Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Really enjoyed this. Not heard much of NC before. Assumed he was dreary. But album had blues, gospel, rock in it. I’m feeling positive so a 4 from me (probs a 7 out of 10)
Not bad, quite a long album but as a whole I enjoyed it
Fun album! Liked many songs on it. Not sure if I love the way Nick Cave sings but anyway - great work!
I honestly don't think I can explain why I wasn't into this... I've had the same experience with Nick Cave before. I look at all the pieces and think that it ought to be music I really like, but I end up sort of listless about it all. Sorry I don't have anything more profound for what is clearly an impactful album for many people!
Doesn’t do it for me. Repetitive and stabbing ad naseum
Hadn't listened to this one a lot before, but really strong output. Didn't feel overly long for a double album.
7.3
Nick Cave followed up the disappointing Nocturama and the departure of Blixa Bargeld with this absolute masterpiece. One of the rare double albums that earns its ambition, free of bloat. Abattoir Blues is loud and bombastic and theatrical. Gospel choirs, shouted sermons, Cave in more preacher than frontman. The humour is there but restrained compared to the cartoonish extremes of Murder Ballads. The Lyre of Orpheus is reflective, self-aware, and beautifully restrained and subdued, but nothing like the solemn intimacy The Boatman’s Call or No More Shall We Part. It's lighter and more inquisitive, still humorous, and even downright quirky and fun at times ('Breathless'). One of Cave’s most accessible, confident, and alive records, and one of the finest rock records of the 00s.
I could tell there was quality here and I enjoy a good amount of Nick Caves other albums. Would need a few more listens to really get into it I think, 4 stars nonetheless
I liked this, never listened to much nick cave before
Every song in this first half is a major production. The band has a big rock sound, and they're accompanied by a choir! I liked the first half more than the second, which was more like the soft-spoken folk-leaning music I expect from Nick Cave. But overall, this was one of the more purely enjoyable records I’ve heard of his so far.
I dig this Nick Cave record, I love the rambunctious start to the album with his croon and the wacky wild waving inflatable guitar parts and the soul choir behind him. It's an attractive sound. There's a lot of moments where this sound reminds me of one of my favorite bands, Okkervil River. It's angsty indie rock where the singer is pushing strained vocals through his teeth, the guitars are unleashed, and the snare drum snaps like a gunshot. And yet there is a wide dynamic range, with some acoustic driven songs that act as great contrasts to the heavy. I think I like this album the most out of all of his albums on this list of 1001 Nick Cave albums to hear in your life (har har), but he's still a performer that doesn't always do that much for me. I'm giving it a 4.
I just got bored!
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds sind eine australische Rockband um den in Australien geborenen Nick Cave. Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus erschien 2004 als Doppelalbum und wurde überwiegend in den Abbey Road Studios in London aufgenommen. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Werk zwischen Alternative Rock, Art Rock und Gospel-Anleihen, mit starkem Fokus auf Klavier, Orgel und mehrstimmige Chöre. Die beiden Albumhälften sind klar unterschiedlich angelegt: Abattoir Blues wirkt direkter, rhythmischer und bandorientiert, während The Lyre Of Orpheus stärker erzählerisch, ruhiger und arrangierter ausfällt. Besonders bekannte und prägende Stücke sind „There She Goes, My Beautiful World“, „Nature Boy“, „Breathless“ und der titelgebende Song „The Lyre Of Orpheus“. Inhaltlich kreisen die Texte um Kunst, Mythologie, Glauben und Alltagsbeobachtungen, ohne sich auf eine eindeutige Deutung festzulegen. Insgesamt ist das Album ein konzentriertes, ambitioniertes Werk, das die stilistische Bandbreite der Band deutlich zeigt und trotz seiner Länge geschlossen wirkt.
fav - o children, lyre of orpheus
3.5
I wanted To Enjoy it more
This was weird but I was into it
At first I was annoyed because it seemed like there’s too many Nick Cave albums but this won me over
It has some nice rhythms, but not my favorite rock album
Liked the harmony’s with women background singers mixed Easy listen Haunting voice
Nice
Has one of my favorite songs ever. Bangers are on this album tbh especially the 2nd half
The fact that this is 2 hours long and I never got bored listening to it says a lot. 4/5
first half great. second half not as great
All time greats, shaped my teen years and ushered me into my twenties
I've not listened to many albums this week but have listened to this twice. Always appreciated nick cave but never really got it. This one I did really enjoy, energy and range of moods, felt like it justified a double album. Nice artwork too
This was great. Absolutely flew by despite its length. In agreement that it’s my favourite of the batch of Cave we’ve had. Would not surprise me if he himself liked this the least though.
great from the jump; lots of different styles and things. sort of experimental but i enjoyed it quite a bit; relistened when i got home so i bumped to a five
Couldn't even finish it 😭
This could have been two separate albums. It was okay.
naaah, because I know my dad with this album. but, me? I didn't hate it, but will probably not.
Obviously I have heard of Nick Cave but have never really engaged in any of his work before. There is someone in work who does like him and puts him on now and then but I’d say this is my first time really listening to him. And, I really liked it. I imagined it would be all sorts of depressing but it wasn’t at all, in fact quite uplifting in places. This is why this process is so good.
As good as a lot of the songs were, very few I could get through without wondering “is it over yet” because of how long they were. But, like I said, the songs were overall pretty enjoyable :>.
Liked some songs, but not really my style
You know what, I really enjoyed this one. I got this album on the day I had to return to my job as a high school teacher after winter break. I wasn't really feeling it, but enough of this music kicked me in the ass and was an enjoyable listen so it helped my morning run more smoothly. "Messiah Ward" got two back-to-back plays and was immediately added to one of my playlists.
2.5
A few interesting moments. Did not finish the whole thing
Overall Rating - 2.76/5 (5.53/10). Decent album. Probably won't listen to anything from it again, but I don't regret listening to it.
This isn't really my thing, but it's a good album. Cool lyrics, well-played, good songs.
Nick’s vocals are totally captivating; the tone of his voice, the emphasis on each word and the stories within. I’m not sure if Nick writes songs with the Bad Seeds or if they add the instrumental sections after the vocals are complete - however they do it, it works so well with each song.
I don't know enough about this artist/band to give a properly informed review. However I believe that it's quite good and deserves a deeper dive.
