The sparseness in the production worked for me too.

The first 2 times I listened to this, I was pretty disappointed. Very slow and boring. But that all changed on this listen. It finally clicked. This is truly beautiful. Each lyric hits hard and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds put on a great emotional performance. Wow. Love love love this

Didn't really do that much for me

For my third Nick Cave album on this list, I come to one I've listened to before that left zero effect on me. This time, I feel a bit more primed to give it some attention aaaaaaaand...I don't like it. It's not for me, too stripped down and too one note for 52 minutes of this. I know he's capable of a tune, he's capable of soulful introspection and storytelling but here, I don't know, it's not grabbing me. Feels flat, and depressing but not in a revealing way, just kicking yourself when you're down way. There's probably art here, and the more time I spend with it (time I don't want to spend, it's miserable) I'll come around to it, but for now, you're bringing me down. Probably coulda used this 15 years ago.

Moody Tom Waits-ish

i hadn’t listened to this entire album in a while—i think i like nick cave best in smaller doses, especially when the instrumentation is fairly reserved (compared to, say, *abattoir blues*, which i love and find extremely engaging to listen to all the way through, or *dig, lazarus, dig!!!*, which is a different style altogether), i.e. primarily piano-based. these songs sound like they’re from another era, like he’s a medieval bard of sorts…or otherwise they sound like lost jazz standards from an alternative universe. either way there’s an atmosphere of essential-ness to this music, like it’s been around forever. fav tracks: idiot prayer; black hair; people ain’t no good; lime tree arbour

This was really beautiful! I like how dark and relaxing it was but still sounded pretty different than other music I’ve heard that could, on its surface, be described similarly to it. The jazz influences in this context were very interesting; I almost feel like this weirdly has some overlap with early Fiona Apple to me and that's why I like it? But don't quote me on that... Fav tracks: There Is A Kingdom, Idiot Prayer, Lime Tree Arbour

Boring

Moody, piano driven, evocative. I liked it. This is my first experience with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and it was a largely good one. I thought listening through Elliott Smith earlier in the week was a bit of a downer. This outdoes that. It's shades of Leonard Cohen, and generally philosophical, literary, piano-driven singer-songwriter stuff. It mostly worked, though I think an album like this likely has far more layers than will be revealed on a first listen. Will give it more spins, for now 4 stars.

Meh

I really dislike Nick Cave's sound - he's just droning on and on, I get his lyrics are decent but that doesn't come ahead of the sound. Best: Into My Arms Worst: the rest of the album :( 1.5 Stars

Honestly wasn't expecting to get a lower-key Nick Cave from this album. I know he does do chiller albums (Like Ghosteen), but was expecting something more along the lines of Tender Prey or Murder Ballads. Eitherway, still a great record. Enjoyed songs (Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For and Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere. Some songs do feel formulaic a tad, and reminiscent of other popular songs (One of them honestly sounds a bit like Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen), but it's still classic Nick Cave.

++: Brompton Oratory, Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?, West Country Girl +: Into My Arms, Lime Tree Arbour, (Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For?, Idiot Prayer +-: People Ain't No Good, There Is a Kingdom, Black Hair, Far from Me, Green Eyes 5,1/10

Really nice to listen to and relaxing

It’s really good. I love his voice and his authenticity. It’s emotional and compelling. At first I was dismissive but every song is better than the last. Nick Cave is a cross between Bukowski, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits.

Nice

2 stars I gotta stop assuming every rock band is hard rock or metal it disappoints me every timr

Nick Cave wybrał bycie smutnym and he does it very well

mega fajne wyrazne, jesienny klimacik

Właśnie ogłosili go na openerze i obstawiam, że raczej nie będzie tam pogo... Mimo wszystko super muzykalny + był częścią soundtracku Shreka więc jak najbardziej slay

Moody, brooding, and kinda boring

I know I should like Nick Cave. I've given his albums a few shots and only a few tracks have really stuck. Into My Arms is a great opener. It really sets the mood: a little dark, a little odd, with terse piano hooks that make you a little uncomfortable. Through the middle it gets a bit monotonous, a lot of the same mood, tempo, and tones, but he does it best on Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? Then there's a shift for West Country Girl, which has a more driving, cinematic take that I think is one of the highlights. The second half slopes back down with more soft jazz and poetry that doesn't do much for me. I don't think his voice is that great, but he's the quintessential crooner for weirdos. He shines on the darker songs - grandiose, misanthropic lyrics paired with violin string plucks and standup bass-driven doom jazz. It's music for David Lynch movies. Listeners of Tom Waits, the Desden Dolls, or the Peculiar Pretzelmen. Steampunk enthusiasts. Taxidermied mouse parades. Hit and miss, but I appreciate.

No thank you

I really enjoyed Are You The One I’ve Been Waiting For? Very calm, chill music. The voice over in Green Eyes is weird and uncomfortable.

Nick Cave seems like he’s be friends with Henry Dean Stanton. Nick Cave seems like he unironically wears sunglasses inside. There’s some real anguish on this album. The chorus of People Ain’t no good sounds like Nick is singing at specific instances of his own life. Maybe even to himself. The drums here are so fantastically complimentary. Like a good plate, they’re The fucking Casio beat on Brompton Oratory is fucking so good. I like that There is a Kingdom opens up the palette that is being worked with. Prior to this song it was pretty limited instruments and this opens up the sound a lot. West country girl feels like a great Mointain Goats song that John never wrote. Steeped in metaphor and crazy imagery. He feels like Leonard Cohen leaned more into brooding. Every open mic artist with a melodica and lyrics about a woman is imagining they sound like Nick Cave. My only experience with Nick Cave was Red Right Hand. I really enjoyed this album. Solid 3.5 star experience. Will probably get another listen during these cold months.

