Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Haunting music with good storytelling. A great Australian classic
Not my jam
Fuckin NOPE. This sounds like someone ran through a guitar center hitting (or strumming) every instrument at random.
This album was fine. Nothing special. I'm not sure why it would be on this list. Not for me.
I honestly quite like this guy and his songs, Although I couldn't see myself constantly wanting to hear his songs come on
This… sucked. I just couldn’t find a pathway into its vibe, and the songwriting which should’ve been its strength left me cold.
Couldn't wait for this to be over. It's certainly 'alternative' as Apple music assumes that's it's genre. It's alternative from being good. Hesitant 1 star.
Original and weird is almost always a good thing, and Nick Cave is no exception. Good, but not great. 3
Henry’s Dream is one of those albums which embody the phrase flawed masterpiece. Cave might have been reacting to the way his previous album, The Good Son, was received. Perhaps he was told one too many times that he’d mellowed, and he wasn’t ready to mellow. If Good Son was his happy place, with it’s chilled, stripped back lyricism, this is - different. I keep being put in mind of Johnny Cash if you can imagine him at his lowest ebb, raging drunk and angry but still seeing twisted visions of heaven and hell. Musically it toys with country music and gospel but twists both to its own lyrically dark but oddly compelling place.
Holy shit the opener for this album is absolutely incredible. Is this finally the album that I really start to "get" Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds? For the first four tracks, it certainly seemed that way. The energy of three of the four first tracks was infectious, fun, and interesting. Then it started to oscillate between high and low energy songs. Songs that dragged and dragged and songs that really hit you in the face with their attitude and energy. I really thought it would be a five star venture, but when it drags, it drags and I don't suffer that very well. So it ends up at four stars. Do I get Nick Cave now? I suppose so. At times it feels gothic, dark, and pessimistic, at times to feels heartfelt and longing, and I can appreciate it for its variety. I don't love him like some folks do, but I can see the appeal and his longevity makes sense to me now. He and the Bad Seeds started in '83 and they're still going today. That's meaningful, and it says something about their impact. Standout Tracks: Papa Won't Leave You Now, I Had a Dream, Brother, My Cup is Empty, John Finn's Wife, Jack the Ripper
Not Nick's best work, but Papa won't leave you Henry and Straight to you are obvious highlights
First time hearing this band and music. Couldn't get into it this time.
Not digging this. Too something...not sure what
Zionist and genocide apologist. Pah. I never rated him that highly. Heroin chic never did it for me. Some of his later stuff is good. But this is dire empty nothing. Not here though. A must miss. And yes I know that there are those who love him. That’s perfectly ok. But any genocide apologist is morally abhorrent.
I like Nick Cave's late 80s, early 90s albums, and I bought this when it first came out. And it's a fine example his oeuvre; the songs are well crafted and the band is tight. But I don't feel like this is a standout Nick Cave album. I don't get why _this_ album is on the list over some that were more commercially successful or had bigger hits or some other more noteworthy feature. Would this be the album you played to anyone to convince them of Nick's worthiness? I'm not sure... I enjoyed it, but I was already a fan. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
Enjoyable but wouldn’t call it fantastic. Sea shanty vibes but Nick Cave has a stellar voice. Comes out hot but drags a bit in the middle. Fave tracks: Papa won’t leave you Henry, and John Finn’s wife
1992. The singer has a strong deep voice and they have a bluesy grit to them.
Completely unfamiliar with this much-referenced Nick Cave album. It doesn't have any of the songs I know and love from him, and yet it feels like a threshold amongst his fandom. Anything before this can be considered "early cave". Love the drinking song vibe of the first song, and the bleakly country-but-not-country feel throughout. Emphasised especially with the crickets and night wildlife sounds on Christina the Astonishing.
Finally some good ass fucking music! I think my appreciation for any given Nick Cave album is based entirely on how Big it is, so this is near the top.
Growling.
blustering and glowering
Ich hab immer wieder versucht bei Nick Cave mich besser reinzuhören, aber bisher hab ich kein Album bis zum Schluss geschafft. Dieses hier schon. Hat mir sehr gut gefallen und bin bereit es sehr bald nochmal zu hören.
this is the reason why I hadn't listened to more Nick Cave, this album isn't anywhere near as good as the others on this list by him and this was the only previous NC album I had heard. long live the list!
cant do it
Another good Nick Cave album. Compositions and production on this one I really liked. 3.8/5
Decent Nick Cave. It's somewhere between the wilder solo albums and No More Shall We Part. I liked it but it's fairly down my list of Nick Cave I would wanna revisit. 3/5
Not a fan.
4/5
papa wont leave you, henry- 8. why did he eat so hard i had a dream, joe- 7 straight to you- 7 brother, my cup is empty- 7 christina the astonishing- its giving agnes. 7 when i first came to town- 6 or 7 john finns wife- 7 loom of the land- 6 or 7 jack the ripper- 7 thank you, nick 🙏🙏🙏
I don't really get the appeal. The arrangements are quite theatrical, which makes sense. The vocals are simply abysmal. Pass.
Great album! Big Cave fan.
Well — I was sure surprised. Nick Cave is another artist I thought I had a good handle on. I mean, I'd heard his song on the SHREK 2 soundtrack (yep, he's another one of those). I'd heard all about the album that song comes from, THE BOATMAN'S CALL. He's a guy who makes sad piano songs — or at least just melancholic or depressing. I knew what I'd be getting into here. My first clue that I actually had no idea what I was in for was when I read this album's Wikipedia page and saw it labelled as "punk blues." I had to read it again: "punk blues." It just didn't sound right to me. My assumption, honestly, was that this was some one-off change-of-sound album. Y'know, an experiment, maybe. Everything else probably still sounded as I expected this, but for this one album they were trying something else. And when I finally got around to giving it a shot... Oh, wowie me. The first word my mind conjured within the first three tracks was "epic." That's really how it sounded to me, with its driving riff and orchestration and how the backing vocals accentuated everything... I was a little stunned for a moment. This was incredible. Completely and truly incredible. This is some of the stuff Nick Cave & His Bad Seeds were doing, and I'm only just now finding out? Honestly now. I wanna highlight "John Finn's Wife" especially; now **that** is a song worthy of the word "epic" if I ever heard one. And to be clear, I mean in the sense of how I perceive size and scope, and not so much in the standard "meaningless synonym for amazing" kind of way. And actually, as the album went on, "epic" kind of felt insufficient to describe the album as a whole. I struggled to find the right one for a moment, but in the middle of "Loom Of The Land", it finally hit me: "cinematic." The songs on this album feel grandly cinematic. Even hardly listening to the lyrics like I normally don't, I could only imagine these songs being projected on a large theater screen, playing out as dramatically as they could without running over into straight parody. Like, goodness, I wanna emphasize again: this was all from the guy and band I knew solely for "People Ain't No Good". Who would've known they were capable of this? The answer: most people, probably. If there's anything this album taught me, it's that I got it all backwards. THE BOATMAN'S CALL, as it turns out, is where the band's sound actually changed. HENRY'S DREAM, meanwhile, is more likely what they sounded like before that point. Well, maybe a little less post-punk (yecch) than I've been reading, but still. And not that this group even has just one sound, anyway; it seems more recent albums have dived into electronic and ambient stuff. But we're talking about this album, and as an introduction to what Nick Cave & His Bad Seeds were capable of beyond that one song from SHREK 2... Well, dang. Consider me intrigued to see what the rest of their catalog has to offer. Handily a solid recommendation from me, and yet more proof after Tom Waits that the SHREK 2 soundtrack seal of approval is a real thing. Well, it's real as long as I don't listen any further to Dashboard Confessional, anyway.
