Henry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in April 1992. Nick Cave himself was unhappy with the production by David Briggs. Briggs preferred a "live-in-the-studio" method he had used with Neil Young. This led to Cave and Mick Harvey re-mixing the album, and ultimately to the Live Seeds recordings, as Cave wanted the songs "done justice". It was the first album to feature long-standing members Martyn P. Casey (bass) and Conway Savage (piano, organ, backing vocals), both Australian. Savage also performs a duet with Cave in the chorus of 'When I First Came to Town'. The album title is a reference to The Dream Songs, a long poem by John Berryman.
This is the third Nick Cave album on the list, and second I've had in 3 days. I'm still traumatized from Murder Ballads a couple of days ago so please be understanding of the brevity of this review as I struggle to recover. I liked it, and feel a little dirty about that.
Interesting - kind of a mix of Warren zevon meets rocky horror picture show. Solo drive to Worcester for rogers surprise party
That’s enough Nick Cave, okay?
This is a great album. I'm finding it hard to pinpoint a favourite track so I guess I'll have to listen to it again... and again.
I love Nick Cave. His lyrics are some of the best and most inspiring I have ever heard and belong on one level with Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and David Bowie. Although this isn't his strongest album by any means (mostly because of a couple of songs on the second half) the songs that DO stand out are some of his best. The mix of Punk Blues and Folk Rock work very well. favourites: Papa Won't Leave You Henry, I Had a Dream Joe, Straight To You, Brother My Cup is Empty, John Finn's Wife, Jack the Ripper least fav.: When I First Came to Town (if I HAD to pick) Rating: light 9
I hadn't heard this album before but it's fascinating and friendly on the ear. I came late to Nick Cave. I found The Birthday Party "difficult" so kind of overlooked his following career. This is a great example of his work - an artist and a musician and a really interesting voice but what stands out is his way with words. One of the great lyricists of this era and able to tell a story in music.
This dude is dark
This album starts off rough, and I really wasn't in the mood for it. But as the album progresses, it's actually quite good. On a good day Nick Cave can be challenging, and this album is in line with what you might expect in a good Cave album. The songs are raw and dense, frequently unsettling and grim, but with surprising moments of haunting loveliness. Fave Songs: Straight to You; When I First Came to Town; I Had a Dream, Joe; Loom of the Land; Jack the Ripper
Score-wise, this one's pretty easy: Yet another Nick Cave album; Accept the plank-lump to the head and move forward in music. That said, Henry's Dream does something constructive to the discography, goes past reinforcement of Bad Seeds tropes. The album emphasizes the polarity which drives the band through time. Papa Won't Leave You, Henry is a disintegrating, polluting, motorized contraption that all but cries to be built upon, but it isn't (in noise at least) til the record is about to end. Quieter songs, less typical of the band but also somehow its zenith, sit between. The analysis is, then, that Henry's Dream sketches the outline of a rich universe of sound. But that analysis fails by starting too big: The record itself is more of a growing thing, and its life's arrow points in both or all time-directions.
Maybe occasionally let the music breathe and stop inserting your Nick Cave-ness into everything. Nice album otherwise, but by the end, it's too much. Best track: John Finn's Wife
18th September 2023 Catching up, I’m a week behind due to having Stu and Laura staying with us.
The first Nick Cave album I ever heard, back when it came out. Didn't get what the fuss was about, 30 years later it still sounds like a 2nd tier album. Hopefully we get much better ones later in this list (Let Love In in particular) as he's pretty great when on form. Makes a decent cuppa too
I have never heard of Nick Cave before, but apparently he’s pretty popular and has been around forever. Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry is the opener and it’s a trip, but for some reason it gave me strong “the bones are their money” vibes (and picturing Tim Robinson singing the song is hard to come back from). “Straight to You” sounded like generic Bruce Springsteen to me. “Christina the Astonishing” had some Father John Misty vibes. “John Finn’s Wife” was mediocre but I kind of liked the end, so that’s something. It seems like his discography is all over the board, so I’m a bit curious to listen to more of his stuff. This one is not really doing it for me though. It just feels like someone doing a country western bit, I’m struggling to take it seriously. I’m hearing some similarities in the vibe with Tom Waits (who I also discovered through this, have only listened to one album, and did not like). Willing to give them both more of a chance though, maybe I’ll come around. Favorite song: Loom of the Land Other: Papa Won’t Leave You Henry, Christina the Astonishing, John Finn’s Wife
This is third Nick Cave album I’ve gotten from the generator and I’ve deeply hated all of them. I was in a bad mood when I turned this on, which was when I had just left 80 hours of social interaction (and I’m an introvert), including work and family. I thought this would make my bad mood worse but actually, knowing I already hate Nick Cave and therefore feeling no pressure to enjoy it, I felt free to let the irritation of everything wash over me, and it actually kind of made my bad mood dissipate. I’d give it one star but I’ll give them credit for making me feel better, and also because the band being called The Bad Seeds is so good.