Hmmm not sure about this one

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 🤴🏰

I was all set to give this a generous 2 but then Green Eyes came on. And I gotta say, that may have been one of the worst songs I've listened to for this entire project.

Masterpiece, as always! Nick Cave forever!

Too dark and doomed for my taste.

Did NOT mess with this man's baritone voice

Nick’s voice is amazing, but the songs are a bit repetitive

The better of the two nick cave albums - the piano in it is very Niceu, nice music to listen to whilst stressing out on a bus cause it’s heavily delayed

This album is produced very well and definitely paints a picture of why he is liked by the reviewers on the list. I'm just not really a fan of his style, and the production doesn't really change that for me.

An all time classic: romantic and dark and beautiful. Im an unapologetic fan of nicks voice, the complexity of the lyrics and his simple melody.

This is just wonderful

A little too mellow

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.

Ok. ★★★

Found it a little boring but deserves higher than a 1.

As a huge Tom Waits fan, I feel like I should love Nick Cave. But I just don't. It's not that it's bad music. It's definitely not. The Boatman's Call has some real heartfelt and wonderfully written songs. But it just doesn't speak to me.

Not bad, just didn’t find this all too interesting

An okay album, I liked Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere and West Country Girl the most.

i like the lyrics, black hair and west country girl especially. not really my sound. could be if i was in a particular mood or maybe driving and not really paying attention.

is this satire? genuine question Nick Cave seems like the kind of guy who thinks he's the smartest, deepest guy in your English class but is actually dumb as a bag of rocks

Old school country vibe, he/ they might be country. Not bad, but not my jam

I think if this wasn’t my third nick cave album I’d really dislike it but there is something endearing about hearing his evolution over time, and I think that’s why people like it. Sometimes doing this project it’s hard to remember that there was a sequence to their careers and it’s not just the order you get it in. All that being said- kinda boring.

3.5

So this is where that Shrek song is from! I played this album twice, from start to finish, and fell asleep both times. Not sure if that means this is a 1/5 or 5/5. I already knew Nick Cave though and he has far better stuff in other albums so I'll have to go with 1. Great find though if I need to fall asleep.

I don’t believe in an interventionist God, But I know darling that you do 5 ⭐️ rating secured with the opening line

You know, i was expecting to hate The Boatman's Call. I heard it was mainly a piano ballad album so i was just thinking that it was gonna get repetitive and tiring after just a few songs, But oddly enough, that never happened. I'm shocked that i did not hate this album. I thought it did have some really beautiful moments with it's music and i thought that Nick's voice perfectly fit the music as it was soft and deep just as this kind of music would benefit from. Granted, the lyrics weren't the greatest and the album did have it's moments of actually getting repetitive and hard to remember but i really was expecting it to be a lot worse. Best Song: Idiot Prayer Worst Song: Black Hair

Just Nick Cave, a piano and songs about love and loss. The very moment Wangaratta's "good son" completed his transition from a wild, cathartic orator to a sensitive, laid-back second coming of Leonard Cohen. While Nick Cave had already hinted at his sensitive side on prior records [The Good Son's 'The Ship Song', Henry's Dream's 'Straight To You' and Murder Ballad's 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' and 'Henry Lee' come to mind], The Boatman's Call sees him double-down on the sensitivity for what was [at that time] the most personal album of his career. And it opens with 'Into My Arms': one of the greatest songs ever written. Also one of the saddest. He played it at the funeral of INXS's Michael Hutchence [and requested the TV cameras be turned off]. A very religious-sounding song about believing in "love" above an "interventionist God", and it seemed that Nick Cave had written the perfect sad song....at least, until the release of 'Skeleton Tree' and 'Ghosteen' records [AKA his 'dealing with his son Arthur's death' records] two decades later. Much of this album is Nick Cave dealing with his break-up from PJ Harvey, evident on a number of the songs ['Black Hair', Green Eyes', 'West Country Girl', 'Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere'], and he's also searching for enlightenment ['(Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For'] and looking towards spiritual guidance ['Brompton Oratory', 'There Is A Kingdom']. With that said, Cave's classic penchant for exploring the ugliness of reality [a staple dating back to his Birthday Party days] is still there in 'People Ain't No Good', which made the Shrek 2 soundtrack. I can't express how much joy I feel that the music of Nick Cave came into my life when it did. It was a time where I felt lost and unsure of myself, and his music helped me begin to find myself again. I definitely felt like I grew up a lot as a person getting into Nick Cave, and he's still one of my favourite musicians. I saw him live in Melbourne last year, just him and a piano [much like this album], and he played four songs from 'The Boatman's Call'. I love The Bad Seeds, they're brilliant in their own right, but there's just something about Nick Cave on his own at a piano that has become very endearing to me. His music is comfort to me, and I'll never not be delighted by anything he releases. Best Songs: Into My Arms, People Ain't No Good, There Is A Kingdom, Idiot Prayer, (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For

Melodic and easy to listen to.

Did not finish. It was dreary, boring and piano heavy. It's a shame because I liked the last album of his I did. But, this stunk. A friend was doing the dishes while listening and these are her comments: That song only has one lyrics on repeat! Every song is worse than the last! Boo! Hiss! (Okay, that was me). Dan, this really sucks! No stars. I mean, 1 star.