I get why this is labeled under "Punk Blues" on the Wikipedia page for this album. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 4. This is my first time listening to Nick Cave, who I’ve heard *of*, but never *heard* until now. For a first impression, I think this is pretty good – lots of heavier but very intentionally designed soundscapes, some good grit in the vocals, and a nice progression throughout a lot of the tracks that keeps them as captivating listens. I don’t think there’s ever a bad song here, & for the most part, I enjoyed a lot of this album. The big key issue I have with this album is about some of the storytelling on a handful of tracks on the back half, specifically Tracks 6, 8, & 9. It’s not that the songwriting is necessarily bad, but they each have their own issues that keep each track from feeling very satisfying, dragging out the 41 minute runtime of the album into something that feels longer. “When I First Came To Town” is a great listen, but the lack of a reveal for why exactly all these townsfolk have turned on the guy leaves it feeling empty for me, combined with the soundscape getting a bit sterile within the last minute or two, reaching the peak of intensity just early enough to overstay its welcome. “Loom of the Land” suffers from a lot of the same issues, enhanced further by the story in the track just not being very interesting. “Jack the Ripper” sort of suffers from these same things, but my issue there is more so that the big intense buildup in each instrumental just feels a bit overdone by that point in the album. It’s also just a bad vibe to end the album on, with the whole toxic relationship thing. They’re all good tracks to listen to, but they’re nowhere near as exciting as the instrumentals and vocals make them out to be, & that disconnect is just biting at me too much. That excitement is thankfully present on the front half of the album – I think the first 4 tracks here click really nicely, & while “Christina the Astonishing” might feel like a similar sort of drag, the calmer nature of that track worked really nicely for me as a pace breaker to the intensity of the first 4. Mileage may vary, depending on how much you want to listen to a story of a woman so saintly she can smell sin. “John Finn’s Wife” is probably my standout track of the album – just a good old-fashioned duel over a lady, with a great blend of storytelling & vocal/instrumental intensity that feels befitting of the scope & scale it’s reaching for. Overall, it’s a slightly mixed bag – if the storytelling is never captivating, this album will never really click, and it’ll probably be a 3 that’s in way over its head. If it is captivating, then it’ll click a lot of the time, and be a 4 or a 5, depending on your parameters for a good story. For my tastes, I’m at a 4, mainly because the album experience feels just a bit longer than it should on the back half, with the instrumentals / length of each track never quite matching the true scope of the storytelling. It’s still a pretty recommended listen, though, and I do hope there’s more Nick Cave on the list.
No one does it like Nick cave. Strong imagery. Cool music. Kind of mysterious. A strong album.
this was disappointing. i generally like Nick Cave’s stuff but i feel like there was TOO much energy in this record. his voice is unique and works best for the slower, somber songs (Loom Of The Land was my favorite from this one) and i think his yell/singing doesn’t work that well.
8/10 Highlights: Brother my Cup is Empty Papa Wont Leave You Henry I had a Dream Joe Straight to You
Nicks not the most agreeable man. His band are Even worse! I remember when he was starting out. We met him on our tour of Fiji. He was desperate for advice on a suitable band name! Len was grumpy. Dangerous combination! Len shouted something derogatory at Nick and then shouted ‘and lose those idiots. They’re all bad seeds’….the rest is history. 2.4
ok
This album was just ok for me. The songs and instrumentation was fine, but there's something about his voice that I don't really like but I can't really put my finger on what it is. I was glad when it ended. I wouldn't listen to this again.
Not sure this one is for me.
This feels like a pirate discovered pop rock. I don't think it's a good combo. I honestly really don't have much else to say. It's kind of generic otherwise, and it's just not that good a listen. Favorite Song(s): Papa Won't Leave You, Henry
goth-punk-blues magnificence incredible live too
My first experience with Nick Cave. Weird one. I think I like Cave. I think. I need to listen to more. I’ll try some of the older albums to see if it sinks in. This album was good. Listened to the end and went back to repeat a few songs. 3⭐️
I guess I'm like the only person who absolutely dislikes Nick Cave. His voice is terrible and music isn't much better. *shrug* Not sure why people say he's one of the best and most influential musicians out there. Did not enjoy a single song on this album. 1/5
Great fucking album, lots of good, strong choruses here
Favorite songs: "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry", John Finn's Wife, "Brother, My Cup is Empty", "I Had a Dream, Joe", Loom of the Land, Jack the Ripper, Straight to You Least favorite songs: Christina the Astonishing 5/5
i hate you
Pre-listening thoughts: yeah okay sure I liked the last one from him well enough so let’s see Post/during listening thoughts: and that was the night the skeletons came to life 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Straight to You, John Finn’s Wife, Jack the Ripper Least fav tracks: n/a
Very seashantish; not bad, but that is what is most memorable.
4.1 3x with lyrics it's quite a good story
You get two stars instead of 1 because I made it to the end of this album
The last three songs are worth the price of admission.
Sounds like Nick Cave. Usual poetic musings.
Okay, this was actually good. Maybe I just don't like what sounds like his newer stuff
weird, he doesn't really sing and just seems angry 2 out of 10
Weird album, I can already tell the list likes this guy. But I like this one much more than I like the other one. Weird voice, shlocky type of sound all the way through. Feels like the soundtrack for an art house film, and sorta love that. Though not sure I'd listen on an album, could see this being dope in concert.
This is probably one of my least fave Bad Seeds albums. Good but not in comparison to the others
Never listened to him. Not bad a little melodramatic
Cave is not what i'd like to listen to, but this one is okay
Good. Not as good as Murder Ballards, but love Nick Cave
Nick Cave albums two days in a row, what are the chances
Bizarre album not sure there are any bangers but was interesting to listen to.
I've never really listened to Nick Cave. I know a guy who is obsessed so I am going to be judging you, John, this whole listen... John, my guy, I gotta say: awesome taste in music! This was a great listen. Nick Cave is like this demonic pastor soaked in whiskey and cigarette smoke, delivering a gravelly sermon over gospel-inspired instrumentals. The tracks feel less written/recorded and more like a wild spirit possessed the band and this is what came out. I got similar vibes as Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible": there's an apocalyptic homily feel that gives it vitality. I guess I have to listen to more Nick Cave now.
Interesting, not bad, but not for me.
After one listen, this album feels like it's right on the 4/5 border for me. It's hard to give out 5's in general, and especially when I've only heard each song once as background music. I really enjoyed my time with this album though, so I guess I'll round up. 4.5
Album number 7 for Nick with the Bad Seeds, and this is the one where it all comes together. Nick Cave is the Quentin Tarantino of Indie Rock - master storyteller of blood soaked dramas. Great songwriter - and (unlike Dylan/Cohen/Young) blessed with a fine voice. The Bad Seeds through their various incarnations have always been a blistering force of nature. Live they are a beast, and I was lucky enough to see them perform some of this album in 1993 with Nick prowling and scowling in the Adelaide heat. Have seen him a dozen times since, and the Bad Seeds have changed over time, but this incarnation features members who appear elsewhere in the 1001 - Mick Harvey (later features with PJ Harvey, Martin P Casey (Triffids), and Bliza Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten). Previous albums were a mixed bag. The Good Son shines with The Weeping Song and the Ship Song, and Tender Prey with Mercy Seat and Deanna. Henry's Dream is just about all winners. Arrangements are dense and lush but not at all soft. Nick does get mellow later on, but this phase for me is peak angry Nick and I'm here for all that he'll give.
I was dreading this one as I’ve never really liked Nick Cave’s extremely gloomy , brooding style. But this! I liked
Boring, high 2
I wish that great voice could hit the right notes more often.