That was just….I don’t really care for Nick Cave and I’m over listening to his albums on this list. Speaking of this list, the more average or bad albums I hear, the more I wonder why the fuck I’m following along.
4/10. There's a reason they aren't called the good seeds
This so called "must listen" list is filled with TOO MUCH old white male GARBAGE. If these boring tracks only made it here because they're beloved by middle-aged American guys, why not swap them for more Taylor Swift? At least her music is vivid, and even in her worst music she's enough genuine. As for this album itself, it's better than Oasis, but that's about it.
Well damn - thought I was familiar with all of The Bad Seeds' discography, but somehow this one slipped through the cracks and I don't think I've ever listened to it before!? It's in a similar vein to "Murder Ballads", so I am extremely well disposed towards it from the jump. Fave tracks - loved the rough edges of "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" and "Brother, My Cup is Empty" - also liked the occult portent of "Christina the Astonishing" and "I Had a Dream, Joe". Well definitely be racking up more listens of this - it's like discovering an easter egg that's a whole new level of a game you love!
This was a fun wild romp, this is the Nick Cave I Nick Crave.
So fun to listen to. There was so much to love about this album. So creative and interesting!
After yesterday's Limp Bizkit encounter I was glad to get some Nick Cave. It's a 5 because Nick is great, but after suffering through Fred Durst almost anything would sound good. This is for real very, very good though.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds never go below a certain level (with very small exception). Henry's Dream is a really good album with a fantastic music and excellent lyrics and vocal, as always. Some great songs, and few at least average, but always pleasant to hear. Nick Cave and the band has a really diverse discography, which one has to admire.
Damn that Nick Cave sure is a wife stealer (me. I'm the wife)
Loved it.
Favourite tracks: loom of the land; jack the ripper; straight to you; pap won't leave you, henry
A great album towards the start of a fantastic run from Tender Prey to No More Shall We Part, and maybe Cave’s strongest release up to this point. The opening song is so impactful and the energy continues throughout the whole record, though it is well balanced with some beautiful moments like Straight to You. A fantastic album from a legendary artist at the top of his game
Very good
I generally like Nick Cave a lot, and this project is a great way to get exposure to some of his albums that I've overlooked. This is no exception, and I really like the sound of this record - like the soundtrack to a western musical about murderous cowboys.
primeiro dele que gosto mutcho?
Listened Before? N I'm starting to become a big fan of Nick Cave. I had never listened to much of him before this list, and I'm glad the project pointed me to him. He's diverse and an amazing songwriter. This album is no exception. Awesome stuff. I didn't enjoy it as much as his later, more ethereal Ghosteen... but it's a totally different vibe. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Straight to You
Een iets hardere Nick Cave. Goeie plaat
Una altra pedra gran i robusta, part de la catedral impressionant que forma la discografia de Nick Cave. Part d'uns anys on no tenia ni una sola ensopegada. La melancolia, la brutícia, l'introspecció, l'elegància i la majestuositat de la banda es concentra en temes tan bons com 'Straight to You', 'Papa Won't Leave You, Henry' o 'Christina The Astonishing'
I thought it was a fun album, but there was almost an effort at parts to sound too raw that really didn't work for me.
