Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

It took me almost 500 days to get a Nick Cave album, if we don't count The Birthday Party. I hope this is a sign that the generator is saving the best stuff for the second half of the challenge. Nick Cave's career was, in my opinion, in a constant upward trajectory from his very first album up to this point. He still releases a great album every now and then, but the consistency during the first 20 years of his career is astonishing. *Abbatoir Blues* in particular is a culmination of everything Cave does best, it's probably my favourite set of songs he ever made. His inescapable and unique vocals are dominating the cacophony around him on the very first track. The music is slowly, but surely calming down with each passing moment and Cave's soulful cadence becomes even more captivating. *The Lyre of Orpheus* is also fantastic, but it's the lesser half of the album, in my opinion. It's hard to maintain such high standards for 17 tracks. However, it ends with what is probably Cave's best ever closer, which is no small feat. Favourite track: There She Goes, My Beautiful World

1. Get Ready for Love - 6/10 2. Cannibal's Hymn - 5/10 3. Hiding All Away - 5/10 4. Messiah Ward - 6/10 5. There She Goes, My Beautiful World - 5/10 6. Nature Boy - 6/10 7. Abattoir Blues - 5/10 8. Let The Bells Ring - 8/10 9. Fable of the Brown Ape - 5/10 10. The Lyre Of Orpheus - 5/10 11. Breathless - 5/10 12. Babe, You Turn Me On - 9/10 13. Easy Money - 7/10 14. Supernaturally - 8/10 15. Spell - 5/10 16. Carry Me - 8/10 17. O Children - 7/10 OVERALL - 6.2/10

Went into this with moderate to low expectations as I came out of listening to the previous Nick Cave album I had on this generator pretty underwhelmed. Happy to say this album blew me away. So interesting and exciting with great storytelling. Hiding All Away was my fav song and first listen of the album. There She Goes, My Beautiful World and O Children were my other highlights

I’m never sure about Double albums, often too baggy, just too much stuff. This isn’t like that, best considered as two seperate albums the gnarly/noisy Abbatoir blues and the more layered quieter Lyre of Orpheus. It covers all the Nick Cave bases. Southern gothic tales in 4 minutes, a multitude of characters, literary references and Caves doomy baritone. Despite being nearly 90 minutes long its coherent and enjoyable throughout

I don’t want to dislike this album as much as I do, but it’s just not for me.

Double albums are a slog a lot of the time. The lows are low here, with intermittent ok songs.

3.5

Excellent album! I think I liked the fAbattoir Blues* disc a little bit better than the *Lyre of Orpheus* but both Lps are absolutely stellar. Sometimes I need to just listen to *LoO* just by itself to see if it stands up bit better on its own... It being mellower side as well as the backside of a double may taint it down a tad. I think Boatman's Call still edges out this album by smidge but I did absolutely love this album (9.6) ★★★★½

A masterpiece. 5 stars

At first, I didn't fully connect with this album because it seemed a little more polished and brighter than the gloomy punky blues of peak Nick Cave, but out of context, it's a really wonderful album. I think it's probably Cave's most accessible album. Happy might be a weird descriptor for it, but I think Cave finally having gotten sober, seems to be loving life and really starts making some of his best art. I do miss Blixa Bargeld a bit, but there's a lot to love here, and even at 17 tracks, most of the material is great. Highlights for me are "There She Goes, My Beautiful World", "Breathless", "O Children", "Supernaturally", and "Cannibal's Hymn". 4.5 stars.

It’s nick cave, what more can I say. You won’t always love him all the time, but there’s always a time for nick cave.

I'm a huge Nick Cave fan but this isn't an album I listen to very much. I don't think I'd put it in the top 5 Nick Cave albums and it probably only just sneaks into the top 10 so a bit surprised that it popped up on here. Having listened to it for this, I think it's good but not great. Oh Children is an iconic song, Babe You Turn Me On is a surprisingly sweet love song and there are some very witty lyrics, but there are also some relatively generic rock songs.

The first half of this album is outstanding, just a beautiful cacophony of sound headed by Nick Cave's great voice. However, the second half kind of lost me because 1) I'm not really a slow song guy and thats basically what this entire half was and 2) it sounded a bit basic outside of the choir. Album #150 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album 1/5 Favorite Track: Hiding All Away - I loved the part at the end with just so much noise going on, it sounded magnificent.