I enjoyed this album a lot more than his other work that I have heard, probably my favorite so far. It is more relaxed and maybe a little more mainstream compared to his other maybe more recent stuff. I like the music and the vocals on this album where his vocals in other work is not my thing, maybe it's more serious or something. This is an album of his that I can actually see myself listening to again.
This was fine, they definitely have their own sound, but by the second half I felt like I heard a lot of this already. Nick Cave is a talented vocalist but he's just never done it for me. I've known so many people that swear by him/them, and there's a few tracks I like more than other stuff I've heard, but nothing really grabbed me.
After I finished, I Googled, “is Nick Cave a magician.” Here is the answer, “No, the Nick Cave you're likely thinking of, the musician and frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is not a magician, but rather an Australian musician, writer, and actor. The other Nick Cave, an American sculptor, dancer, and performance artist, is known for his "Soundsuit" creations. “ Every song started and I thought, this is going to suck. The ones that picked up were a pleasant surprise. I’m not sure if I would’ve rated it under 3 stars but he hypnotized me to round up.
This is alright, not really my thing. I was at least interested to learn how long this band has been around because I only knew of them through Peaky Blinders with Red Right Hand. I think that one song is pretty much enough of this kind of music for me.
Ehh, this one’s not for me. I enjoyed the band, but the singer kind of ruined it for me. I get this is one of those punk/folk/artsy acts that people who smoke American Spirits probably all love, but I found the up - down, sing songy voice, with surprise inflections out of nowhere to be irritating. I’d take Go Go Bordello or Angry Johnny and The Killbillies over this. 2.5 ⭐️ rounding up for the band
I don't really get it. Wikipedia calls it punk blues, which I should like....but it's just not hitting. 2.5 - rounding down because I really have no desire to run this one back.
Can’t believe people go crazy for this guy. It’s just a bunch of rockabilly, and he doesn’t even sing, just kinda talk-shouts the lyrics. People really take this seriously?
4.6 - Great album. In a similar vain to Tom Waits, there is just so much gravitas to his voice and music
Doesn't do it for me. 2.3/5
It's nothing if not fun. A sort of folk revival with lyrics leaning into the horror side of folk, but horror in a B-movie overdramatic kind of way. Not sure if having four Nick Cave albums on the list is really warranted, especially since "Murder Ballads" has a similar concept but is more refined.
This is my second Nick Cave album in 3 days and I gotta say, he's kinda nice with it
John Finn’s wife bumped this album from a 2 to a 3. Those strings are sensational
I’m leaving this album feeling very confused. Do I like this album?? Did Nick Cave mind fuck me into liking this album?? I’m not sure so I’ll just sit here on the fence.
I do not enjoy this all that much. 1.5
There is an intensity to a bad seeds album that is completely unique This is unrelenting Only kept off 5 by the greater albums they would later make
When I started this challenge almost 3 years ago, I barely recognized the name Nick Cave as "someone famous for some reason that I'm unsure, but probably related to music." Now, after noting that the list has a lot of his work (with Bad Seeds and also others), I consider myself an almost specialist in Cave's work 😅. Their works are normally very different between them, which is nice, even being very unexpected sometimes. This one I consider quite classic Nick Cave, which is pretty nice to me, so 4 stars from a new almost fan.
This was definitely not the worst m Nick Cave album. I liked parts of it enough. It was fine. I didn’t hate it.
3.5/5
I am struggling with his irritating vocal style which comes across as "faintly drunk pub folk singer". Why must he stick "-uh" to the end of most lines? "dream-uh", "reverend-uh", "neck-uh", "head-uh". It is an intensely annoying vocal tick. The lyrics might be deep and meaningful but I can't listen to the delivery. 1/5.
12/1001 Nope. Sorry. Nick Cave just irritates me. His vocal delivery irritates me. Widely regarded as a great lyricist he may be, but all I hear here is a load of cliches about whisky, preachers, storms, angels and "heading on down the road". Which also irritates me. I get that Cave is a bit of a character, and I can't deny he is a creative guy who has kept himself busy over the years. Kudos to him for that. But this is all just a bit too pretentious for me. Dark and brooding, the musical arrangements are vaguely interesting, but they'd have to be something really special to make me warm to 40-plus minutes of harping on about how hard life was for an imaginary protagonist in an imaginary wild west.
Angry white guy shit but I love it. Love nick Cave but hadn’t deeped this album. Some real haunting western shit.
2/9, 22%
It's finally time for the earliest Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album on the list! Like the other two albums of his I've gotten so far, I think Henry's Dream is pretty good! It might be the weakest of the three I've gotten, but that is by super slim margins. It's basically interchangeable with The Boatman's Call. However, that's not to say that those two albums are basically the same. On the contrary, I actually really like how different the two albums are. The Boatman's Call is a slower, more emotional album, while Henry's Dream is significantly more energetic. Fortunately, Nick Cave is talented enough to be able to play in both styles. Still, his songwriting remains as great as ever despite this being earlier in his career. The thing that really sticks out with this album is the storytelling, which is especially great on songs like the opener, "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" and "John Finn's Wife." Back to the sound, I really like the energy of this album. It's clear that Nick Cave isn't just some mopey guy who only sings about his emotions. He's an artist with tons of different ideas with what kind of music to make. That's what I like about him. Of course, there are more melodic parts of the album, including what is arguably its highlight, "Straight to You." I love that song. The singing is a bit different from the other albums, but I like it just the same. This is a pretty consistent album. It may not be my favorite Nick Cave album, but I still really enjoyed it, and I'd say I'm becoming more and more of a fan the more I listen to these albums. Henry's Dream is a strong album. High 4/5.
An intersting fusion of rock ballads with shanties- had some songs that were good, but was a little monotonous in both tone and subject matter. Overall- decent album. 2.5/5
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry // I Had a Dream, Joe // Straight to You // Loom of the Land // 3.5/5
This is the fifth Nick Cave album I have gotten. I get that people like Cave but enough is enough. I liked this album better than his other albums, but I still don't get it.
Definitely better than the one I had of theirs previous - the bright coloured one, I think it's got some flowers on it. Can't remember the name and can't be arsed to look. The first four tracks are phenomenal, but it gets a three because everything else after that is a considerable drop off, which is a shame really.
Very dramatic. Feels almost like a musical score
Ovo mi je jedan od najdražih caveova iako je zapravo jedno po albuma neću reć za kurac, ali ono dosadno
There are a handful of songs by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds that I like a lot, but most of it is too moody for its own good. I'm disappointed that there isn't more to value in the lyrics given that I generally like a lot of their sound.
Meh. 2/5. I don't think this is his best.
The more Nick Cave writes like a teen who's just discovered gothic fiction, the less I like him. Not his finest work, this.
He's here again... great.
Big fan. Engaging and interesting songs. the lyrics are, as always with Nick Cave, great, and the songs themselves are really enjoyable to listen to (especially the first half of the album). Starting off with Papa Won't Leae You Henry is a killer start to the album. Really enjoyable. 4.5/5 stars.
I started watching Peaky Blinders last night and noticed extensive use of Cave music in the first epi. Makes sense and this album feels like the same kind of background music. Very good for that purpose but not as distinctive as the Good Son or other Cave albums.