Well, well, well, if it ain't big man Nick himself yet again. Love this scary guy. This is the fifth album I've had featuring him and so far every single one has been a 4/5. Gonna go with the same score this time. Sidenote: Weird that there's so many Nick Cave albums on this list, yet none of them are his pepperoni-nipped biggest record "Let Love In". That one would have been a big old 5/5.
Very much a Nick cave album
4++
this was a great listen. it reminds me of a dark folk/punk hybrid. pretty heavy for an acoustic album. highlights: “i had a dream, joe”, “brother, my cup is empty”, “john finn’s wife”.
Probably a lot of people’s introduction to Nick Cave and co. Still a lot of that 80s post punk edge. Good stuff.
Sounds a bit rough, but not bad.
Punk blues de Nick Cave. Un 4.
Wow 🤩
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Papa won’t leave you Henry, I had a dream Joe, Loom of the land
The tears we cry today will soon be washed away... By the tears we cry tomorrow is a brutal and hilarious line. It's exactly what you'd expect from Nick Cave, however, I'd say it is perfected on Murder Ballads, this falls a little short of that admittedly high bar!
Not my favourite genre but I'm interested in the energy behind it, in the performances, the story about the production. Four stars as a note to self.
A raging, roaring, vaguely menacing album of folk/rock tunes about dark things, sung by a songwriter with a rangy, smooth, growling baritone. The band sounds like cartoon characters hanging, flapping from the back of the runaway stagecoach that is Cave. Sounds, all at once, like Leadbelly, Dylan & The Band or an evil Leonard Cohen. Rare. The musical forms are very old and a bit theatrical but the tradition of writing ballads about dark themes like this is old. It's just not so prominent as it once was, anymore. This is very nearly a country album but absolutely does not come from that tradition (though I'm sure Cave has heard some Johnny Cash) - that distinction alone makes this a fascinating and engrossing listen.
Classique NIck Cave and the bad seeds. Il ne se démarque pas des autres mais ca reste dans le style .3.5 en ecoutant je me demande si je ne devrais pas réécouté Ghosteen et revoirma note car je coirs que j'ai noté pas et ca méritait haut...
Pretty cool, but voice is kind of grating. Some good lyrics though and nice instrumentation. Possible grower.
Still like this spooky vampire man but I don't know if we need 5+ of his albums on here, and this one in particular could be dropped
This is my third Nick Cave album from the list! It was good, but not as great as Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus.
Okay album, like Cave’s imagery and imagination in his songwriting, music doesn’t pull me in.
I liked. I don’t fully understand Nick Cave but I’m ok with that.
first few tracks are a decent groove, namely "papa won't leave you, henry" and "straight to you" but christina the astonishing and onward feel like a severe drop-off in quality for me, lacks a lot of strength. still decent and mostly worth listening to but you can jump ship after the a-side. though the progression on "when i first came to town" is decently interesting.
When I was younger I used to really like Nick Cave for the passion and expression in his voice. Now that I'm older I find him repetitive and annoying.
Punk. Blues. Folk
This is our fourth Cave album, and I've ranged around a bit with the first 3 in terms of scoring (2 for The Boatman's Call, 3 for Murder Ballads, and 4 for Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus). I think this one is also a 3 - it sounds most like Abattoir Blues of the previous three, but doesn't have the same catchiness, lyrical interestingness, or energy. Even Straight to You (the best song on this album imo) doesn't hit the level of the top 5 tracks on Abattoir Blues.
Think this is my third (or so) Nick Cave record, and I find myself appreciating his showmanship more than the music. He knows how to carry a feeling, but none of these songs really stick with me. The storytelling, however, is great. Favorite track: "Straight To You"
Nick is always an interesting and sometimes fascinating listen. His storytelling is dark and the songs fit the mood and persona of his vampire looks. Don't know if so many of his albums deserve to be on the list, but you can do a whole lot worse.
After four listens, I am convinced that I am definitively on the fence on the Bad Seeds. The arrangements are graceful and well-mannered, and Cave’s gentrified Revelations for drunkard hams occasionally prise open my old ear flaps. But I cannot truly love carnival, it seems.
This was decent and it had some cool songs. I wouldn’t listen to this regularly but it had some potential.