This album paints the picture of a wealthy elderly man sitting at his dinner table, his wife opposite him. There is a decadent feast on the table in front of them. The gentleman knows that he doesn’t have much longer on earth, so he takes the time to recollect his time with his wife. Falling in love with her at high school. Marrying young and leaving school, against the wishes and advice of everyone they knew. Running away from home to chase the dreams of big city living. Facing the difficulties of trying to find their feet as a poor young couple in a new unforgiving city. The fresh love that parenthood brought, and the gut wrenching heartbreak of losing their second child. Throughout everything though, he was maintained by the love of his beloved wife. The conversation ends when he reaches the final sadness he has experienced, the death of his wife. Suddenly, he snaps back to reality and realises he is at the table alone. While his plate has nothing left on it aside from a chicken drumstick bone and half a roasted parsnip that he couldn’t finish, there is an untouched meal in an empty setting across from him. As he is jolted from his blissful daydream, he gets up and solemnly heads to bed. He doesn’t take his suit off, and doesn’t bother to brush his teeth. He gets into bed and closes his eyes, hopefully for the last time.

A bit of a downer. Very slow, very repetitive. Maybe it has a time and place, but this was not it.

Pretty slow album but theres a couple good tracks

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)

It's probably been over 20 years since I listened to this. This should be interesting. Good, slow, moody.

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

My first Nick Cave listening experience and it was perfectly fine. Certainly not the best thing I have ever heard but far from the best. More importantly it didn't turn me off of listening to more of his stuff should it pop up later in this challenge.

I am a fan of his as a matter of fact. Oh you aren't? You might reconsider you life choices.

Nick Cave is capable of making music I would like. He just doesn't. All the ingredients to a great meal are there, but he's boiling the steak and trying to fry a whole baked potato. Most tolerable song: West Country Girl 2.5

I always get nick cave and tom waits mixed up for some reason. Surprised by the great vocals! But just kinda depressing and monotone overall. Maybe if I was in the right mood?

wow there's a lot of nick cave on here. I still don't enjoy this, but it's not bad. I see a lot of leonard cohen comparisons -- at least this guy tries to sing in pitch; I can't stand most of cohen's stuff. 2*

This guy is the villain of 1001 Albums Generator, so funny that I got him within the first week or so. Michael hated this dudes two hour LP. Thank God this isn't it. "Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere" was awful. Such a droning, aimless, sauntering drag. A lot of these were like that. That being said, it's not that bad. I'm giving him a mid. It's music and he has a good voice but God is it BORING. Do anything with that voice, man. This is one of two things I find objectionable in art: bad and boring. A moron once told me "There's no such thing as bad music," which isn't true, but I appreciate the sentiment. This isn't bad music, it's just a snoozefest. Just finished it. Mid as hell. Fuck it, it's a 1.

mid

What a lovely coincidence as just 2 days ago I bought tickets to see this great artist for the first time in my life! I was aware this is one of his best albums but don't remember listening to it full so pleasantly surprised, side 1 is perfect, at the very least 4 stars and rating 4.5/5.0 on RYM possibly. Highlights: "Into My Arms", "People Ain't No Good", "(Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For?", "There Is A Kingdom". P.S. Hopefully before the concert next summer I will get more of his stuff here but surprised this list doesn't include "Let Love In" which I considered his best one, but he does have tons of albums so worth exploring more.

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

Nick Cave has blessed this earth and all its ears :)

Un dela lps del Nick que més m'agrada. Un disc rodó.

Musically very minimalist, it's focused on the lyrics just too much for my taste. There were some nicer songs and overall it's relaxed but just not my cup of tea. Those 52 minutes felt like 1 hour 52 minutes.

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.

Wasn't familiar with this artist but won't necessarily reach for it again

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

More proof that I should like Nick Cave more than I actually do. This is quite dramatic - in a High School drama class kind of way. I liked this better than “Murder Ballads” 2.5/5

tremendo, melancolico

Confirmed this is Nick Cave. It’s neither the worst, most repugnant, or best. It’s very middle of the road, and that’s probably for the best.

piano works really well with the vocals. something really masterful about the blend between the percussive elements and rest of music. however dont think i would return to this album aside from 'Into My Arms' (loveelyy song, well written and gorgeous)

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

This seems to have rave reviews. It's ok.

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

3- Stars (7/15)

I really want to like Nick Cave some of the time. The opening track on this album is great. But it's just super repetitive and pretty boring. If you like this, check out Murder by Death. The lead singer has a similar voice but they're just better.

Depressing and boring

I remember when I was in uni, one day I went down to the cinema in the library basement, where they had $5 Wednesdays, and watched nick cave’s 20,000 days on earth. It was an incredible movie and I absolutely loved it. I can’t say how many times I listened to Push the sky away. Since then I haven’t listened to much of his other music so am very happy he is on this list. He has this poetic, abstract lyrical style which normally I would hate but for whatever reason it really connects with me when it’s nick cave. I hope to hear more of his music on this list

Wow. Nick cave, more like Nick fave and an album save.

Just so boring. And what the fuck is up with the lyrics? The adoration is all surface level so that it comes off a bit creepy.

Nick Cave and The Bad Songs

Nick cage and the bad album. 3/10

Not a fan. Boring and too easy listening for me. I didn't appreciate the language in a few songs either. Not impressed.

Großartiges, leises Album.

I'm not really a fan of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, but I found this album quite ok. Something, which can be listened to more often.