"I thought it was INTERESTING" - Tim Robinson A bunch of songs like...telling stories is an interesting concept and sometimes it works but a LOT of times it does not. Which is a shame, because the beginning starts off soooo good. Sometimes the songs just drag and his voice is a little difficult to get into at times. The songs kinda start to sound similar too... Liked Songs: "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" , "Straight to You" , "When I First Came to Town" , "John Finn's Wife" , "Jack the Ripper"
liked songs: I don't think Nick Cave can sing in tune. The music itself is interesting, sort of like a western/rock soundtrack. Not my favorite album, but it's not bad. 2.5
I liked nick caves morbid songs about death more
# Album Name: Henrys Dream # Artist: Nick Cave # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Yeah, i still dont get the hype about nick cave. Was alright. # Top Tunes: Jack the ripper # Would I listen to it again? No
I feel like we have had him before and that was enough (side point...i would argue more that one album from any band is too much, we get there voice and influence in one album). I don't get his appeal, he is obsessed with death... He is goth and trying to be shocking and against the grain. This one was more palatable then the last but still just grating. It almost feels like he is trying to hard and turning it into satire, which would make it better, but it's not... It feels like a waste of time and space on the list where I could discover someone else worthwhile
Here's Australian artist Nick Cave again. We've had Abattoir Blues (2004) which was a weird and wonderful album. And we've had his earlier band Junkyard (Birthday Party 1982) which was a big piece of shit album. So Henry's Dream is more mid-career (1992). He's an interesting songwriter. I liked the first 4 songs the best. I like the music on Jack the Ripper but sounds like a very dysfunctional relationship that I don't really want to hear about. John Finn's wife is pretty good and definitely shows his chops on storytelling. I like that his poetry and songwriting is pretty savage and has a lot of guts.
I’ve never heard any of this album before. I’m blown away. It’s dark in an ancient and modern way all at once.
This album gives me Meatloaf vibes. He really brings the drama and I have no idea what he’s singing about half the time. But I love Meatloaf for that, and I kinda loved this too. I guess it’s all a dream and that’s why it’s so strange? I like the first four songs best. Would be a 5 if the rest hadn’t fallen off a little after that. Another great discovery!
Everyone I've known who likes Nick Cave is someone I thought had "cool" taste in music. But I never got into it. Go figure. This falls in that category of albums in this project whose singers don't always bother to sing in key. Not sure why there are so many of those in here. I do think the cinematic instrumentation here keeps it more interesting than the new wave stuff. Categorized as punk blues on Wikipedia, I definitely hear both contributing genres and also think each is improved by being mixed with the other. I've always loved The White Stripes (also punk blues) so I'm not exactly surprised to like something else categorized the same way as them, but I am surprised at this particular combination because I don't usually like punk or blues. This album is definitely cool. Standout tracks are "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" and "Loom of the Land."
Folksy. Not sure it's my kind of folk though. Almost felt inspired by old Celtic folk songs. Not anything I was super excited by.
I'm a huge Nick Cave fan, and have most (but not all) of his catalog. That said, while this is a solid disc, its definitely not one of his best. This, like many other sub-optimal picks (in my short time on this list) makes me wonder whether some selections (like this one) are largely random - i.e.,. someone who knows that there should be some Nick Cave on this list but doesn't know his work well enough to choose one of his best disc. Still, the guitar on I Had a Dream, Joe is brilliant and Nick's lyrics (and voice) are always spectacular.
I had never listened to nick cave before this list. I’m glad I’ve now been exposed to him but there is too much nick cave here. This was decent.
Less morose than most of his music that I’ve heard. While generally not my taste, these songs are well written and better than expected.
Enough of this guy already. What is it with PJ Harvey, Bjork and Nick Cave that these guys can't get enough of? This is fine. Has Pouges vibes but is not as good.
Meh
Meh
I enjoy the music, but his vocals are a bit too growly for my liking. Whenever it becomes closer to old-fashioned singing I really enjoy myself, but that's a bit too infrequent for me to get into this.
Surprising.still unclear on this one but i would gie it a 3.5/5 but rounded up rather than down.
It's some of the most annoying music ever. I tried and tried but could not make it through any of the songs
Quite enjoyed this, but I’m not sure what it adds that the other two Nick Cave albums I’ve already listened to from this list didn’t provide. Fingers crossed there isn’t a 4th!
Nick Cave is an interesting one. Knew a few songs prior to this process, but not many have come up so far. And what has come up hasn’t quite grabbed me. This is probably the best yet though. Simpsons: No
That's enough of your music, Nick.
Well now I've listened to this I've only got 2 more Nick Cave albums on this list to listen to so that's something I guess? How the hell does this guy appear 6 times on this list? It's not bad, but like, what the hell am I missing with this geezer? Each additional album has added absolutely nothing and is just more of the same apart from Junkyard, which was absolute dogshit.
This was another one where lyrically it was pretty boring. There were some really interesting instrumental phrases though. His singing style and voice seemed to work best in songs like Loom of the Land.
Tons of great tracks with the epic sweep I expect from Nick Cave.
A really strange album. It was pretty abrasive and odd, discordant and overwhelming. Some songs really drag and I wouldn't want to listen to this all the time, but I still found it somewhat engaging and liked some moments. I could revisit this if I was in the right mood for something strange - but I probably won't. 3
Omfg another nick cave how is that possible so soon but fine Well this one is a little more energetic than the last one, is he like a vampire or something? Dude looks like the whole cast of true blood Yeah this one is weird but fun but unsettling but funny? Idk. I like it
Nick Cave #5, no change in my comment. no need to hear before I die !
I was very excited when I saw this album pop up as I love Nick Cave, but this album disappointed. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but it just doesn’t work for me. 2
As much as I love Nick Cave to death, I’ve always kind of wrestled with and never been able to reconcile how to feel about the violence (and sometimes misogynistic or homophobic violence) in his (earlier) music. I think there has to be a place for storytelling of all types (including the vulgar, aggressive, uncomfortable, etc.) in art and media, but also acknowledging some of it is pretty awful to listen to and not to be celebrated or excused. As I said, I don’t really know and probably never will, but interesting to consider. Anyway, Straight to You is always gorgeous, a perfect song. (3.5 stars)
Loved the gritty, baritone singing, the use of slow and fast/quiet and aggressive dynamics within songs, the storytelling lyrics. I think this will stick in my head the same way Rain Dogs from Tom Waits did as a unique and compelling album to come back to. 4.5 stars.
He sounds like he’s singing a different song than the band is playing
7/10
Diappsointing. Not as melodic and musical.
Would not listen again, but rounding up to three; objectively I’m interested, subjectively I don’t like it; his voice doesn’t always work for me again. Favorites: straight to you, brother my cup is empty, when i first came to town.
Nick Cave invents goth country and considers it an abject failure. that's the type of guy you're dealing with -- in a relentless struggle with Neil Young's producer of some 20+ years, he invents a genre that seems like a no-brainer when you consider it (melding the godliness of country with the creepiness of post-punk, either by lyric or sound) and then when asked a few decades later says "oh yeah that record kinda disappoints me". something haunts "Henry's Dream", not some supernatural spirit or ideology, but rather this inescapable misery of the open road. the bass hums like a red neon sign, flickering light in the shampe of a smiling cowboy on the empty horizon. Nick wails every lyric like he's screaming for his supper of whiskey in the last bar that'll serve him, offering tales to anyone willing to spare a couple of quarters. we tour America like jittering flies on a supine coyote, too old to keep going down the road. why do childhood cancer funds always name themselves [so and so]'s Dream? do you think your son would have wanted to be the poster boy of dying children? what would it be like for a miracle from God to happen and there still being a cancer foundation named after you? how would it feel to be dead to every stranger but yourself?
Perfectly fine enjoyable music, but I can’t imagine this being that influential tbh.
I like the storytelling on here, and the atmosphere that the band and Nick Cave creates. I am not sure if I think this is as good as, or better than, for example Let Love In, Abattoir Blues or The Boatman’s Call which are the other albums that I know from Nick Cave and band
Nick Cave is an odd dude. I think this is my 4th or 5th album by him so far. For me, he has one of the best and one of the worst albums on this list. This one's good and gets better with repeated listens.