Really good album. Too long, though not sure what I’d cut.
fav song: O children
6/10
Somehow I’d not listened to this album despite loving the releases either side. What a joy to spend the time with Nick and Co. I immediately wanted to listen again.
This was the first Nick Cave album I bought as it looked interesting. It remains one of his best. It has melody, it has beautiful instrumentation and orchestration. It has all the atmosphere you'll need. It has darkness and light. It has beauty (the Johnny Cash tribute Let the Bells Ring is just lovely with some excellent lines). And it smacks. The buildup in Hiding All Away, There She Goes My Beautiful World, Nature Boy, Supernaturally. Just amazing.
this is brilliant. its also way too long. but its brilliant. wanted to give it a 4 mainly because of the length but then in ended with o children. what a choice to put the best song at the end. won me over
This is quite stunning, the songs sound great, I love the use of the choir stuff behind his vocals, the overall atmosphere is consistently great and suits the tone of the lyrics. Had this been a single album it would be an easy 5/5, but I find double albums annoying generally and I think in comparison to the rest of it there is a slight drop off in the second half (although that could be double album listener fatigue!!). There she goes my beautiful world is absolutely glorious in every respect and that alone nearly makes up for anything. I really want to give it a 5, but the double album thing annoys me so much. Gah. Stuff it I love there she goes and it's won me over.
OK this one is hard to sit through. It’s kind of the worst parts about super corny, classic rock and corny lyrics with corny imagery and corny themes all condensed into one with vocals that are in someway. Impressive but more than anything feel contrived and not nearly as sexy as this guy thinks they are.
Gets better and quite good by the end, but the first few tracks don't do the album justice.
Everything about this album was a 3. Musicality, lyrics, literally everything. No way this should be one of the albums on this list.
I've always liked Nick Cave, but I've never listened in depth. I love that he seems to subvert simple impressions... his voice is deep and melancholy, and his lyrics are often melancholy and disturbing. But, in contrast, the melodies and arrangements are often catchy and upbeat; I frequently found myself nodding my head along to this album. You have to make the effort to pay attention to all the details to see the full dark beauty of his music, and that resonates with me - as does the gothiness. That said, I did feel like heavy use of the gospel choir on the first half was a bit overkill - it was a bit too on-the-nose. I got a little sick of it after a while. Heard before? Not this album, but I have heard other Nick Cave songs. Will I listen again? Likely, especially the second half. Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Definitely. Notable songs: Breathless. A sweet, surprising forest fairy tale song of love. Check out the video for some additional lighthearted WTFuckery.
Deliberate and confidently performed, a professional and engaging set of songs that make for a good listen. The first half is more rock/punk, while the second half is a bit more poppy. I have not heard much by Nick Cave, but I'm very familiar with the Red Right Hand song (which is not on this album) from movies and TV shows, so I was not expecting a more straightforward rock sound but more of a moody movie soundtrack. While the songs are still cinematic and story-rich, the grooves are real. Impeccably arranged songs with great lyrics.
Musica de fondo sinceramente esta lista está hecha por hombres... :(
5/10
Not for me 1/5 didn’t finish the album 2/5 didn’t keep the album 3/5 kept it and will listen when songs randomly show up on shuffle 4/5 kept it and will listen to it again front to back on my phone 5/5 buying the vinyl
Musical word salad but I need to do a deeper dive into the lyrics to really get it.
I know oh children from it I liked it it was quite slow and quiet but nice and calming for the most part
A little slow but very chill
Second disk is the winner here for me
Better than expected. Tom waitsy. Too bloody long like. First half better the the last half. Standout - get ready for love, hiding all away, there she goes my beautiful world
Was ok. Bit long. Didnt suit my bike ride vibes
Não gostei tanto, o álbum começa bem mas depois fica desinteressante.
dnf it idk its just not for me
I can understand why this album is on this list, but it's not for me. Nick cave's vocal intonation is grating to me for some reason. That plus the schtick of sing speaking, only to have backing vocals repeat the same line got sick after the third song
Having only been exposed to random individual Nick Cave tracks and not having listened to a full album, I was expecting something different than what was delivered. I was waiting for an album of all substance and zero frills, not bad but forgettable, and left wanting. Yeah, no. Solid songwriting and style that obviously held a signature sound. From my first listen through, the first half definitely held my attention. The second half waned though. I enjoyed it as a whole. Not top tier in my book, but I'm looking forward to subsequent listens.
Hm I wasn’t drawn to this, kinda reminded me of a different version of my uncles current band - never listened to nick cave at all before and probably won’t go in the rotation but was not bad at all
Es gibt durchaus Alben von Nick Cave, die ich schätze und gern höre. Der Einstieg in diese Platte fällt mir schwer. Erst bei "Nature Boy" wird's hörbar, spät, aber nicht zu spät! Es folgen weitere passable Nummern. "Breathless" und "Baby, You Turn Me On" sind wieder Titel, die sich in die Ohren schleichen. Ein Einfachalbum hätte gereicht.
Sometimes he's a whiny boy who can't get over PJ, sometimes he's the head of his odd little genre and banging out those murder ballads. This album swings from a one to a high four a few times
I’m a big Nick Cave fan. This is a brilliant double album made at a key point in Cave’s career when it looked like he was ready to ride into the sunset after the very poor Nocturama and Blixa leaving The Bad Seeds. The first side is Cave in mad preacher mode, fiery gospel blues rock. The second side is lighter, though it does contain one of Cave’s best murder ballads. It’s delicate but theatrical. The whole album is at times powerful, hilarious, touching and terrifying. It’s quintessential Cave, backed for the first time by a choir that complements his voice and style absolutely perfectly.
The best thing about this album is it's the fifth and final Nick "overrated" Cave and the Bad Seeds album on this list. HUZZAH! I deserve a merit badge.
Didn't know what to expect getting a double album from Nick Cave this Monday, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I definitely liked the first disc more than the second. I'd probably give the first disc a 3.5 or 4 on its own. The package deal however gets a 3/5.
Apocalyptic gospel on one side, haunted lullabies on the other. Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: This album feels huge and intimate at the same time. One half roars with choir and fire, the other whispers with myth and melancholy. It is dramatic without excess and deeply human throughout. Favorite Track: There She Goes, My Beautiful World. Urgent, soaring, and endlessly alive.