I liked a lot of these songs individually but a whole album full of frankly, dirges, is proving to be quite a slog, especially nearly an hour of them. Gets quite hard going towards the middle, black hair especially is a song I think is pretty awful, but alright overall. 3/5

how many nick cave albums on this list god

Taba relajante de escuchar, mg

The songs here were pretty indistinguishable

Never hard of this guy, but he seemed pretty good

This one felt pretty uneventful as a record. Great voice. Good songs, just plain boring.

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.

As I said for his last album, I found this flat at times. He is great at being a poet, but I find it uncomfortable at times when he is jamming in syllables over the music and not with the music. That being said the instumental compositions and production are well done again.

Weird album but kind of good too

# In-Depth Review of *The Boatman's Call* by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ## 🎵 Overview *The Boatman's Call* (1997) is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It marks a significant departure from their earlier work, transitioning from the violent, narrative-driven style of *Murder Ballads* to a minimalist, piano-based exploration of heartbreak, spirituality, and personal reflection. The album is often regarded as one of Cave's most intimate and critically acclaimed works . --- ## 📝 Lyrics ### Themes and Content - **Heartbreak and Loss**: The album is deeply influenced by Cave's breakup with PJ Harvey, as seen in tracks like "West Country Girl" and "Black Hair," which directly reference her . - **Spirituality and Religion**: Cave grapples with faith and doubt, notably in "Brompton Oratory" (referencing Luke 24) and "Into My Arms," which opens with the line, *"I don't believe in an interventionist God"* . - **Human Frailty**: Songs like "People Ain't No Good" critique human nature with a cynical yet poetic lens . ### Lyrical Style Cave's lyrics are stripped of their earlier grotesque narratives, instead embracing raw, confessional poetry. The writing is sparse, meditative, and deeply personal, often blurring the lines between autobiography and metaphor . --- ## 🎶 Music and Production ### Musical Style - **Minimalist Arrangements**: The album is primarily piano-driven, with sparse instrumentation (e.g., subtle violin, organ, and restrained percussion) . - **Tempo and Mood**: The pace is consistently slow and somber, creating a haunting, introspective atmosphere . - **Vocals**: Cave’s baritone delivery is more vulnerable and restrained than on previous albums, emphasizing emotional authenticity . ### Production Quality Produced by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the production is intentionally bare-bones, allowing the lyrics and Cave’s voice to take center stage. The mix is clean and intimate, with each instrument carefully placed to avoid overshadowing the vocals . --- ## 🧠 Themes 1. **Love and Loss**: The album dissects the aftermath of failed relationships, blending despair with moments of tenderness . 2. **Existential and Religious questioning**: Cave explores themes of faith, redemption, and divine absence, often using biblical imagery as a metaphor for personal struggle . 3. **Isolation and Melancholy**: A pervasive sense of loneliness underscores the album, reflecting Cave’s own experiences with addiction and emotional turmoil . --- ## 📈 Influence - **Artistic Legacy**: *The Boatman's Call* redefined Cave’s career, proving he could excel beyond theatrical storytelling. It paved the way for later introspective albums like *Skeleton Tree* . - **Cultural Impact**: Tracks like "Into My Arms" became wedding staples, while "People Ain't No Good" appeared in films like *Shrek 2*, demonstrating its broad appeal . - **Critical Recognition**: The album is frequently listed among the greatest albums of the 1990s and is included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* . --- ## ✅ Pros and ❌ Cons ### ✅ Pros 1. **Lyrical Depth**: Cave’s poetic and vulnerable lyrics are among the finest of his career . 2. **Emotional Resonance**: The album’s raw honesty makes it universally relatable, particularly for those grappling with heartbreak or spiritual doubt . 3. **Minimalist Mastery**: The sparse production and piano-focused arrangements create a timeless, intimate atmosphere . ### ❌ Cons 1. **Lack of Variety**: The uniform tempo and melancholic tone may feel monotonous to some listeners . 2. **Overwhelming Sadness**: The unrelenting focus on heartbreak and loss can be emotionally draining . 3. **Departure from Style**: Fans of Cave’s earlier, more energetic work may find the album too subdued . --- ## 🎓 Conclusion *The Boatman's Call* remains a landmark album in Nick Cave’s discography, showcasing his ability to merge profound lyricism with minimalist musicality. While its unflinching sadness may not appeal to all, its emotional depth and artistic bravery cement it as a masterpiece of confessional songwriting .

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.

Damn dude this almost could have been an awesome album if they just changed everything about it. When they got to West Country Girl I was relieved to finally have a song with some tempo and grit to it. If they made an album more in that style then it could actually rock. He’s got the voice, they’re playing melodically haunting music, but there’s just no energy to being it home. Almost every song is tiresome because he’s singing so slowly, which can be cool and great but with that baritone and the musicality behind it it’s like begging to be more ominous and they’re just not leaning into that hardly at all. Ik that drummer is losing his shit because you can almost feel them trying to step it up. But nope, let’s make an album of 11 of the slowest songs you’ve ever heard. Maybe it should be an objective 3 but I’m holding them at 2 because I’m disappointed at the waste of potential.

i mean... its not terrible. its fine to have on in the background of something... but i really don't get why Nick Cave is so revered.

I might be a little more open to Nick Cave's music if we started with this album instead of Murder Ballads. Not all that difficult of a listen, minus the spoken-word parts of the last track, its just really somber and some of the melodies continue throughout the album and feels like its just repeating the same sad song. Probably only worth coming back for Into My Arms, but this band will be going back to 'Do Not Play' on my Spotify.