This is hard to rate. For one, it’s overly long. For two, it’s kind of random and eclectic ? Doesn’t ever really settle into any kind of mode. It’s not offensive but it never caught my ear either. ⭐️⭐️.5

Too long

ніколи не слухала цей альбом повністю, тільки окремі треки, але ж вау надзвичайно

The first half is not my style but I really like from the lyre of Orpheus on

It an OK album. I have a feeling I'd like covers of a lot of these songs more.

Not saying anyone's wrong for liking this, but I don't feel it's for me. Double album really came across as two separate albums, with a more rocking first half and introspective, low-energy second. Nick Cave's voice is to be endured more than enjoyed, from my perspective.

No more nick cave. Please

Another of those artists that seems to be one of those ones that if you like you really love, sorry not in that category.. have caught him live twice but not for me...

Phenomenal album. A peak In A Career of many peaks

nick cave's voice is very powerful as always. it's a little unnecessarily long, but i'd still say it's a great album overall, as they do a good job switching moods between the two sides.

I'm sure I would've gotten more out of this if I really listened to the words, but as it was it just didn't draw me in Favorite Songs: Let the Bells Ring, The Lyre of Orpheus, Easy Money, O Children

This sounds super generic to me, and I don’t even know why. 2.5/5

Over 560 albums in and we FINALLY got a Nick Cave album!!! This is one I'd not heard before, and the promise of a Bad Seeds double album certainly didn't let me down. It's still got everything I love about my favourite Bad Seeds material - brutal & emotional stories in equal measure, and accompanying music that goes hard & heavy or soft & sentimental when it needs to.

Big fan of what The Bad Seeds and the gospel choir bring to the table. Can't always say the same about ol' cavernous nicholas. No real hate; it just takes a lot out of a guy like me to follow along to 82 minutes worth of tales, especially when delivered by a Geordie Greep soundalike (an artist I've always had trouble getting into). Standouts: Cannibal's Hymn • Nature Boy • Easy Money • Carry Me • O Children

Absolutely stunning album which frequently had me amazed at the songwriting and musicianship. Oddly, I felt that the start of the album is the worst part. The first two or three songs didn't catch my atrention much and I feel like most of the gold is in the second half. I did not care for his slow jam stuff as much as I enjoyed the songs with more energy.

あんま好きじゃないかも

Long but ok. Nothing jumped out.

I don't think Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are capable of making music that isn't captivating, compelling, and powerful. Going into an entirely unfamiliar double album always feels daunting, but the quality of the music made it a fine listen.

Not a fan

I liked this one!

4.5

3 1/2 I should listen to it again.

I maintain that Nick Cave is wildly overrepresented in this list and it did this album no favours that it was my second consecutive double-LP (and third in a week) so my patience was immediately tested. It's actually a bit of a shame this is the last of his albums to be assigned to me, as it's probably the best of the bunch, but has suffered from a bit of listening fatigue. The songwriting is dramatic and poetic, once again. The arrangements are more lush and dense than on the previous offerings and he's deployed a choir to help lighten the tone in a number of places. It worked a treat. There's a much more optimistic and euphoric tone here and somehow it didn't feel as long as I feared it would, although I once again I feel he's guilty of failing to vary the dynamics or mood enough through the runtime. There are some really outstanding moments; Nature Boy, Breathless and O Children stopped me in my tracks to listen and take them in fully. I don't see myself digging much deeper into his discography as I've already heard most of it by now (surely?!) but I'm content with having saved a handful of tracks and I feel I have a pretty broad appreciation for what he's all about. Robert Dimery and his friends have made absolutely certain of that.

The last Nick Cave album I listened to was God awful, so as long as this album did not hit that low point, it was gonna be an improvement. I mean, this is all right, it's really not a standout. However, I do feel that this is probably one of the nick cave albums I would enjoy the most. This just goes on for so long and so much of it just feels like filler. I'm just so curious what goes on in the studio when he's recording stuff like this. Does no one ever say to him, maybe we don't need every single song you've ever written for this album. This is not awful. It's just that I don't like it. Fav Track: Let The Bells Ring

Not bad.

My first Cave exploration. 2004 is definitely one of those special years for classic albums

I like the (quieter) second half of this double album ok -- and there were moments I liked on the wilder rockier first disc, I guess, too. But overall feels over-written, over-done and not necessarily for me. Maybe it's just because I recently saw Hadestown, but I found "The Lyre of Orpheus" totally unlistenable. All respect a literary rocker, but this didn't ignite anything much in my soul.

I don't really get Nick Cave's vibe but I respect the energy. Not really my thing tho

Like it 3/5

kinda weird

Somewhat crappy alt rock

Some awesome songs, especially on the first part of the album. This one’s a four for now, but it wouldn’t shock me If the more I listen, the more likely I am to raise it to a five.