Really liked this one. Haven't heard a whole lot of this band, but could see myself getting into them more. Get Ready for Love, The Lyre of Orpheus, and Breathless stood out. 4/5
I really like some of the songs in this ablum and think the rest is meh to below average, I think this album excelled where the songs were more energetic which wasn't enough for a four
This is my first time listening to a Nick Cave album start-to-finish. I don't know. This just isn't quite grabbing me. I've always gotten the impression that Nick Cave is more style than substance, and this album isn't doing much to change my mind on that. I frequently feel like the first disc sounds like a slightly more garage-rock-ey version of Talking Heads, but somehow I'm not enjoying it as much as that sounds like I should. And the second disc is mostly a snooze.
'Well, most of all nothing much / Ever really happens / And God rides high up in the ordinary sky.' Cave's religious existentialism - b/c that's what this is, á la Kierkegaard and co. - would be totally unbearable and pretentious if it weren't also adorable and consolatory. Cave philosophizes, clearly, b/c he needs to - that's what separates him from an ally like Tom Waits, who's an indifferent anthropologist of religion rather than a seeker. What severs him from the lousy lot of Bono/Christian rockers is a bluesy temperament, big drums (Sclavunos/Wydler), soulful-backers, and a healthy dose of well-read-pride: 'You searched thru all my poets / From Sappho thru to Auden / I saw the book fall from your hands / As you slowly died of boredom.' Aww.
PRAISE HIM TIL YOU'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU'RE PRAISING HIM FOR! PRAISE HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE! I've always loved this album - it's got sinister dirgy Nick (Lyre of Orpheus), lovelorn world weary piano Nick (Babe You Turn Me On), slightly fey Nick with recorders (Breathless) and religious but not getting too carried away Nick with gospel choirs and fire and wrath and amazing arrangements and some amusing lyrical turns. It's got a few less interesting tracks - Fable of Brown Ape being the most notable- and there's still a lot of that swagger and arrogance of young Nick that you'll either love or hate - but overall quite joyous and silly. (High 4 rounded up to 5)
Cult leader vibes for sure fav tracks: "Hiding All Away", "O Children"
Honestly wasn’t a big fan. The lyricism was the best part, extremely clever, yet the sound didn’t seem to fit it places?? Maybe just me. O’Children is a stunning outlier though, so emotional and big up Harry Potter!!!
It took me a few songs to realize this is the second NC&tBS I've been suggested here. After listening to this, I think I just don't have an ear for his music - it doesn't land well. This album had a few good energy songs, so I figured I'd put my rating at 3 instead of 2 this time.
Good. Emotive. Big stuff. Some small stuff. Quite liked it.
this album is jst fine, it’s nothing amazing but i still like the majority of the songs enough to add them to my playlist. def way to long tho, i would have enjoyed this a lot more if it was only like 30-40 min
What a long ass title. No idea why he decided to release two albums at once bound together- they don't sound much a like & if they are meant to be connected in some way it went completely over my head. Maybe two sides of Nick Cave? I liked Abattoir Blues better the gospel singers sounded wonderful and went perfectly with Cave's vocals. The Lyre of Orpheus was also very good and I enjoyed it. Long time fan here so I knew both albums very well going in for what it's worth. I'm hesitant to call it a double album even though it is that because it really seems like the albums were recorded at different times and on some tracks with different musicians. Why didn't he release these albums separately say 5-6 months apart? I REALLY wasn't in the mood to hear TWO Nick Cave albums today (as much as I love this man's work) I wanted to hear Christmas music and/or something emotionally light, but the generator is a cold SOB who doesn't care about what mood you are in & will assign you whatever albums it wants. Neither album is a 5/5 but both are very solid works with very little filler. Not a good jumping on point for those who have never heard any Nick Cave music IMO and the length of it is bound to turn some people off, but Nick Cave has made a whole career of turning people off so whatever.
Welp. My third Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds record and it’s another 5 star. I’m certain this guy has made non-5-star records, I just haven’t gotten to them yet I guess. This album might be the best one I’ve listened to so far. The first disc is an absolute rock masterclass. It’s bluesy, it rages. At times it sounds like the E Street Band haha. The choir is an excellent touch. I was worried the second disc would lose me a little with fewer big loud songs but my god it’s beautiful. I immediately want a physical copy of this. Must-listen #272.
Honestly, the second half of disc 2 picks up pretty hard - power through disc 1 Best = O children or Easy money Skip = Fable of the brown ape
Davvero poca roba, un po' rock un po' blues un po' pop con quel lirismo tragico tipico di Nick Cave che personalmente a me risulta indigesto. Non lo riascolterei.
He has better ones, but still good.
Close to a 5, really close.
Listened twice, I just couldn’t find it all that gripping. Between his voice and the pacing of the album, this felt like a slam poetry session if anything. 2.1
Decent 3,5
Favourite Nick Cave album. Or maybe Let Love In.
This retard couldn't even put the songs in the correct order in the YouTube playlist. Good thing is I'd only listened to the best song (O Children) before I noticed
Another Nick Cave, another 1
I know this list loves him but I just can't get into it. Sometimes sounds like music I'd like to hear in the background at a Ren Fair. Way too long.
Too fucking long. Didn't listen.
The first album was world's better than "Ghosteen". There were large sections that I kind of enjoyed. Closer to a 4 than I would have expected. Second album was pretty meh.
Did not like
Excellent storytelling
Some of the songs were catchy/fun to listen to, but most felt like average rock songs.
A surprising album with a lot of amazing songs. I think it has a story telling charm of it's own. I am glad I had discovered it Fav song - The Lyre of Orpheus 4/5
Really enjoyed definitely an album for a Sunday listen - but long so quite overwhelming to take in.
trying w this one. maybe i don't know enough about nick but by now.. over all these years - I appreciate him so much but this record seems to have great tracks dispersed between mediocre - bad ones, inconsistent
Several really good high energy tunes on here and a great band. Suffers from being too long. Not enough content to justify a double album. Should’ve just trimmed it to the best songs and made one great album.
This reminds me of the East Village around Tompkins Park. Always leaning into the bohemian. Sundays start slow and quiet, but the heart beat is always strong. It’s raw, unwavering, and beautiful. Beautifully ugly at times.