By far the best Nick Cave album we've listened to. It has a constant somber mood throughout which matches perfectly with his voice. I definitely understand why it's on the list and I almost want to give it a 4, but that seems like a little too much praise for Nick Cave. It's really a most improved award.

Really impressive singer-songwriter album of mostly ballads. The music really breathes. There’s a lot of space here, capturing the feel of a live recording. The songs feel grand, but they’re pretty minimalistic in terms of their arrangements. Nick Cave isn’t totally my jam, but this is a strong album. “Into My Arms” is a classic. There’s a dash of irreverence in the lyrics of that one (and on a few other tracks), which somehow makes the romantic sentiment feel more genuine. Almost like Nick Cave is saying, “I know this is sappy and sentimental but I really do love you.”

Sometimes I really like this flavor of singer-songwriter noir, and sometimes I really don't like it. I don't fully know why sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Listening to this album had me feel this back and forth while inside of this record, and I just feel kind of wishy washy. "Black Hair" is annoying to me. I get that the singer is seemingly obsessing over a quality of a person, but it's only about the 9th or 10th time in the track where he mentions her black hair that I feel like I want to skip the song. There's some really cool tracks on this, and a lot of depth, but his storytelling just often doesn't click with me.

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

Into My Arms - 5/5 Lime Tree Arbour - 4/5 People Ain't No Good - 5/5 Brompton Oratory - 2/5 There Is a Kingdom - 3/5 (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? - 4/5 Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere? - 3/5 West Country Girl - 4/5 Black Hair - 3/5 Idiot Prayer - 2/5 Far From Me - 4/5 Green Eyes - 1/5 Average score: 3.3/5 (rounding down) never heard this guy's music til today. i didn't expect him to sound so... broody? that split with PJ Harvey must've fucked him up good i guess i expected a bit more energy from this artist based on his appearance (something like Tom Waits or something). maybe he has better albums in his discography and i shouldn't completely write him off just yet

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

some of this album is really f'n good, 5 star quality and then some of it is shockingly not so good. Off the back of PJ Harvey breaking up with him, this album is sad, really sad and deep. As a piano lover, the piano heaviness was quite enjoyable. I just kept wanting this album to take another step forward but felt that it would take a few steps back followed by incremental steps forward

Really effing good.

I want to like it, but man it’s just long and all the same. Can’t see myself coming back to this one.

The first song was pretty good, and then the rest of the tracks started to blend together and the album became kind of boring. I was going to give this a 3 because it was overall easy/pleasant to listen to, but Green Eyes was bafflingly bad and cringy. So now it’s a 2/5.

Jag har aldrig varit någon die-hard Nick Cave-fan, men det är inte hans fel. Riktigt bra! Rösten, melodierna, tematiken: riktigt bra!

It's really unfair to judge this album. I mean, PJ Harvey had broken up with him, I can't think of anything more devastating than that.

Two Nick Cave albums in a week? Can't complain! Right at the start of my journey, I had a couple of Nick Cave albums, and at the time I thought it was some of the worst music I had ever heard. But since then, every time I have been given another album of his, I start to appreciate his music more and more. And now that brings us to today, where I now have listened to the last of his five albums that are on the list. And I can abssolutely confirm that I am now a full blown Nick Cave fan, it took a while to grow on me, but I just love his style of music. His deep and dark voice is so haunting in the best way possible, and just the general moody and depressing atmosphere is some of the best I have ever heard.

This started off diabolically horrible. Got a little better after the 3rd song. Then worse again. First time I’ve heard that c word in a song, I think. Least worst was “There Is A Kingdom”. I want to feel cool & like it; not gonna happen though.

I don't think I'm particularly fond of Nick's style/vibe, although I liked this album a little more than I liked their double album Abattoir / Orpheus.

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.

Bro empezo de abajo y ahí se quedó

like 2 or 3 good songs but this was honestly really boring and kinda depressing

Nick Cave always gonna get a 5 star from me

Sounds like if Nick Cave wrote a Leonard Cohen album.

I’ve never really listened to Nick Cave in much detail before. Definitely talented, but the songs seem to be mostly piano ballads. For some reason (probably seeing The Bad Seeds in Wings of Desire), I thought they were punkier/rockier. It’s not bad, the music and lyrics are beautiful, but I’m not sure when I’d seek this out myself.

I don't like these slow "love" songs

Sparse and literate...conveys intense emotional weight with music that serves the narratives contained within. As such, not for everyone as it will take a modicum of emotional maturity to enjoy. But if you are that wandering soul who longs for connection in a world that provides few opportunities, this is your record.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

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

Dire, depressing, dirge-like music that went on far too long. I had a moment when I felt the album must be near the end, only to find there was still over twenty minutes left, and wondered if I would make it there. The last song is probably one of the most awful things I've ever heard. One star.

He has a nice smooth, deep voice, but it just feels like a budget version of a Johnny Cash or other more iconic baritone.

Tenía un review pensado y todo se fue a la mierda en la última canción. Nunca una canción me había dado un cringe tan grande que hiciera que se me revolviera la guata, el tipo tratando de llegar a las notas un poco más altas como sufriendo, el locutor a lo rojo fama contrafama repitiendo la letra de la canción en algunas partes. Hay un círculo del infierno donde tienen esta canción en repeat.

Temu Leonard Cohen* *Talent and insight not included.

Strongly dislike, DNF. Sounds like church music.

2.5 I feel like critics love Nick Cave, but I just don't get it.

I admired the lyricism and the prettiness of many of the songs, but this album was just too slow and somber for my taste.