Some doings have nice sound and lyrics. Decent
Meh, I found his shtick a bit annoying on this one
3.5/5
While not strictly a country album, Nick Cave channels the gothic country themes in order to convey his dark, unrelenting folk punk sound. There's an heavy theatrical element to each song which carries a narrative ballads that almost certainly influenced the likes of Murder Ballads a few years later. If anything has been clear to me since hearing Nick Cave's work, it's that he is consistent in his ability to deliver interesting, high-quality albums.
Не мое
Cool as fuck.
First song was pretty good, the rest is just melodramatic and unnecessary.
I'm quite a fan of Nick Cave (And The Bad Seeds), yet I first need to say that *Henry's Dream* is not exactly among my top-tier albums of his. Even with its obvious highlights "Papa Won't Leave You Henry" (a raucous dark "narrative" number only Cave can come up with) and "Straight To You" (a stellar, surprisingly heartfelt romantic ballad), I have always found that record slightly less effective overall compared to most other Bad Seeds LPs, whether they were released before or after it. And now reading about the production issues involving long-time Neil Young producer David Briggs (including a supposedly awful "mix" for some songs that had to be fixed later), it looks like my personal, subjective feelings about this album might also have stemmed from some factual shenanigans going on behind the scenes, here effecting the whole artistic intent of the LP... So why is this record in the list, then? Well, *Henry's Dream* helped Cave broaden his audience (there's a significant uptick in the charts position of the album compared to the ones of *Tender Prey* and *The Good Son*, and it also saw the Bad Seed charting outside of Oz and the UK for the first time). Were it not for the stellar follow-up LP *Let Love In* actually going even further in those accomplishments, *Henry's Dream* would be considered as Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' breakthrough album. Some members of Dimery's team are evidently very influenced by that sort of thing (which does not always make sense if you look back at it). Hence also why *Henry's Dream* is remembered fondly by some fans who may have discovered Nick Cave with this album. Or, I don't know, maybe the wonderful artwork evocative of southern gothic or modern wild west themes for the cover also played its part at some point... All that being said, it's still a *very good* Nick Cave album. Maybe the other issue is that the dark boogie and perverted bluegrass numbers on its first side might feel quickly redundant for some listeners. Like, what is "Brother, My Cup Is Empty" musically and vocally speaking if not *almost* a carbon copy of "Papa..." and "I Had A Dream, Joe"? Yet I have to admit that, taken individually, each of those three songs sound great nonetheless. Maybe if another order had been found for the tracklist, those similar-sounding cuts would have found more room to shine or breathe... Not that Cave and company don't explore other avenues once in a while, mind you, as the medieval, oneiric tale of "Christina The Astonishing" proves. The fantastic music here transcends lyrics about the legend of a crazed-out saint which could almost read like a Wikipedia entry -- evidence enough that the Bad Seeds were not solely a one-trick pony, and could produce some wild cards out of their sleeves if they wanted to. Likewise, the "Katie Cruel"-inspired "When I First Came To Town" see the Australian act treading on slightly different cinematic landscapes, owing more to western soundtracks or contemporary American road movies this time around. And the centerpiece of side two, "John Finn's Wife", is not merely a frantic, lively and ominous tragic string-laden cut. It's also the template of the *Murder Ballads* Cave would explore further a couple of albums down the road. Placed after "John Finn's Wife", the drowsier "The Loom Of The Land" feels a little mundane and underwhelming, unfortunately. But luckily, capper "Jack The Ripper" returns to catchier-yet-also-fully-sinister territories. It's a surprisingly *simple* song, enhanced by equally simple yet "haunted" background vocals. You might feel that it's *a little too simple* at times. But never forget that simplicity can also be an asset, at least depending on how it is pulled off. To put it in a nutshell, "Henry's Dreams" is a transitory, rather "streamlined" effort by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, which could still be as good an entry point in Cave's body of work as many of his famously "essential" full-length releases. That said, follow-up album *Let Love In* would take that newfound formula to admittedly more surprising and more sophisticated heights, while retaining its key characteristics and overall spirit. Which is why I will put *Henry's Dream* in my "waiting list* for now. After all, the tales of woe and gothic awe once routinely spun by Mr. Cave suggest that purgatory awaits most of anyway (if not worse). Surely, the titular "Henry" won't mind if he has to wait *just a little longer* now. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 461 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 274 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 334
I'm genuinely upset how many fucking nick cave albums are on this list.
I just don't see what anyone likes about this atonal rambling excuse for songwriting.
Never heard the album in its entirety, enjoyed it
Starts out really strong (love Papa won't leave you, Henry and Straight to You in particular) but fades out in the second half. I listened to the remastered version, so I'm not counting the original production issues that Cave didn't like against it.
Nick Cave is kind of an underground darling (ironically), but this is the first album of his that I really enjoyed. It's a little deranged, starting right with Papa Won't Leave You, Henry. This song is pretty awesome, and it's followed up by my next favorite on the album, I Had a Dream, Joe. The rest of the album is good, but the opening songs were really memorable to me, and this was so much better than Ghosteen or anything by The Birthday Party.
This is a fine album, not Nick's best but his usual high quality songwriting that is quite simply as ig quality as one can find. It's harder edged than a lot of his albums...featuring muscular (mostly) acoustic guitar riffs and pounding rhythm section that relentlessly keeps your toes tapping. This is an indie-folk-punk album with songs that kick you in the gut. And it's a Nick Cave album so there it's populated with a motley cast of characters that reveal multiple layers with each new listen. It's not a great Nick Cave album but that doesn't mean its not a great album...which it is. 4 stars.
The first song or two felt like this was going to be Nick Cave sings sea shanties, which I'm disappointed to say was not the case.
Papa Won't Leave You, Henry and I Had A Dream, Joe are both wild.
It's a slog! Out-of-tune singing, pretentious lyrics, uninteresting melodies.
The older he gets the better his music sounds, probably going to actually like the next album chronologically, this one was just ok for me.
Over the top and dramatic...but in a good way. It sometime feels like he is trying to hard, but I do enjoy the music.
Day 25 Album started to lose me a lil bit after the first four tracks, but overall, I did enjoy this way more than I was expecting to. Probably an 8
Meh
It took me a minute to get into this, but the writing quickly won me over. There is a palpable darkness in these stories - not demons and satan nonsense - the real dark side of human nature.
Très bon disque, mais pas mon préféré de Nick Cave. Il est peu trop sûr le 320 tout du long.
Not one I know very well
bleh
I do love this album. Four out of five only because I prefer the live versions of the tracks that appear on Live Seeds.
feels generic but I don't know what to compare it to. wouldn't buy the album but wouldn't be mad if I found it cheap at an op shop or something
I was pleasantly surprised by the last NC&TBS album I got; it was less depressing and dark and more interesting than I was expecting. This feels like a bit of a recalibration. I didn’t enjoy it much. It’s chaotic and a bit overly dramatic. I think Nick Cave has a great voice but it’s much more effective, in my opinion, when deployed in a more stripped-back and intimate manner.
OMG ANOTHER ONE?????
Pretty good, I liked it
Goeie muziek, ik vind Nick’s manier van zingen gewoon niet geweldig
I have to say that Nick Cave is growing on me.
This album is a bit much. So far I've rated Nick Cave 4, 4, 2, 4. Henry's Dream very much could be left off this list, and probably at least two of the others, even the ones that I liked.
Not for me
I really like it when the lyrical subject matter is so different from the music. Like death metal about love. I like the grim and gross lyrics against the bluesy and theatric music.