Some albums need to be judged by how they stack up to other albums in their genre. Can you really compare the greatness of Kraftwerk to Count Basie? As such - this album should be judged against other albums of the genre. Which is to say other Nick Cave albums in all their various iterations. He is truly his own genre. Producing good to great music for almost 50 years. The man has seen some things. He has lived a lived a life. And that wisdom is on full display here - this albums just sounds like it knows what it's talking about. Top two in the genre for me (the other being Dig Lazarus Dig - which I believe is also on the list.). NC has about 10 4-star albums. This is a 5. So damn good.
This album dropped in the middle of a purple patch for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. The album is tastefully loud, full of energy and perfectly arranged. I can't get enough of this album
Another fine album from Nick Cave. Not, I think, up there with his best but very good.
Not really my vibe, some of the songs I did like
So far it’s a 2
ehh not for me
If Tom Waits' ancestors had been transported to Australia...
Amé la onda muy theatre kid pero gótico, yo también quiero despertar con un frapuchino u-U
este es de los que sí oí cuando recién descubrí la lista y quería oirlos todos en orden, xq empieza con Ab veá. tmb sujeto a cambios xq no lo volví a oir, pero tiene dos que tres de mis canciones favoritas de nick cave
Pretty rocking for a Nick Cave album but I can’t listen to a whole lot of his stuff back to back.
disco 2 superior
much preferred the first half but even then there was only a couple of songs that grabbed me... o mamma when will it end
Nick Cave remains the one 'big guy' I've never fully explored. A long and sprawling discography barely troubled is an exciting prospect. This album falls in his mid-era, chronologically speaking, which is fitting, as it quite accurately sums up my feelings towards it. Uninspiringly drab, unfortunately. Not his cutting best. I hope for better in the late-era.
mid 4 this is certainly good. they know how to make good music with a good sound. nothing feels that ground breaking or special, but at least its not that samey. im sure the lyrics would be good if i listened more closely
Never thought that would end, enjoyed bits of it though
Enough Nick Cave already!
While the mix of religious imagery and preacher delivery is to be expected, what often is missed is how many good melodies there are in the tracks. The only issue is trying to maintain the standard across a double album, which it doesn’t quite manage.
Probably the most cohesive of Cave’s work that I’ve heard despite it being a double album. Abbatoir blues follows the same style and pattern I’ve come to expect from Cave, but I think the Lyre of Orpheus is where this really shines. Literary, much more tender and measured than other albums of his I’ve heard. More than Cave’s performance in this, I think The Bad Seeds were particularly good, not least in the obvious of ‘there she goes my beautiful world’.
The most enjoyable of all the Nick Cave-related albums I've encountered on the list so far. I still don't totally love his voice, and it was a little longer than it needed to be, but on the whole this is is very good.
Wonderful up to bottom
A lot of interesting stuff in here, playing with genres and sounds. CD2 was my favorite, I really liked the lure of Orpheus, easy money, and spell.
I love Nick Cave and I know this about myself, so why don't I listen to his music more? I love the energy, the slam poetry reading vibes of Cave's vocals, the unexpected lyrics. Each song has a totally different character, and the gospel elements work into different tracks in such wonderful ways to accent the emotion. I find it difficult to give an album I'm only hearing for the first time 5 stars, but if this album isn't worth it, what will be?
Not very good. 2.
It was actually so beautiful I honestly didn't expect that
Long and not my kind of thing so found it difficult to wade through. I suspect there are some tracks that I would rate higher if I had a second run at this but don't find myself compelled to keep at it. Making belief in God a thing also a turn off for me.
Nick Cave definitely had a very clear vision of how he wanted this album to sound and flow. I think he's executed it well with some great tracks and interesting lyrics. Does go on a fair bit, though.
Another astounding testament to Nick Cave’s creativity and to his depth of spirit. The central conceit, that this is really two different albums which happened to be released on the same day is not sustainable on the evidence. Lyre is perhaps marginally more laid back but I suspect this is more to do with tracking than with any essential distinction of purpose between the two record; it’s a double album. Musically it’s rocky and the band create an impressively hook-laden and solid sound. They use the end of chorus drop out to good effect. The gospel choir is a great addition, a layer between singer and band which gives the whole a sonic breath. Lyrically there are what are ostensibly love songs, though this being Nick Cave these are poetic, surprising and allusive. There’s a gothic darkness too many of the songs but, this being Cave, a decent dose of hope too.
Surprised to see this one as the Nick Cave to make it into the 1001 Album list Or maybe it's because the Nick Cave sound has moved on so much from the earlier albums I have always found Nick's albums need repeated plays to reveal and assimilate their emotional depth, and the single play-through today was not nearly enough!
Mature band still putting out great music. This one delivers in the trademark yet re-invented sound.
Total pleasant surprise. I’ve been listening to Geese a lot lately and I’d say Geese have listened to a lot of Nick Cave…and that’s nothing but a compliment.
Love nick cave but I have to say I prefer him without the bad seeds. Some strong wings but not my favourite cave.
So this is the third Nick Cave album I was steered to in the past three weeks., one of FOUR of his albums on a list of albums I supposedly need to hear before I die that includes ZERO albums by Warren Zevon, an artist who I would argue has a similar dark aesthetic in his themes but a much more diverse set of song-writing skills. I've got nothing against Nick and his Bad Seeds (my ratings for Henry's Dream and Murder Ballads were both 4/5, which for me means "Very Good, I'd listen to this again), but there comes a point where too much inclusion of an artist has diminishing returns, glaringly highlighting how the exclusion of other artists altogether has to be a blind spot of the supposed expert compilers of the list.
Good singer, good band. Good music.
Nick Cave is one of those people I know of and have probably heard some of their stuff but don't really know. My impression has always been of quite difficult music to listen to. So I went into this expecting not to like it. At first I didn't. But when I came back to it with an open mind I actually rather enjoyed it. Quite uplifting in fact. Not really sure what it's about, mind you, but it was a good listen.
Incredibly great album and I love the amount of 5min+ songs but imo it's not perfect and could be better so I'm gonna say it's an 8/10
Nick Cave and the better seeds
This was alright.
Always listenable. Good influences and a slightly diffferent feel.
I didn't finish the whole thing, but I really liked Disc 1. Good weird for sure! Picking up a lot of elements from other genres (especially blues). Favorite Song (this listen) - Messiah Ward
Damn...awesome!