I Don't Believe In An Interventionist God 1001 Albums Generator 99 (08/19/2025) Well actually, I do, but that's besides the point. Mr. Nick Cave, one of the kings of post-punk, lets us know right at the beginning of his tenth album that he does not. In spite of this, he still prays for his lover to return to his arms. Into My Arms is the finest song on The Boatman's Call, and it is also the most typical. It touches religious themes and showcases Nick's knack for writing love songs. Before this album, Nick Cave had experienced a breakup with his long term girlfriend Viviane Carneiro and the ending of a short term relationship with PJ Harvey. The key to enjoying this album is to really listen to the lyrics, as Cave is channeling some real pain through these songs. All the songs here are piano led. I have not listened to Nick Cave before, but my understanding is that this marks quite a departure from his normal sound. I think it works wonderfully. It really reminded me of Leonard Cohen at times, and if you have me mentioning you in the same sentence as Cohen, that is absolutely a good thing. Lime Tree Arbour has a bit of a groove to it with the soft drums, bass, and organ. People Ain't No Good is beautiful and heartbreaking (and is in Shrek 2, which has to mean something!). I also love the soft rock of (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?. The reverbed, slightly tremolo clean guitar throughout is a nice layer and once again, the bass is leading the charge in a way. The second half of the album is less interesting to me. With that said, there is some stuff here that I like. West Country Girl is an interesting piece of gothic county with some fiddle and cool acoustic guitar parts. Far From Me is also gorgeous and has a great slow dynamic build up. However, the rest of the second half is just not very notable. Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? does not justify its length at all to me. I don't like the sonic palette on Black Hair, which consists primarily of a droning harmonica and not much else. Green Eyes is far and away the worst song and almost made me laugh at how bad it was. The crooned vocals backed by the monotone spoken vocals is so goofy. The Boatman's Call is a nice, inspired album that represents a total tonal shift for an artist. However, the album is too long and not interesting all the way through. 3/5. Favs: Into My Arms Lime Tree Arbour (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? Least Fav: Green Eyes

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

Very bespoke. Besides into my arms, feels a bit self serving not very satisfying album.

melancholy mood, sad vibes, etc. sounds great when you are feeling ennui on a rainy day.

Not terrible. Took me a bit to get into it because it's another vocal heavy album (obviously). I think I'm simultaneously too depressed and not romantic enough to fully enjoy the lyrics. There were some enjoyable songs, but most of it was meh. 4.5/10 Favs: Where do we go now but nowhere; idiot prayer; lime tree arbour

A couple good songs.

I can never decide if I like Nick Cave or not. The albums of his that hit are really good, but the ones that miss are just slogs to get through. I also didn't love Murder Ballads so I wonder if it's just Nick Cave's ballads that really don't speak to me. Much to ponder.

This tender group again have managed to climb my own list of groups I'd love to have more of.

Mopiest man on earth

49/1001 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Cave is at his best when dealing with personal tragedy and sadness. In The Boatman's Call, this is his first real move away from his post-punk leanings into a far more introspective look on loss of faith and searching for some sort of meaning and landing on a spirituality of sorts. There is real beauty here, but as with all Cave records, such darkness as well. Over the years, this has cemented itself as one of my favourite records of his.

Always a pleasure to play a record of Nick cave & The Bad Seeds, and this is absolutely one of my personal favourites. After the dark madness on " Murder ballads", here Cave goes into the depth of his own soul. From the joy of finding true love in 'Into my Arms" to the quest of faith, love, and the search for meaning after a break up in "Brompton Oraty", this is Cave at his finest. The religious imagery throughout isn't just decorative - it's Cave genuinely wrestling with faith as both comfort and torment, particularly evident in "Brompton Oratory" where the cathedral becomes a place of both seeking and emptiness. "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" is perhaps the album's most devastating track, with Cave's voice cracking with genuine emotion over the simplest piano melody. The way he delivers "I've been waiting for you" is heartbreaking. Musically, it spans from swampy blues with jazzy touches with the piano in the center and a sober instrumentation of violins, slow tempered drums and Conway Savage's understated organ which creates a confessional intimacy that makes you feel like you're eavesdropping on Cave's private thoughts. Personal favourites: "Into my Arms", "People Ain't No Good" , "idiot Prayer" and the forementioned "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" A solid 5/5

He's good, but he's not as good as he thinks he is

So, this is my first listen into Nick Caves and his Bad Seeds, and… it was an album. In the beginning, it was actually pretty good. The emphasis on the piano, with Nick’s pseudo Leonard Cohen vocals, sounded nice. I was expecting the rest of the album to be this emotional, somber ride with a hint of raw edge (emphasis on the word “hint”). But as the album went on, I realized that there’s really no depth here. The album never really gets going and it stays stuck in neutral for the rest of the way through. Which means I got bored with it pretty quickly. The only solution Nick seemed to have was to occasionally throw out swears, as if that’s was to give the album its depth. Really, however, all it did was make it more juvenile. It all came to a head on the last song, Green Eyes, where I realized that Nick’s not being deep. He thinks he’s deep, but it just feels like edge for the sake of edge. Between the highs in the beginning and the lows at the end, this album just balances out as being mid. My only faith for Nick Cave is that hopefully this album was really a one-off departure and maybe, just maybe, his other material can sway me around. I hope that’s not too optimistic. Favorite track: Into My Arms Other hits: People Ain’t No Good, (Are You) The One That I Have Been Waiting For, Where Do We Go But Nowhere?