Some of me wants to like this and some of me doesn't want to. The guitar in the intro is so cool sounding. I love the concept of the outlaw acoustic guitar in all of it's cool badass glory. I just don't love his voice from first listen. I've heard of him before but never really looked into his stuff. I think this sort of sound is really cool but his voice just doesn't grab me. I was hoping that I could read a little about his past and that would help me along but it didn't. There's just something inauthentic about an Australian guy who studied art whose parents were librarians / english+math teachers singing about the American South / West. I'm not saying I have the best ear or intuition ever, but I feel like this persona is so put on. I'm trying to like it. I'm going to give it another listen in a different context.
Wow, I've never heard anything quite like this before! What a performance! Big theatricality - he's not leaving anything on the table here. That's awesome. Sometimes he sounds like he's doing some twisted, modern version of Elvis or Roy Orbison. Mostly he sounds like no one else. The songwriting is very good too. The lyrics grabbed my attention more than once. Feels like this album exists in its own strange world.
Acoustic instrumentation with theatrical vocals, definitely unique
First Listen I've heard and really enjoyed other Nick Cave albums. This one, after first listens, doesn't really seem to be as good as the others. Still, it's Nick Cave - so I have some pretty high expectations. Standouts: Straight to You, I Had a Dream Joe I'll have to keep listening to this one... 3/5
Kinda into it... does that mean I need help?
Starts slowly and builds. I liked it.
Really good, a few of my favorite songs of his on this one.
3.5/5
Nick Cave either I enjoy quite a bit, or is just alright, and this is one of the latter. There's some good tunes here, but also a good chunk of boring ones, and despite the normal length, it does drag on. Still, pretty okay, just know there's better.
So this is the third Nick Cave album I've got in the last little while. And while I have enjoyed his and his band's music, I'm starting to wonder what the difference is across all of his/their albums. The songs always have integrated, sprawling lyrical themes - with a bit of darkness/occult and explicit (even sexual) imagery. The compositions are also always soaring and his deep voice fills it. It's cool and unique and all. And I really like some of these albums. But do they all need to be on the 1,001 list? This is his seventh album so I'm not sure it's trailblazing. I didn't mind it and I'm certainly willing to listen to more of his stuff. But I don't know what makes it distinctive.
Nick Cave always seems like such an angry guy. I can't imagine him singing a song like "Shiny Happy People" or "Perfect Day". It's just... you're not putting on Nick Cave at a party. It's not there to make you feel good. You're ready to start drinking and feeling terrible about yourself and everything. And while there is a place for that, I don't know if I was ready for 45 minutes of it.
It was ok not reallyu my style
First experience with full Nick Cave & Bad Seeds album. Fun dark romp, a few standout tracks but hoping for a little more on the next one
It's got a little bit of a Meatloaf vibe. Straight to You sounds a little too much like I'm in the dentist office in the early 2000s (Hootie and the blowfish). Brother my cup is empty - there's a bit of a cowboy vibe in here (like devil went down to georgia) - like the singer has a point to prove. Christina the Astonishing is a little too much telling a story over vamped music - it's super uninteresting, except for maybe the lyrics, which I'm not interested in. It's really mostly fine. It's well produced, the sound is pretty good. It sounds sorta like normal music although John Finn's Wife has a lot of strings and production value which is cool. It's too narrative for what I prefer.
I respect the musicianship but Cave's Gothic creepy thing just isn't for me.
This is storytime with Nick Cave and it is as depraved and insane as one would imagine. It’s a twisted tale told through Caves crooning wail. This really isn’t to my particular taste. I prefer his work with The Birthday Party. This though will hit hard for the black made up audiences that’ll generally enjoy Caves current project.
More upbeat than I expected. Hard shick Nick Cave recorded here
When the first track started, I thought I would like the record more than I actually did. It’s fine but didn’t change my life.
B- Papa Won't Leave You, Henry 3 I Had a Dream, Joe 4 Straight to You 3 Brother, My Cup Is Empty 3 Christina the Astonishing 4 When I First Came to Town 3 John Finn's Wife 3 Loom of the Land 3 Jack the Ripper 3 I only knew one Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds song before this. My expectations were actually pretty low because of all the hate I've seen for this guy online. However, I like his stuff!