Not at all what I was expecting
There are many many moments of greatness on this album (There She Goes… especially) But any album of this length is going to feel a bit woolly and so it is here (I’d lose Brown ape straight away) So we settle on a very high 4
4/5
Faux grandiose tosh
Not bad. Have the crunch feeling to it when listening to it and there are enjoyment when listening to the song. Quite mesmerising with it's repeated drum beat and backing vocal. But some of lyrics and musical feature felt a bit repetitive and predictive. Not the climax I would have expected when listening to. But the Gothic theme from the vocal resonated well. 4/5
I've quite a hard time rating this, if I could give 3 and a half I would but unfortunely given the rating system I couldn't warrant a 4. There were quite a few good songs, abattoir blues and hiding all away (albeit with the odd lyrics of the latter) were good, and O Children, which I recognised from Harry Potter was the highlight of the album for me. If the album had been full of songs like this it could have easily achieved 4 stars but fable of the brown ape and babe you turn me on, amongst others, just didn't stand up to this and in these songs his voice could be a little boring if not annoying at times. My criticisms are not to say that this is a bad album, just that it was inconsistent and so overall sits at decent, but not great. 65/100 Score edited 28/12/25 Score edited 11/01/26
Really quite good. Great musicality all the way through, highly enjoyable. Felt a bit slow at the start/middle of disc 2 but otherwise super solid. A higher 4 but I can't justify a 5.
I like Nick Cave just fine, but this isn't among his best. Enjoyed listening to it, though. "Let the Bells Ring" is really a standout.
I liked a few tracks, but overall this one wasn't for me.
Didn't know what to expect especially after the first praise song, but man this was solid all the way through, o children gave me chills which took it straight to a four, probably worth another listen and could go higher
More intense than I expected
Day704 - i keep listening to see if any song will stick out. so far no luck
The most gospel-sounding non-gospel album I’ve heard (My real rating is closer to like a 3.7)
Musically interesting and creative — dark and sultry. I love the backup singers! But Cave’s vocals and presentation are two melodramatic for me. It makes the musical arrangements almost comical — a straight delivery would have been better. The first album would have been a 3. But add a second album and the effort to overwhelm the audience with overwrought vocals and dramatic storytelling succeeds. It’s too much. A 2.
Pari ekaa biisiä ei saanut innostumaan. 2/5.
Great double album from Mr Cave, consistently good songs.
Middle of my fav cave albums
I know a handful of songs from Nick Cave and The Bad seeds but this album is superb! Played it three times during my day.
Nick Cave often sounds to me like a Satanic Dylan. Whereas Dylan takes his cues from history, folk music and himself, Nick Cave sounds like "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" put to music. Sometimes it's not fun to listen to but one must respect it.
7/10
I love the O children . Im glad i listened to this playlist and discovered hhis pearl.
no coment
I am not a huge fan of Nick Cave. I try, but it doesn't stick with me. 3 because it's not bad and I recognize why people may find brilliant. Just not for me.
Intesting
Ein sehr langes Album, aber besser, als ich es mir vorgestellt habe. Auf Dauer dann aber doch anstrengend. Hätte einen Stern mehr schaffen können wenn es kompakter wäre.
Nothing on this album that I could get enthused about. I wouldn't mind hearing some of the tracks again, but others I would rather pass me by.
Alright, like 3 songs I liked out of the 17. Some interesting ideas in there, but the rest ranged from mediocre to meh
3.5
Not had much exposure to Nick Cave previously. Did like this though. Would definitely give it a spin in future, and I'll look into other albums too. So that's got to be a win, right?
Great album, "O Children" remains a classic.
Tuttu artisti, ei ole tullut muuta kuin ”Murder Ballads”-levyä. Tämä oli ihan ok levy, mutta ei jäänyt yhtään biisiä mieleen, mikä olisi säväyttänyt. Nickin ääni kyllä säväyttää, kun se on sen verran rouhea.
Helt ålreit altså. Nick Cave er fin, men er ikke helt med på Bad Seeds.
One of the pleasant surprises of this list. Never listened to this before and it hit the spot.
All over the map, but most of it is good. I really only knew Nick Cave to be lugubrious, so this was a nice surprise.
Bell'album a tutto tondo, dei picchi assurdi in alcuni momenti
I rolled my eyes so fucking hard when I got this album. Henry's Dream was probably the bottom 5 albums I've listened to on so far, and please note I've already listened to Kollaps and Throbbing Gristle. Henry's Dream made me embarrassed to be Australian. So it's safe to say I was dreading listening to this one. Boy was I surprised. The first record on this thing, Abattoir Blues was fresh, light, and intensely entertaining. The same cannot be said for Orpheus, which was bland, dull, featured some of the worst singing on the record, and just left a sour taste in my mouth. What a shame. 4 for Abattoir, 2 for Orpheus. 3.
I don’t CARE if he’s Australian he makes music for WANKERS. If you make an album this fucking long it better not waste a single minute of that runtime. Nick Cave you have ROBBED me of PRECIOUS time I could have been listening to trains going past or construction noise.
The Fosters Beer of musicians, popular overseas but you will never meet any tolerable person in Australia who listens to him. Two discs, seventeen songs and not one of them has answered for me why this guy is so popular. Instead of going on a massive tirade about how fucking boring and long this was, I am just going to say the quest continues to answer that question.
A strong double album; I think Abbatoir Blues is the stronger half
It's pretty great. Maybe I don't revisit it as much as some of my other 5 stars, but it's sooo long.
sounds ok
Five! FIVE! That’s how many Nick Cave albums are on this list. Why?! It’s not as bad as the soul destroyingly depressing others. That’s the only positive.
Appreciate some amazing lyrics and the music being way different than anything else.
Sure man
Definitely bad seeds. 😳
Second side is better. I think other records of NC&TBS are better. Don't know why this one is on the list.
Mektig album. "Hiding all away" og "Spell" blant favorittene.
Get ready for love
A tale of two Nick Caves: One is giving full gospel-rock revival with There She Goes, My Beautiful World absolutely soaring — legit late-’80s “I Still Believe” energy. The other is whisper-singing deranged fairytales about Orpheus sawing his wife in half. It swings wildly between brilliant and “bestie… why?“
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is one of those bands that's always been on the edge of my awareness but I never really listened to. The few Nick Cave songs I heard at the time fell flat on my ears. This album was a nice revelation. I really enjoyed it and will be playing it again. Time to check out some more Nick Cave.