I’m not the most familiar with Nick Cave, having only heard a few of his albums so far. This was my third time listening to this album, but it had been a while since the first and second listens. Cave’s style definitely takes some getting used to, but as the album progresses, I find myself really drawn into his narrative vocal style. The music is just as compelling, though some tracks stand out more than others. To me, Nick Cave feels like a goth/punk version of a singer/songwriter.
Listening to Nick Cave is somewhat akin to what I imagine wearing a hairshirt would be like; moderate levels of discomfort serving as some form of penance. There is enlightenment in the agony. Cave is an excellent storyteller (favorite: Christina the Astonishing) and can even turn a pop song now and then (see: Straight to You). I’m not sure where this ranks in his canon, but it is a valid entry on this list.
I always had a hard time getting into Nick Cave up until he released 2019’s Ghosteen, which I love. Going back to Henry’s Dream with that newly developed appreciation for Nick helped me connect to it a little more. That being said, pre Ghosteen Nick Cave still doesn’t hit me. The band sounds good though and I enjoyed exploring this album enough to not skip around.
I just can't get into Nick Cave, or Leonard Cohen, or Lou Reed. I've tried. At this point, I think the problem is me, not them. Or, maybe it's their vocals. Yeah, that's it. It's them, not me. My musical taste is perfect and better than everyone else's. I'm sure that's it.... I did like the song Christina and the Astonishing. That was cool. I'll give this album a 3.
Will appeal to theater kids, especially if they're also into stuff like taxidermy and carnival freak shows and true crime. Wordy narrative melodrama delivered in a baritone both growly and crooning, with lush, emotive musical backing. It's not exactly my thing, but it isn't bad. 3.5
Cool Americans type backing music, but I just could not get into the signing.
Bad
2.5 rounded up, pretty meh
Great album from a very good artist who's body of work is exquisite
Can’t really think of anyone that I listen to that this sounds like, but an interesting blend of sounds/lyrics. I don’t know that I will ever listen to it again, but happy to diversify.
Kinda reminds me of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen but I relate more to their music than him for some reason I can't explain. The first few tracks are quite hard to get into, but then it either got better or I got used to his singing/songwriting style, and it got more decent. Christina the Astonishing was very hauntingly beautiful and I was in love with the background vocals in When I First Came to Town. Straight to You & Loom of the Land - a bit more loving though still very gloomy. The latter reminds me of Hannibal Lecter and his sister Mischa for some reason. 3.5/5. Might grow on me a bit more after a few more listens tho, which I'll defo give. Edit: It really did grow on me. 4/5
Bad way to end the year, onto 2025!
Different seed for sure
All very sad and all a bit same-y. Nic Cave is a legend but I did not get into this one.
Asking me to rate this album objectively is a lost cause. For many years, I’ve simply loved it. The songwriting and production are one of a kind, but what hypnotizes me is Nick’s delivery, so passionate and vulnerable. More than an album, Henry’s Dream is an experience. A goth tale with Dickensian characters.
Fav song: When I First Came To Town It's a little bit too 'broadway' for me I think. Really not a huge fan of the lyrics either, just a touch too musical theatre for me to take any of it as seriously as the music seems to take itself. Some great instrumentals though - Nick Cave has definitely got a great band.
Immediately recognizable to the point I have started comparing similar bands to the Nick Cage. This album didn’t really do it for me. A bit too dark, edgy and angry. My favorite is still the double album. 5/10
liked the opening track, the rest of the album was pleasant too not sure if I would actively listen to again 6/10 or perhaps 5
Punk blues de Nick Cave. Un 4.
Pues muy chulo. Un 5 por las últimas canciones.
The concept is pretty cool but his voice is honestly kind of annoying. The lyrics are very surrealist and set up a whimsical adventure, but the resulting sound does not really please my ears.
Fine. First half is better.
Solid 3.5
really weird vibes i don’t necessarily hate it but i don’t think i’d ever listen to this again.
Y’know when you have to get a night bus and the mental case who’s drinking White Lightning moseys over to you and starts telling you his life story? And at first you’re annoyed about it but then, as more and more people pile onto the bus, you start to realise that this singular nutter is actually saving you from having to talk to lots of other blander alcoholics. Then by the time it’s your stop you’re going “You’re right, Barney, they were arseholes for sacking you from that school janitor’s job just for tell that one 9 year old to go fuck himself! I’ve met 9 year olds! He probably deserved it!” Then you leave the bus, shake it off and get back to the business of being yourself. That’s this album.
Nick Cave is so all-over the place that it makes sense that he might have multiple albums on the list, but this one? I don’t get the acclaim. It’s good and it’s Nick Cave, so that makes it better than most, but it doesn’t make me feel anything more than mildly unsettled and that’s a straight up failure if you’re a Bad Seed.
Rating: 8.5/10 Another great album by Nick Cave, simultaneously very catchy while being interesting instrumentally and vocally.
Apropos of the Byrds and Neil Young supposedly being overrepresented on this list I submit Nick Cave as an entrant. Henry's Dream is sonically Nick Cave but no different than his other albums. It's no concept album like the one dedicated to his so so why does this album belong on this list? I'm not hearing anything particularly gripping. 3/5
Okay, I'm pretty sure that there's more Nick Cave albums on this list than Radiohead albums. While the construction of such a list is a matter of opinion, and all earnest assertions are valid, this is also objectively wrong because of my feelings. So anyway, like all of the other Nick Cave albums, this one is fine, but I'm not coming back to it 3/5
I listened to the first 20 seconds of the first song, personally will not be bothered to the rest of the album. Rusty nails are being driven into my skull one by one.
Didn't like this at all.
3-4
Un autre album de qui a son propre son tout en gardant toujours les mêmes éléments qui font Nick Cave. Je pense que c'est l'un de ceux que j'ai le plus aimé. 7/10
Did Nick Cave try his hand at a pop album?
Good album but not my favourite of the Bad Seeds. As part of their discography, I'd rate it a 3, but relative to other artists, a 4.
Not my style
One of the strangest things I’ve heard here, but it’s pretty good honestly.
there is no substitute for the nick cave vibes, unique and immersively gritty
Great background while scrolling Breaking Bad Reddit
Not familiar but an interesting style.
Some of that good junkie Nick Cave.
Decent but I think there might be too many Nick Cave albums on this list. Have to be in the right mood to listen to him.
I'm sleepy af and found this music great for spacing out and being surprised by sudden time leaps
talk about BORING
i’m not going to nitpick this is a stone masterpiece
mediocre background music
Such power and energy. Just wow!
Not my scene but musically very good
Amazing, Incredible, loved every second
Nick Cave is de kampioen gastoptredens in deze lijst. Nooit te beroerd om even een nummertje mee te zingen. Hier is hij weer eens de hoofdact, maar hij staat zich wel erg druk te maken. Pathos, noemen ze dat. Kennelijk heeft Nick van alles te melden, waardoor het allemaal wat drammerig klinkt. Ik vond de wat poëtischere Nick leuker.
Inmiddels kennen we Nick als iemand die een sfeer neerzet op een album. Hij kiest per album een andere sfeer en andere muzieksoort. Maar toch je elke keer duidelijk wie het is en heeft hij een soort hokje om hem heen weten te trekken. Nick krijgt 4 albums in de lijst. Normaal denk ik: maak een keuze 1001! Maar bij bij deze artiest voelt het gerechtvaardigd. Ik krijg steeds meer waardering voor de artiest. Maar het album zelf springt er wat mij betreft niet uit. Het eerste nummer zet de sfeer erg goed neer. Maar deze keer houdt hij het niet vol. Sommige nummers zijn wat minder krachtig uitgevoerd en dat gaat te koste van die sfeer. Een voldoende verdient het album zeker. Maar meer dan een 3 is dit ook weer niet.