The music itself was fine. Still really dislike Nick Cave's voice and face. 5/10
3,5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Henry's Dream," released in 1992, is a bold exploration of dark, narrative-driven rock. Cave's lyrical prowess shines in tracks like "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry," and the band's performance is powerful. However, the album may feel less innovative compared to some of their other works. While maintaining Cave's signature intensity, it lacks the groundbreaking impact of previous releases. The production, while solid, doesn't break new ground. "Henry's Dream" is a competent addition to the band's discography, earning a respectable 3/5 for its strong storytelling and performance, but it doesn't reach the heights of their best work.
Mooi, maar soms is gaat nick’s stem nogal z’n eigen weg.
Toch wel weer veel moois gehoord op dit album.
Lekker energiek en gedreven. Love it.
Wederom geen slechte plaat, maar na welgeteld 5 Nick Cave albums (birthday party niet eens meegerekend) vind ik eigenlijk dat er een regel moet komen dat er maar 1 plaat van een band terecht mag komen in deze lijst.
While I haven't seen this album categorized as a concept album, it kind of felt like one to me? I don't know, maybe all Nick Cave albums are a bit conceptual. I will also say this: hearing Nick Cave's albums is typically unlike anything else on this project. That said, I didn't love this album, but I didn't hate it. Some of songs really caught my attention, especially the closing track, "Jack the Ripper". This album is a mix of dark and gritty blues, punk, folk, and rock. Certainly a unique entry!
I don’t know why I can’t get into Nick Cave. I like this one less than that other one. Still not bad.
ugh no thanks we've had enough Nick Cave. 2/5.
Just can't get into this one. I like Nick's voice and swagger but the tunes are generic and uninventive. He's done better.
Lyrically was interesting, but not a big fan of early 90s yt music.
Nick Cave ends up all over the map for me. This one didn't really hit me right, and I think it's pretty much all down to the vibe of his singing on this album. Favorite track: Brother, My Cup is Empty
Strangeness. "Brother, My Cup Is Empty" reminds me of Jack Black so much. The overall sound makes me feel like the album doesn't take itself seriously. I don't know if it's the voice that sounds like someone parodying a singer, or what it is. It also reminds me at times of songs from TV shows like "I Think You Should Leave", especially the first song, "Papa Won't Leave You". Are the Bad Seeds a band of pirates lost at sea? What the heck is this album and what is it trying to do?
I get it, the curators here really dig Nick Cave. It comes built in with music appreciation pretensions. As for me, I fail to see any significant qualities on display here with this album other than extreme seriousness.
3? i like his voice kinda deep and intense. I downgrade to 2 because a few later songs were so dreary it was tedious.
The term Southern gothic comes to mind. This is a theatrical album with big songs that have pop hooks. It's OK. The band sounds good but I don't care for Cave's vocal performances.
30 secs in. already not a fan. Yeah this was buns
I think there was one other Nick Cave album on here. I'm not sure what I rated that one, but my review was probably similar. It's weird in a fun way that gets annoying after a while.
His style is very, very unique, and that fact alone give him a lot of credibility. After the hundreds of albums I’ve heard, it is quite impressive when an artist can sound so unlike any other to me. The only other artist I know of with somewhat similar music is Tom Waits. I feel very unsure what to think about this album. Part of me likes the energy and thinks it is very artistic and powerful and well put together, while another part of me thinks it is not that interesting or impressive or enjoyable. Actually that’s how I’ve felt about most of Nick Cave’s discography, he may be my most controversial artist. He’s been one of the harder artists for me to rate 2.5/5 for now, but someday I want to return to some of his albums
Not the worst Nick Cave album, but still not a fan.
3.5 - I liked these types of hard strummin’, guttural croonin’, Irish-soundin’, whiskey drinking’, whore murderin’ pirate ditties better on “Murder Ballads.” On this album the schtick wears thin and I prefer the few tracks that stray from the mold, particularly “Loom of the Land” and “Jack the Ripper.”