It was fine!
Less depressing than ghosteen (ofc) Loved the harmonies in There she goes my beautiful world
Liked it but quite a few fillers
The highs are very high but I wish this was a bit more consistent throughout. As a double album it was a touch excessive and I was thrown hearing this after being used to 80s Nick Cave - the gospel-infused sound, production and songwriting all feels a lot more hopeful/clean but it might take another listen at some point to get me fully onboard.
What an insanely powerful first track to open the album. It’s completely different from what I expected, especially judging by the album cover. The musicianship is great, really talented performances, lots of rich orchestration and organs, the gospel choir adds a huge presence and the addition of some progressive elements makes everything much more interesting. This style of music isn’t entirely my thing, and nothing stood out to me in a way that truly grabbed me, however I do prefer the style of the first disc compared to the second one. It’s also quite a long listen, and being a double album that makes sense. Not exactly for me, but the creativity and execution are undeniable. I would say my favourite tracks are Get Ready for Love, Cannibal's Hymn, Messiah Ward, There She Goes My Beautiful World, Let The Bells Ring, Fable of the Brown Ape, The Lyre of Orpheus, Easy Money, Supernaturally, Carr Me and O Children.
Super cool record, Nick Cave’s sound is so interesting. He has this haunting way about him that makes his voice so intriguing to listen to, even when he’s not “singing.” Quite a few standouts on this album. Best Track: Nature Boy
get ready for love- 6 cannibal's hymn- 6 hiding all away- 6 messiah ward- 5 there she goes, my beautiful world- 5 nature boy- 6 abattoir blues- 5 let the bells ring- 5 fable of the brown ape- 5 lowkey boring sorry nick ily
thoroughly enjoyed!
In terms of musical competition, this is probably the strongest Nick Cave album I have heard. His discography is huge and I have not explored all of it, but this one stands out. In the early spring of 2020, during that strange pocket of hope in the middle of the pandemic, I visited the Nick Cave Experience in Copenhagen. It was an excellent exhibition and the first time I truly had the chance to dwell on Cave as both an artist and a person. The airplane puke bags filled with lyrics, the reconstruction of his Berlin apartment lined with the books that shaped him, and the sheer scope of his creative output showed how many layers there are to his work. Most of all, the amount of writing was overwhelming in the best way. Listening to Abattoir Blues and The Lyre of Orpheus with all of that in mind, it suddenly made perfect sense. The lyrical weight, the way the songs are constructed, the tension and release within the band’s dynamics all feel like the work of someone who has lived inside language and sound for decades. The album becomes a place where that dedication comes together. For anyone who still does not fully grasp Nick Cave, my usual recommendation remains. See him live. With The Bad Seeds or solo, the setting does not matter. The live experience has a way of pulling even the most skeptical listener into his world. This album carries some of that same power, dramatic, literate, and fully alive.
Like many Nick Cave albums, it can be maddening, inconsistent, even frustrating. Yet its brilliant moments are worth all of that and more. This could be my one desert island album.
Somehow, not a wasted moment the entire runtime. Im not the biggest fan and I assumed this was an 80's/early 90s effort. Turns out that's more of a grand finale. What a bange!!!
May bear further listens “Nature Boy” is a banger, adding that to my liked list
actually alternative. odd instrument sounds but compelling and well recorded. very diverse set of songs held together by his voice and singing style. new to me, and very enjoyable. might update to 5 later.
J’aurais pas cru passer à travers un album double de Nick Cave, pis de trouver ça JUSTE correcte! C’est une grande avancée dans mon livre à moi!
Have enjoyed other albums of NC before, never heard this, and it’s brilliant
I didn't mind it. Not my thing but the music was nice.
I must admit that this album has the unfortunate distinction of being quite familiar to me before I reviewed it for the list. As a result, some of the songs had lost its 'freshness' in a way, such as "O Children" which I have thought of as overplayed. Yet Cave's sound and themes are arguably an acquired taste, and it benefits from familiarity in that sense. Resultantly, it would have been hard to be objective when determining the LP's merits, but luckily I am ranking on my personal enjoyment anyway. The production makes good use of backing choirs and an organ/synth, giving it churchy vibes in a sense, all of which are arranged well. Cave's snarling vocals are once again in the forefront, and provide a nice contrast to the aforementioned gospel sounds, while simultaneously being complimentary to it. There are clear shifts in mood from the mellow introspections of "Cannibal's Hymns" to the lively, punchy "Breathless". Generally, the former are found on the first side of the album, and vice versa. Yet, the passion behind the music pierces clearly through the contrasting moods, and it never feels confused re purpose and theme. A great album.
Worst of the nick cave albums I've heard, but still great
This was a cool album and Nick cave and the bad seeds are just awesome so yeah great album
Some nice songs but not that memorable or unique. Fun to listen to once though I reckon a relisten would be a bit boring
Listening to the first part of this album was a drag. Nick Cave’s distinct voice makes up for the fact that he isn’t a very good singer. The music is moody goth that sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a miserably obnoxious French art film. The album gets a little more interesting (ie better) once it hits the Lyre of Orpheus. I didn’t hate it but certainly don’t love this album.
I love you Nick 💗💗💗
surprisingly good
Like the idea but don’t like the music that much
4.5
Thought this was fine but it really didn't need to be this long
Slow to catch on. Most of the songs could be 1/2 as long. Some intriguing keyboard work.
O children, Lift up your voice, lift up your voice, Children, Rejoice, rejoice 4.4
Different vibe to the last one, more bluesy rock. Second song called Cannibal‘s Hymn of course he can’t not sing about eating flesh. I don’t think I like Nick Cave. Just not for me. It’s creepy in a creepy way. I don’t want to be prey. Messiah Ward is ok. There she goes, my beautiful world is actually very pretty. Nature Boy also. Abattoir Blues is devastating. Shoutout to the backing vocalists. The second disc is more melancholy and I don’t connect as much I think. Maybe the second part picks up a bit, like with the first record. Supernaturally is very folky with a nice rhythm. Back to the melancholy. Carry me is pretty, spiritual. O Children, too.
Enjoyable. More than expected in many spots. 3/5
Why couldn't I have been introduced to Nick Cave through this album instead of Murder Ballads? This is much better. Kind of sounds like it's designed for some weird musical. Granted, I feel the same about Murder Ballads, this just does it better. Anyways, I like the energy of the album. It's a pretty long album but he actually uses the runtime pretty well, never particularly gets boring. Maybe I do like Nick Cave after all.