Punk blues, geen idee wat ik me daarbij moet voorstellen. Het is de eerste keer dat ik die term hoor. Of ik na dit album wel weet wat het is, vraag ik me af, want Nick Cave is met zijn bad seeds toch wel een geval apart. Vooralsnog hoor ik met name de typerende verhalende teksten op duistere en melancholische klanken. Er zit wel enige urgentie en tempo in dit keer, geen traag en dralend tempo, zodat het extra neerslachtig klinkt. Maar juist meer boos of opgewonden is het nu. Uiteindelijk is het toch gewoon overduidelijk een Nick Cave album, in wat voor genre hij het dan ook giet. Tuurlijk, de ene keer is het wat trager dan de andere keer, maar het blijft onmiskenbaar Nick Cave. Ik vind het wel ok, maar ik ga er niet van uit dat ik dit album zo snel nog een keer op ga zetten. Het is een beetje een energievreter soms, die Nick Cave. Ik twijfel daarom tussen een vergeetbare 3 en een lichtzure 2 (om nog even zuur te doen over waarom dit album wel en niet Let Love In, dat ik veel beter vind).
Kings of the murder ballad here, with songs darker than dark energy, dark matter and Vantablack (that's very dark indeed) put together. If you're feeling in a mood, this won't help at all.
I love that Nick Cave is essentially Gothic Tom Waits.
Seems like a lot of people love this guy. I say he's significantly behind Frank Zappa, but ahead of Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart.
actually I'd have been quite okay dying not having heard nick cave's entire discography
Henry’s Dream had its moments, I preferred the energetic tracks where Cave really let loose. Brother, My Cup Is Empty was great, definitely the standout song. I’ve never been fully able to get into Nick Cave, this was a good enough album but aside from a few tracks it’s not doing enough to bring me back. 3 stars
I need a stiff drink after all that drama
I like what he's trying to do but not how he's doing it. I just can't stand his horribly out of tune voice. I had less patience for this than I did Murder Ballads.
I tried twice to get through this. The first time I got about half way through before I had to turn it off because it was too weird and distracting. I picked it up again, before getting about two songs in and hating it even more. This album is dogshit lmao I don't understand what is going on through half of it, I can't even write a good review for this because my brain subconsciously filters it out as white noise until the parts where it's too weird to not focus on anything but that.
This feels like a weird one to rate. I did not have the best first impressions going in, especially with how much of a wanker Nick Cave comes off as. His singing voice is definitely a bit different but works for the songs and the overall tone of the band. I would say that is my biggest point of praise in general, the instrumentation is pretty good throughout but I was impressed with how they maintained a very strong atmosphere throughout the entire album. With all that being said though, I did find the tone and lyrics to be a bit much. They REALLY want to be edgy and out there in a way that started to get old towards the end of the album. I would say Jack The Ripper (also my least favourite song on the album) was the one that really took me out of it. Possibly an odd complaint, but I also thought they leave very little room for the instrumentals to breathe through. About 85% of the runtime I think that Nicks voice is booming over the rest of the song. Obviously the lyricism of these songs is a highlight to a lot of reviewers but I would have appreciated giving some moments for the rest of the band to come through. So yeah, a pretty competent album that I was initially ready to dislike but found myself appreciating some of its craft. Not sure if it is something I'll be returning to anytime soon but I wouldn't say it was a bad time by any means.
Nick Cave is a real odd looking bloke. The prototype Australian goth who I’m astounded has not played Frankenstein monster or some other sort of baghoul before. I really enjoyed the opening track but my interest tapered off as the album progressed. Not for me but nonetheless competent music.
Could never get around these guys, no matter which album I try they have some undeniable hits but it always just ends up being eh as a whole 5/10 Fav tracks- Papa won't leave you, Henry Least fav - ehhhhhhhggg
Nick Cave has two good songs, and neither of them are on this album. Only a single listen for this one, and it was an absolute slog. Some songs were half-way tolerable like Straight to You. When I First Came to Town is great because the harmonica signals that the song is over and it's got good harmonica a la Neil Young not BAD harmonica like Bob Dylan. That's followed by John Finn's Wife, more rambly shitty lyrics with good production value at a duration that is long enough to be considered legitimate torture much like the next (AND THANKFULLY LAST) two songs on this album. Loom of the Land is probably the best song on this album especially because it's juxtaposed by Jack the Ripper which is a fuckin stinker. The musical assembly here just doesn't click for me. Cave's vocals are grating, the lyrics are rambly and it helps to just tune it out and honestly this bloke's whole spooky edgy aesthetic just rubs me the wrong way. When people say they are Nick Cave fans I am convinced they have only listened to either Into My Arms or Do You Love Me? and then decided "yeah the vibe is good". The only other explanation is that you barrack for him cause you are Australian. And for the latter reason I am giving it a 2/5 instead of the 1 is deserves. How I felt for the majority of this album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQjj1uPL1Ds
Theatrical, thrilling, thought-provoking.
Magical. Loved every note.
Too many religious illusions to work through, like his voice thou
Why is Nick Cave so melodramatic? I don't care for his vocals. If the vocals are not there then I can't look past the alleged greatness of this album. 3/10.
This wasn't my favourite Nick Cave album I have to say. I thought I finally got onto a song I liked more and then realised the album had finished and it was a song from another album. Slightly garish songs on here that I found grating. Sorry NC I totally love other albums!
This has got some bangers on it but not my fave Nick Cave album. But I do really like it. I read a bit about it and apparently Nick Cave was very angry with it because he hated the mixing and thought it presented the album in very much the wrong way. Someone described the producer as getting the best performance possible and then leaving all the faders in the same place.
Nästan alla hans skivor skulle platsa på den här listan. Denna är inte favoriten men det finns inte en enda dålig låt på den.
Thought this was an easy hate but I liked Straight to You. The rest is kinda weird Hadestown energy.
Country/folk lyricism meets punk passion meets a musical's sense of storytelling. This album is certainly different and intriguing at times, but I'm not sure how many more times I will listen to it. Highlights: "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" (something about the subject matter and gravitas gives me Johnny Cash vibes. It does the opening track's job of setting the tone for the album.), "Straight to You" (jangly, Smiths-like song)
Not really my thing, but ok in its way
Thought that this album was pretty good. Not a massive Nick Cave fan but enjoyed the listen
This album has its moments. "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" and "Brother, My Cup is Empty" stand out, with the latter sounding like a demonically possessed Elvis. But as with much of Nick Cave's work, I struggle to get through an entire album.
Good lyrics, overly dramatic vocals.
Wasn't my thing. I don't think I've liked any of his stuff as much as I like Red Right Hand.
Cave's lyrics can really paint a picture, there's no denying that. But it's just hard to listen to a whole album of it. Great lyrics that become a little much all at once.
Cave just doesn't do it for me. I have had many albums of his from this list and all have just fell flat.
While my familiarity with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds leans heavily on their work since the turn of the century, I can't help but respect Cave’s dedication to his craft. He is an obvious inclusion on any list of best albums ever. With that in mind, I was surprised to discover a mid-career album which the artist himself suggested didn’t fully achieve his intended vision, especially with over 20 releases under the Bad Seeds banner. This made me a bit hesitant about going into Henry’s Dream, but I found it surprisingly accessible despite David Briggs's lamented raw production style. There’s something deeply unsettling yet contagious about these songs. Cave channels a possessed church pastor, leading his congregation off a perilous cliff. Tracks like "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" and "I Had a Dream, Joe" display organized chaos, reminiscent of a jacket splitting at the seams yet still stylish. The wild frenzy builds like a group of drunkards at a pub lock-in, accidentally hitting all the right notes. Cave also knows when to relent from the full-on assault, offering moments of respite with tracks like "Straight to You," "Christina the Astonishing," and "Brother, My Cup Is Empty." These softer interludes fit seamlessly into the dark aesthetic, their almost improvisational delivery and slightly chaotic nature tying them to the project’s core. You can love or hate Cave's music, but he is nothing if not interesting. Henry’s Dream captures this essence, revealing the chaos and beauty of his songwriting. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? Unsure Would this release make my personal list? Never say never Will I be listening to it again? I enjoyed this far more than I expected; the album has a hypnotic quality that kept me coming back.