An interesting and deep album that splits cleanly into two moods. The first side is heavier, darker and more aggressive. The second turns more romantic and light. That contrast works well and keeps the whole record from feeling one-dimensional. Cave sounds completely like himself throughout. His voice is deep and strong on every track, whether he is pushing into the harsher material or pulling back into the softer, more open songs. The band follows him closely, shifting from loud and confrontational to quieter and more elegant without losing focus. Nothing feels forced. The two sides simply show different sides of the same artist. The production is clear and well balanced. The heavier songs have weight and bite, while the lighter ones have space and warmth. Everything sits in the right place and serves the performances. Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus is a strong double album. Varied, well written, and held together by a voice that never loses its power.

Fine

Great songwriter and atmospheric listen - not uplifting, but a strangely soothing rhythm (even if lyrics aren’t always!)

Mid.

Should be higher for technical points, but it was such a drag it took me 9 days to finish.

Not for me

Unpleasant, pseudo-intellectual. This one annoyed me

3 hours of nick cave was more than I needed in 3 days tbh. This album was a lot more upbeat than I expected so that was cool. Also I kept thinking how much Nick sounds like Elvis Costello. This wasn’t bad but just longer than I needed

Similar to The Downward Spiral, I tried to like this, but sadly it just didn’t click with me.

It's very good. But is this the point that the slow decline in Nick Cave's career began? There's 11 lps (not counting the ones with the Birthday Party) that are better than this and none following. Just about still a 5 star record but the compilers should have chosen better.

I keep finding more Nick Cave albums and they’re all good

I think I would really like this album if Nick Cave didn't stretch every single song 2 minutes longer than it deserves.

Significant improvement on the previous offering we've had from this band. And an improvement on many other double albums we've been offered.

Took me by surprise this one and had to listen twice to be sure…initially was frustrated at yet another Nick Cave album but found this far more accessible and sonically pleasing. Think I would listen again…3.5 stars.

As my first nick cave album I really liked it, the first half was definitely more edgier and moodier compared to the more lighthearted second half but I appreciated both. It felt very poetic at times and it was interesting not only listening to his voice but the lyricism. I would definitely listen again this deserves a 4/5

Brilliant album. This was the first full Nick Cave album I listened to and been a huge fan since. Two different albums, Abbatoir Blues is big, bombastic. The Lyre of Orpheus is more laid back. Overall one their best

Time was I would have described myself as a big double album guy. I love the long form ambition, I like the double dip structuring… But listening through again now after a few years aff it, I can’t help feeling like this would have been better as one 50ish minute album. The good songs are some of the best they’ve ever written, absolutely massive sound and so much excitement. The combination of snarling goth rock songwriting and ecstatic choral arrangements is absolutely doing bits. The mellow songs are incredible too, Spell and O Children in particular are stunning. Buuut it does edge over into cheese a few times and there’s also some absolutely horrifying lyrics on there too, the second disc title track as a gleaming example. So yeah… with like 4 or 5 songs axed, an absolutely brilliant piece of work, a career peak for sure… as it is? 4 stars? Aye something like that.

Old man at karaoke sings b2b songs you've never heard of

Too durery

Oh yay another double album. Some of the songs were really good, but once again, was it good enough for a double album? Nah.

I dreaded this coming up because the first Niv Cave album I got was dreadful, and it was a 1, however that being said, I gave this a go, and I didn’t hate it, sure it was long, but it was upbeat enough to make it enjoyable in places

Over the years, Nick Cave and friends developed a most original canon (yet grounded on a range of traditions) of which this album provides a spectacular example: everything about it is perfect, from the whimsical lyrics (who would have thought the Orpheus could rhyme with orifice?) to the gospel choir. I saw them live about 12 years ago when they were promoting Push the Sky Away: that was probably the most energetic live music performance I have ever seen. An album like this shows that even in studio that energy is there and it is simply irresistible...

Very different from his later works. There's a griminess... a grit to these songs that his later works clean up significantly. The music on here is all over the place, and I love that. Never a dull moment. "Let the Bells Ring" is a particular favorite. "Supernaturally" is also excellent. Very eclectic, outstanding double album.

Как будто в иисус христос суперзвезда уронили бутылек с сексом

I mean I guess

Most of it is fine. Some of it is pretty weird

Look, I just don’t care about the music of Nick Cave. Please give me a break from this. It’s fine, nothing wrong with it but for the love of god, stop it with the Nick Cave thing. Nobody is gonna shag you because you recommended it.