Top review on RYM reads "music to look out windows to" and, honestly, this describes this record perfectly.

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

As much as I want to like this, there is an aspect that feels overly dramatized to an inauthentic degree, like if Tom Waits wasn't in on his schtick. Not to say it's bad, I enjoy the songs individually, but together they get a little too similar and the vocal delivery loses it's impact.

I'm not really into ballads, especially, when there's nothing else on the album

Good, at times moving

No

Mysig. Bra. Underbar. Är det en femma? Kanske inte. Men den får en femma.

Var så besviken när denna platta släpptes. Jag älskade ju Nick Cave och jag tyckte det var jättedåligt. Tog ett tag innan jag upptäckte vilket briljant album detta är. Av alla Caves album på den här listan är den här den mest givna. Finns dock plattor med honom som jag håller högre som inte finns med. Tender prey, No more shall we part, Push the sky away och Dig Lazarus, dig. Sen saknar jag andra plattor som också borde funnits med här. Kicking against the pricks, The good son och Let love in.

First song is good but I don’t know it’s too harsh lyrically

- war i.O. aber hat mich nicht groß berührt 2 – Respektiere ich, aber nicht meins 🤷‍♂️ Ich sehe, warum das Album wichtig ist oder geschätzt wird, aber es hat mich nicht gepackt.

I had already listened to this album years ago, back when I was trying (with mixed success) to get into Nick Cave. I’ve always seen him as a versatile and capricious artist, capable of the best as well as the worst. Fortunately this album falls into the reasonnably good Nick Cave category. I did enjoy the somber and brooding mood, the soulful singing and the minimalist arrangements. It’s beautifully sung, and the whole album really stands out in his discography with its unique identity. It slowly grew on me, and I think it really benefits from being listened to as a complete album. The lyrics, however, kind of ruin the mood for me – he sometimes sounds like an edgy goth kid who just heard about mortality and agnosticism for the first time. It can be whiny and self-indulgent, and I have a hard time taking him very seriously ("People ain’t no good' doesn’t strike me as a particularly deep assertion...). A pleasant album overall if you’re in the right mood. I’d rate it a solid 3*, or a 3,5* if I could.

I enjoy Cave's piano-based songs as much as any reasonable human being should and does. This album is weird, though. There isn't a single bad song here, but it's a "Nick Cave & His Piano" album, not a Bad Seeds album. And at album length, I do miss the drive and the unexpected elements the whole band usually brings to proceedings.

2.0 - Weak

Dreary, depressing and not good vocals.

Different than their usual stuff. I actually thought this was good, but i probably wont ever listen again

Boring.

‘You don’t love me, you love the idea of me!’ That’s Nick Cave talking to me I really like the idea of misery-core Australian art rock ambiance But usually when I actually listen to it it’s very much ‘shrugs - it’s fine’ I’ll keep trying though Nick!

Hard to deny this is a quality album 4.5*

Complete trash. Shit from a butt. Almost puked at some point. Hate his voice. Stupid recommendation. Needed to listen to ben folds as a palate cleanser after this

Still don’t get the fascination with this fella. Singing voice: below average. Lyrics: not cleaver, nor powerful. Musical Composition: simple and slow. Somebody help me understand! If he wasn’t taking himself so damn serious, he’d be having a good chuckle at all the adoration. Deep down, you all know he sucks.

Let me preface by saying this was fine (2.5/5) but good fucking lord enough with the Nick Cave! This is the 5th album from him, 3 within a week, and I’m so sick of the broody plodding tone. There is nothing significantly different in 4 of these to justify their inclusion and he should be top of the chopping block next revision. For example, with Ozzy’s recent passing, it’s actually criminal Blizzard of Oz isn’t on here while this goober is hoarding entries

Interesting album. Not exactly my genre, but the songwriting/storytelling was quite interesting and kept my attention.

An interesting foreshadow into the more recent Nick Cave works. Very serene yet darker singer songwriter songs on this work. I prefer his grander stuff like lyre of orpheus or the new wild god record but this goes to show how just great of a songwriter Nick Cave is.

More ballad-esque than Murder Ballads. Don’t like it as much as other Nick Cave albums, but listenable.

Amazing beautiful album.

I tried. I failed. This is pretty awful. Slow as hell, for example, I timed "Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere" on a metronome, and it was slower than the lowest setting of 40 bpm. Add the brushed snare and your depressing fiddle like some lumpy gravy all over the top. If you like music like this, that's cool. Nick Cave is not great at it. I don't dislike him. Just his brand of pretentious post-punk Leonard Cohen schtick just doesn't work with these sad little living-room ballads. "West Country Girl" was ok. It wasn't worth going through the rest to get to this filk appropriation. Wake up indeed.

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

The Boatman’s Call ‘This useless fucker with his twinkling cunt’ I remember loving Into My Arms when it came out, I think I bought the single, and it takes me right back to A-level mocks in Jan ‘97. I don’t think I heard the full album until much later, when I was a bit older and more open to Nick Cave. I love the piano based romantic solemnity and many if not all of the songs are brilliant; Into My Arms, the organ shuffle of Lime Tree Arbor, the atmospheric brilliance of Brompton Oratory, the lovelorn There is a Kingdom, Where Do We Go Now?, West Country Girl and the superb Idiot Prayer. The only issue is that the relentless mournfulness of all these songs together can become a bit much, especially towards the end of the 2nd half. Taken in isolation they are great, but as collection it does tend to a feel of heaviness and unmoving stolidness. Still it is a very fine album of anguished romantic piano balladry with some truly brilliant songs, but the unrelenting nature of the songs probably does make it a 4 rather than a 5. 🛶🛶🛶🛶 Playlist submission: Into My Arms

This really taps into something of the soul I find. Very fragile melodies with fantastic arrangements to match. Soul-baring balladry for the ages.