It's a good story of an album. I respect it. Nick Cave has a perfect voice for this kind of performances. 3.5/5.
Deserves another listen. Feels more accessible than the Murder Ballads
This was really good and definitely will get a few more listens. 4/5
I dont know why this man has so many albums on this list. It al sounds the same. Tales about death and misery
Henry's Dream is the seventh album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, originally released in April 1992. Man, I just do not get Nick Cave. I respect him as an artist, and he is quite a good songwriter. He is pretty good at storytelling in his songs. I can't get into his voice for the most part and a lot of his song composition decisions are just odd. This album is apparently a lesser known one in his discography so I'm glad I listened to it anyway.
I like the gothic vibes of this but was surprisingly a little cold on this.. not actually very familiar with Cave’s style though so I’d like to dive into his stuff more
I always enjoy this guy. Great songwriting and good dark tone
I always wish i was more into nick cave!! he's good
I was initially surprised to see this particular album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on the list instead of some others. For some reason, I had overlooked this album for a long time. However, I now realize that I was completely wrong to do so. This album showcases Cave & The Bad Seeds at their best. It takes you deep inside the world of characters that Cave has created. It's sometimes haunting, sometimes boisterous, and sometimes just plain intense. Standout tracks include the opener "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry," the apocalyptic ballad "Straight To You," and "John Finn's Wife," which might have just become my favorite Bad Seeds song. A thundering and menacing story, both in terms of music and text. The setting of a wedding in Australia in the late 19th century. The bride's entry onto the dance floor: "And in she came with legs like scissors and butcher's knives, a tattooed breast and flaming eyes and a crimson carnation in her teeth, carving her way through the dance floor." It sets the tone with that incredible violin throughout. This will probably remain my favourite Cave song for a long time! Superb album.
There sure is a lot of Nick Cave on this list. Looks like I’ve got mixed feelings, but this one didn’t really grab me. Too aggressive and shouty. He’s an odd one, I guess.
8.5/10. Haunting and melancholic. Really enjoyable. :)
I admire how Nick doesn't give a fuck about what anyone wants. He manages to do his own thing every swing out, and it's always gripping. Love the music or hate it, you have to admire how Bad Seeds albums take you to another world; a noir western world with a seedy underbelly.
Cave is at his most incisive and convictive here, crafting caustic narratives that linger like half-remembered dreams.
This was just boring. I don't get the inclusion in the list. Also, the guy's voice annoys me.
If they could get a singer who knows how to song I tune, this could actually be enjoyable. But then still not great, a bit too over the top constantly. A good album need balance, this one doesn't have any of that.
Ik merk dat het helpt als ik artiesten al ken, of misschien ken ik ze wel omdat ze goed zijn? Kip of ei. Ik vond deze in ieder geval typisch Nick Cave, weinig échte hoogtepunten, maar over het algemeen gewoon erg goed. Zeker nog eens het luisteren waard. Sowieso wat meer de 'rock' kant van hem.
I don't feel like this guy is a talented singer at all. He's mostly "talky" like Shatner (although not to this extreme), and when he sings he's often flat. Some of the songs were okay, but overall I was not a fan.
The best Bad Seeds era but not my fav from this period.
OK. We get it. You love Nick Cave. It's more accessible than the million or so others on the list. But I still find his vibe creepy and off putting.
Hyvä kokonaisuus ja taattua Cavea. Ei kuitenkaan oma suosikkini ja siksi vaan kolmonen 3/5
Tuttua synkistelyä Nickiltä. Ei ihan tarttunut aiempien albumien tavalla. 3/5
What's not to love? This is brilliant.
Nick Cave, imagine Tom Waits but good, very good. Henry’s Dream is lyrically very dark, musically a combo of acoustic punk and blues almost. Another album that requires more listens. Straight To You is an incredible song, as is Loom of the Land 8.4/10
Pretentious Punk Blues.
Nice voice but I won't listen to that album again, I didn't find it interesting
More unhinged Nick Cave - delightful. Not quite Murder Ballads but I've got a lot of time for this
Too much Nick Cave in my life recently, but I maintain that he’s a good musician. I just don’t really like him.
Started strong, kind of fell off. A bit too slow towards the end for my tastes. Mix was badass. Whole albums sounds raw. Favorite Track: Papa Won't Leave You, Henry Least Favorite: Jack the Ripper
All a bit strange and conceptual so I’m not sure at all what to think of it. Eye opening. I like it to be fair, not sure if I’ll come back to it but it is pretty cool. 3.5 stars.
Nick Cave is an artist that I've slowly started getting into over the past 5 years or so. I first listened to Skeleton Tree after it came out to great acclaim, and I've listened to his newest albums as they've come out and to old albums here and there. I like his new albums quite a lot, but as they are very heavy in subject matter (sadly, lots of death and tragedy in Cave's life recently) it's been hard to go back to them a lot. His earliest records with the Bad Seeds in the 80's haven't been my favorite, and probably require some more listening. As far as I can remember, I don't think I've listened to his albums from the 90's until this one. Boy, I've been missing out. Henry's Dream is easily my favorite Bad Seeds record: it's outstanding. From the moment things pick up in opener Papa Won't Leave You Henry its apparent that this is going to be a wild ride. What a tremendous opener that song is. These are dark, violent stories. They're told as only Nick Cave can, and his delivery is the best that I've heard on this album. Straight to You is a fantastic love song, and a highlight on the front half along with the opener. The back half, specifically the last three songs, is where things go from great to sublime. John Finn's Wife is possibly my favorite Nick Cave song now (along with Papa Won't Leave You Henry), what a tale it is of danger, lust/adultery, and violence. It's a masterpiece in itself that could be the basis of a good movie. Loom of the Land is also fantastic, and the closer Jack the Ripper is an audacious romper of a song about a suboptimal partner. So this is the Nick Cave I've been looking for. I'm looking forward to exploring his other 90's outputs as soon as possible.
This. Is. Terrible. It’s a self-important nonsense of babbling lyrics. Nick Cave must’ve become the lead singer because he owned the mic and wanted to be in a Warren Zevon tribute band. Rubbish.
Third Nick Cave album. I never listened to him before this project and like what I’ve heard so far but enough already.
very listenable for a live album
Interesting listen. Definitely influenced Tenacious D, but I'm really even a fan of Tenacious D. Also, the vocals sound like he's trying to hard to be something he's not. Overall, didn't hate it, but not likely to ever return to this album.
Soft rock. First part of the album didn’t catch my interest a lot, but second half did. He has a great vocal and band!
Weird, narrative, and the dude singing looks like a cartoon villain. Overall, cool experience. Really catchy tracks, too.
Not a Nick Cave fan…
Struggled to make it through this one i did not enjoy myself
Ehhhh
Overall, I like the band and I like the album. They're always gritty and dark, and sometimes that's too much. This one skirts the boundary ok. Some memorable songs in here (Papa Won't Leave You, Straight To You). Reminds me pretty strongly of Nick Cave's Grinderman side project. 3/5