Un disco que son dos. El “Abattoir” más áspero, enérgico y hasta furioso y “The Lyre”, algo más reposado. Hay quien ha llamado al primero gospel rock, por aquello de la presencia del coro en muchos de sus temas. Mucho talento desbordado, pero ciertamente no es el disco para ponerte cuando estás bajo de endorfinas. O sí, allá cada cual con sus estados de animo.
Like seeing an old friend come up in my feed. Cave and his music is far too deep and intricate for me to sum up in a few sentences. If you like this, there are like a dozen other albums just as great, each with their own unique sound - start with Murder Ballads. Go read his responses to fan questions at Red Hand Files. And go see him live if you ever get the chance. His 2017 tour stop here was one of the best shows of my life.
Yay, po včerajšnjem bo tole super, tud če je 1 uro in 22 min (dvojni album!). Je pa to spet izvajalec, k sm ga uspela v živo vidt - enkrat v tej zasedbi, enkrat kot Grinderman. "Get Ready for Love" je ful udaren začetek - res je nujno, da se pripravimo. Cave je en teh ljudi, k preprosto ma žmoht. He oozes it. In slišiš, ko poje s svojim žametnim glasom. Slišim, da so kle tud neke temačne teme v komadih, kar je značilno za Cavea. "Hiding all Away" je fakin hud. "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" tud, poj je pa itak " Nature Boy". Pač, bangers. Pavza, da si priskrbim kufe. In, drugi album. "The Lyre of Orpheus" je res hud začetek. Spet ta mal temačen & pripoveden vajb, k ga ma večina Cave zadev. Po pa "Breathless" z nekim light vajbom, z več piščali pa najbl chill akustično kitaro. Chill vajb se nadaljuje z "Babe, You Turn Me On" in "Easy Money". "Supernaturally" pa sam šopa & I love it. "Spell" mi je imel vajb svojega imena & na splošno lep komad. Vse skp pa lepo zaključ "O Children", k je lep, žalosten.
The lyrics hit. This really grew on me. The vocals and arrangements won on this one. Listened before? N Saved any tracks? N Favorite tracks? There she goes, Let the Bells Ring ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really liked this one
I didn't expect to like this because of the vocals, but his voice actually works. Some good, dynamic songs here, though many are a bit slow for my preference. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Hiding All Away; There She Goes, My Beautiful World; Nature Boy; Supernaturally ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved some tracks.
Do not like the voice
Really enjoyed Breathless and Cannibal's Hymn. I appreciate the love and care that went into the songwriting, but I think you need to be of a certain mindset (and familiar with Greek mythology) in order to fully appreciate the album, and I am not. I did enjoy the melodies of every song.
Very punky, liked it
Pretty feral
these four stars are more like three and a half. i liked some of the songs so three stars is not enough, but the whole double album was too repetitive. not the best bad seeds album.
it's a low 4, more like a 3.X rounded up
Praise Him!!!!
Started good, but began to put me to sleep. 'Carry Me' to bed, thank you.
There were a coupla years when the Bad Seeds were probably my favorite band. Still love the stuff. So many great melodies on this album.
Super
I liked it!
2.5 stars. They seem to be having a good time. I’m not sure that passed on to me.
Yikes, a double album on a Monday morning? I saw this group at Lollapalooza one year and it didn't make me want to go find more of their music. Let's see if the 30+ years since then have opened my palate up a bit... It may be just because I watched part of Rocky Horror this weekend, but at times Cave's singing reminds me of Tim Curry in that film. Other times he sounds like if Tom Waits had never smoked a cigarette. And this is another album (albums?) that sounds to me like it was written with a stage show in mind. This is OK. Don't love it, don't hate it. I liked the closer, "O Children."
The least "nick cave" nick cave album I have heard. Nowhere near as overwrought lyrically. It's the better for it 4*
Enjoyed this quite a bit
I’m not sure this list needs five Nick Cave albums but I like this one.
I forgot how good this is. Haven’t listened to it in years but this is definitely one of my favorite Nick Cave albums. The contrast between the gospel tinged hellfire of disc 1 and the ballads of disc 2 is awesome. And the fact that it all works is incredible. A great comeback after some forgettable releases.
Hey, Nick Cave. I've always had an appreciation for Cave as one of my beloved Stroya's most prized cultural exports, though that love hasn't really extended to the music. It's just not my style - both in the vocals and instrumentals. That being said, I'm always down to crack another one of these albums open and give it a fair shake, so I might as well get on with it. An hour-twenner. Fuck my life. I have been getting bent over by long as fuck albums lately. It makes it real difficult for me to want to repay my crippling album debt, but oh well. Anyways, this is a bit of a change for Nick Cave. I don't remember his albums having this much of a heavy sound. It works decently - this album has a pretty good atmosphere and I like the choral theming as the album enters it's second half, though the album falls into a bit of a slump down the middle and none of these songs managed to hook me despite this sound being generally within my sphere of interest. "Cannibal's Hymn" is an interesting tune. Never thought I'd hear Nick Cave adopt a prominent funk influence, but then again I don't really have a feel for what genre he falls under. "Abbatoir Blues" has a good sound. I like the heavy, very 90s guitars, and it's paired nicely with the piano. The rest of the album is fine, but nothing really stuck out to me. Book time. Nothing much in there beyond this album having a bunch of good material. Over to Wikipedia I go. Charted well in a ton of countries. Warmly received by critics, though that's also just about it. I'm favourable to this pick. There aren't many late-career albums on this list, I'm already in Nick Cave's corner and the band appears to have maintained a high standard throughout their career. Five included albums seems like a solid number, too. I cosign this inclusion.
Nick Cave is the GOAT
Kjedelig!
Of the Nick Cave albums I’ve hit on this list, this is probably the best one, but… greatness? No. That said, it does grow on you the more you listen to it—never enough to win me over, but enough to where you stop rolling your eyes at it. There are catchy moments, where it clicks, but likely not enough to get me to return. I think it’s his voice—I just don’t connect with it. Respect to the craft, but this sits in the “I understand it, I just don’t love it” column.
Surprisingly energetic and positive. 7/10
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds used to be high octane, but now he is just Tom Jones. Things change, I guess. What's new, pussycat?