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.

Same album everytime. I dont get it. Tom waits was first and better. Dont like his singing style but good songwriting. Not my thing very overrated

Singer-Songwriter, schöne langsame Begleitung.

Musically 1 star, lyrically 4 stars.

I admit, I didn’t listen to the whole thing. It’s not that it was horrible, but it was just so incredibly meh that I didn’t see the point. One thing that WAS good about the album was that his voice made me picture him singing in this sad nightclub completely lacking in swank. He’s swinging the microphone by its cord and running his fingers through his greasy hair. His shirt is unbuttoned enough that you can see his taco meat sticking out the top. There’s a middle aged woman in the front row dabbing her neck and chest with a napkin.

I will give Nick Cave one thing, his music hits different when you're sad.

I had not heard many songs by this artist/group before listening to this album, and those I did hear I did not like at all. So it's another project-induced shock to find that I really enjoyed this album. Yes, it's sombre, and most suits a sombre mood, but I would listen again any time. I'm guessing that I won't like other albums by Nick Cave and the bad seeds, and that this will become one of those controversial artists in the summary. Still, it's about time I had one of those to accompany Bjork, who's been languishing there all on her own up to now.

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

CHEGA tortura psicológica não é entretenimento!!!!!!!!

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

A couple of decent songs on but none to stand out for me. The whole album is a bit too lame and same same for my taste. Not easy to decide between two or three stars for his very silent call. Worst: "Green Eyes" 2,5

Beautiful, somber, sincere. I love this. I guess my entryway to loving Nick Cave's output has been to go backwards, or at least to start with the most gentle and emotional of his work and work my way to the more intense stuff. Ghosteen cracked the door open, this one is throwing it wide. I'm excited for the next time I get an album from him now! Must-listen #177!

Wayyy too slow for me. Also too sad.

very repetitive and boring

I like nick cave but this record wasn’t really doing it for me today. I don’t know why but I had to skip the last song. But most of the songs are still classics!

It’s good. I appreciated it and enjoyed it for what it was. I wouldn’t listen to this album again but I’m glad I got to experience it

Although I appreciate the simplicity and low-key vibes, 'whinging' is the word that springs to mind.

I did not enjoy this album as much as the other one.

This guy from Australia has a good singing voice, and the album is very melancholy. For me it was too much of the same type of song.

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))

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It was different from their other albums - all piano. But still weird like the others. There have been three of their albums on this list so far... this makes 4. That seems crazy to me. They're OK - but 4/1,001 albums seems like a stretch. I'll say 2, because 3 feels too high. So that makes it a 2.5 round down situaish.

Whoa, that final song Green Eyes is something else...

Pretty decent if a little slow

kinda boring

Definitely has a sad/somber tone to it. Nothing stood out to me one way or the other. He doesn't have my favorite voice, but it's still decent.

#638. This was quite boring. 2/5: yawn

Wonderful songwriting, but gosh does Green Eyes ever kill the vibe - who mixed that thing?!

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

I really enjoyed this one.

There's nothing wrong with this album per se, but for some reason I just don't quite like it. It's very slow and sentimental music, and I think I really like the Bad Seeds, it's Nick Cave I think I have a problem with. I feel like his vocals kind of just follow along with the melody of the song and like he wrote the lyrics after the rest of the song was completed. His deep voice isn't particularly remarkable, and it kind of feels starkly contrasted to the rest of the instruments without adding much. It's almost like he's a really talented karaoke singer.

7/10

My second favourite Nick Cave album after Murder Ballads. This is a great album and Into my Arms has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written and deserves 5 stars on its own!

Ok, not as good as some of his other stuff, but not bad.

Sparse, intimate and moody, this album brings out the best and worst aspects of Nick Cave - he's a great songwriter/storyteller but as a vocalists he is limited. He's at his best when he gets into mcarbe character mode, sadly there's less of this on the album.

I love Nick Cave but sometimes hes a bit dull and this one was a bit slow. Didnt quite have the menance id want eithier.

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

Sublime, I was typing, just as Nick Sang it; beautiful; gentle; moody. It could really do wiv a bit of the ol' knees up muvver brown halfway through, though. Into My Arms is great, but unless you want to enter a long, dark teatime of the soul and wallow in your own self pity for a bit, there's no need for an hour of it.

One of their more lighter albums on the 1001 list... whilst still taking aim for those downwards brooding melancholy moods.

Samey in a good way

I dig the first song and it’s all repetitive thereafter

Pretty turgid

I could see a world where I was into Nick Cave. I’m pretentious and have a tolerance for vocals of this sort. But every bit of the need I have for this type of music is fully occupied - and done a million times better, in my opinion - by Leonard Cohen. So, I’m listening to this album and it’s totally fine and I’m very glad it’s not post-punk, but I’d just as soon be listening to Leonard Cohen. Oh wait, that is a whole lot of accordion. This is not totally fine.

another nick cave! This was nice, mellow.

going to be honest, I don't really get this one. nick cave is dark and brooding and kinda droney. a bit much for me. it's not low quality but it was a bit of a slog for me to get through. not really for me.

another connection to the punk scene that i don't really care for. this might be a 1/5 because of how aware of this artist i am, how much i know they have an impact on the scene, but i just can't get into it.