It’s definitely too long, it’s definitely a little overcooked, and yes, Nick can’t help but throw a cringey lyric in a few times. But this is maybe the most lush, beautiful I’ve heard him sound, in the sweet spot of his voice aging and softening into the styles he’s singing. The gospel choir works incredibly well for the ruminations here, and while Abbatoir Blues is a much stronger side than The Lyre of Orpheus, they both have a nice flow and style to themselves. This one is probably a 3.5 but I’ll bump to a 4 because it just sounds so good. Makes me more excited to investigate Nick’s more recent works.
first half is pretty solid but the idea of an acoustic second disc always tends to fall flat. cardinal sin of a double album is that it's just Too Darn Long
It’s all death, decay, heartbreak, and suffering with this shit. Like the house band in hell. What occasion warrants listening to Nick Cave? None that I’ve ever found. I’ve tried a few times and I just don’t get it.
2.5/5
Interesting sounds and lyrics.
*Waits for the artsy music nerds to leave* Is it now safe to admit that I never really got into Nick Cave?
Good. ★★★
I like the music, but I think his voice is what keeps it from being a 4 for me.
fav song: easy money
Kevät
Before this record, my exposure to Nick Cave was pretty much limited to 'Red Right Hand' and a handful of other tracks. But this album proved to be an outstanding way to dive deeper into his work. It beautifully showcases his incredible range—delivering everything from sprawling, epic tracks and concise pop tunes to poignant love letters and, of course, his signature meditations on death and loss. It was such a compelling listen that it immediately inspired me to go back and explore his entire back catalogue. A masterful introduction.
Enjoyed "hiding all away" "Messiah Ward" is kinda interesting. Overall the album has a decent sound, although I am finding the songs a bit repetitive. The first few all kinda sound alike. And there are some enjoyable songs, but there's also a few absolute stinkers/filler choices. I enjoyed the title track "the lyre of Orpheus" "Breathless" feels like the sellout song written merely to sell the album to record execs. That said the album is beautifully produced. Well polished etc.
A master craftsman and a great album…
a nick cave album i don't have but i really like - had heard o children in Harry Potter
This is...ok. Is it music? Sure. I don't know how to articulate what I don't like about a lot of this - is it really just his voice and delivery? The talk-singing? It might be. But sometimes it's pretty good. There She Goes My Beautiful World, Nature Boy, Let the Bells Ring, Breathless. A lot of the music is pretty great. Had to look up why on earth O Children has 200M plays as of this review. Harry Potter. -shrug- I feel like there are too many skips for me to call this a 3. It's a 2.5, but falls to a 2 just because I get too annoyed at too many tracks.
Nick Bare can have my kids after this one. Singer-songwriter vibes with godly instrumentals and bigger production.
Love it. O Children is an all time favourite
Beast
I was able to enjoy this album much more than I did with Boatman's Call. Overall, though, I don't think Nick Cave's style really does it for me
Perfect soft rock. Though quite long. A lot of similar songs
How the hell is this guy on here 7 times??
I liked this one more than previous Nick Cave albums on the list. Wasn't awesome, but perfectly enjoyable, albeit long.
19/1001 First listen. Not a fan of Cave’s singing but overall this is good. Love the backup singing.
I really dig this. The guitar and piano is so good.
Album 71: 3/5 Given that the people who made this list are retarded, I've lost nearly all my faith in this list. With some rare patches of good music in-between, we've now arrived back at "Mediocre Music Station". This album fits it perfectly. It has some good songs like "There She Goes...", butit's just a few good ones, not the entire album. The rest spreads from interesting-ish to utterly boring. It doesn't help that it's all Rock'n'Roll with a chorus in every song. Makes the album a bit one-sided, you hear one song and you know them all. All in all, nothing special, but better than some overrated shit we've listened to before.
The energy of the music has a theatrical effect to it, with lots of flare and gospel.
This was a bit of a grind. It’s ok, but every time I enjoyed a track, I wouldn’t enjoy the next one. Never listening to this again.
This is music which deserves attention that I did not always give it. But there is plenty of variety and intention behind every track. It has plenty of truly excellent songs and even though not every track is a 5 star, the average quality is very high
Very tricky to form opinions on a full double album in one day - will revisit this review over the weekend.
This felt kind of like Bruce Springsteen… is that just me? Bit to rock-y for me. I really like the album cover though.
I am realizing just how much music Nick Cave has created. I'd never heard this album before. Nothing really stood out to me but perfectly listenable.
Iconic album, sultry voice, great rock. Stronger in the back end. 4/5
Real nothing burger
Rock/rockabilly style music. Didn’t feel it was representative of 2000’s and something that would have been performed by local band at a dive? Wasn’t a fan
There’s a lot of Bad Seeds records and this is one I’ve only listened to once or twice. Given it’s a double album, it's required more time to digest. As a result, this might become one the of my favourites by Cave. Equally raw and beautiful, with his trademark storytelling over the top of powerful gospel vocals. Not necessarily the best place to start if getting into this group, but arguably one of their best.
For this to work Nick Cave needs to have aura and this just insane aura to me O Children is gas tho
um no i did not like that
Depressing and miserable slog
dull af
Weird...cool...Great lyrics and harmonies
A lot of double albums just feel like too many songs in a single album. This one is neatly split with differing approaches and actually makes it feel like two separate albums. One half of this double album is delirious and possessed and the other half is sweet and introspective. Get Ready for Love is a hell of an opener that takes you right into the madness of Nick Cave's sermon. The first album feels ungodly but never evil. It has a riotous gothic tone empowered by the church choir accompanying Cave's frantic crooning. The next album switches everything up with calming acoustic guitars and lighter themes of love and serenity. The choir is still there but they feel lighter and more comforting. This dichotomy allows you to come back to the album with two options depending on what experience you're looking for. It's a 2-for-1 special at this cultist Sunday service.
beetje lang
- Het was zeker niet slecht, maar Nick grot en ik zijn niet de beste vrienden. - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM
I think if I were to listen to all of Nick Cave's albums I may be able to summon a CDs worth of material I would want to listen to. As a whole, I did not enjoy this album.
I'm not very familiar with Nick Cave (though I adore PJ Harvey), but I enjoyed this mythical, dark, and emotionally-charged album that has a mix of holy anger and profound misery.