I had never really delved into Nick Cave prior to this and man did I dig the sound. Cool vibes. Starting from the top of the album with Get Ready for love with good, driving beat. Love the gospel choir. I will say that I enjoyed Abattoir Blues much more than The Lyre of Orpheus. But I liked Lyre better on second listen. Overall, I was surprised how much I liked this and would listen again

la verdad que me sorprendio. el godspell me hizo creer que npor momentos era un disco de una obra, pero no. Me gusto la verdad lo disfrute.

Nothing enticing about this at all. Not the worst thing I've heard but loses a star for being an hour longer than it deserves

Right let’s get Nick Cave and these Bad seeds out into some good dirt and open air.

meh

I surprisingly like it all

Enjoyed the album. It’s a little long in the tooth.

Up and down album but mostly up and full of progressive experimental alternative rock. Very unique vocalist who i dig.

Not what I was expecting based off the name of the group & the album cover

Börjar bra med Get Ready For Love. Gillar även There She Goes, My Beautiful World och Let The Bells Ring. Men det är skiva två som överraskar positivt med melankoliska mer lågmälda låtar. Ännu en skiva som känns för lång. 3,5 av 5.

When I first saw a nearly 90 minute Nick Cave album come up, I was a bit apprehensive. But what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. The first half, Abattoir Blues is exactly what I want from Nick and the Bad Seeds. Raw and arty, with a great use of gospel elements. The Lyre of Orpheus doesn't hit nearly as hard for me, but it's easy to see what he was going for with the sound of each half of the album. Glad I stuck this one out, Abattoir will definitely be put into my rotation.

GOOD

This double album contains two excellent tracks (the energetic "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" and the slow-burning "Abattoir Blues") but the rest of this collection is just ordinary. Cave's vocal delivery is full of personality and conviction but the songs themselves are reliant on such obvious and tired chord progressions that there's no sense of drama or surprise.

O children at the end almost brought it up to 5. It’s very close - just a great album with great songs. All the choir vocals throughout complement everything so well. The drums are driving and rock solid. And Cave’s delivery and lyrics are just so unique and great. This isn’t run of the mill bland rock and roll - it’s his vision and it’s executed incredibly. It just doesn’t have that “5 star feeling” for me. That little bit of almost indescribable something that makes an album give you the impression that it’s special, revolutionary, influential, whatever. Maybe it’ll get there for me - because I can see myself listening to this one a lot going forward.

Tentative 3/5 until I listen again

The only problem I really had with this was the length, but it really won me over towards the end

I have given the first two of the Nick Cave albums in this book a "2" and a "3," so the bar isn't terribly high to top those grades. Yes, this album is probably too long, and yes, I have enjoyed the album more if it was a bit shorter. It would make the longer songs more palatable for repeat listens. Saying that, this is my favorite Nick Cave album thus far. While I wasn't sure how I would feel about a choir of sorts backing Cave up, it turns out it worked out really nicely. Because I am not a Nick Cave completist and have only heard three of his albums, I can't say if this is the album new Nick Cave fans should start with, but this is the one I wish I had started with. My favorite songs: Get Ready for Love Cannibal's Hymn There She Goes, My Beautiful World Nature Boy Let the Bells Ring Breathless Easy Money O Children

As If this band wasn’t shitty enough, here’s a double album to double down on how shitty this list is.

Another long album. Actually uses both sides in different ways, which I appreciate. Probably more deserving of a double album than MCATIS, but it would be a disservice to compare them. Lots of solid tracks in this one, especially on the front of each side. I feel like I could really like Nick Cave in a shorter format. Not a bad first impression. 7.5/10

It's like if Shakespeare made a blues-rock album.

This album was very good. Not my favorite by Cave but certainly up there. 9/10.

I like the idea of Nick Cave more than I enjoy actually listening to him, which makes a double album kind of a chore. It's loud, aggressive, layered, poetic, and edgy. It's got a full sound that demands your attention. Nick Cave's got a soulful, world-weary, biting delivery, frequently complemented by a gospel choir. It's nothing if not dramatic. So why don't I like it? It's also frequently tuneless with gross lyrical turns... some of which repeat endlessly. I really hate the word "panties"... I think that was the moment I decided this was a 2-star record and not a 3. I just didn't enjoy listening to what he had to say and found the dramatic moments started to feel overblown fairly quickly. I do think there's a record in here I wouldn't mind listening to, but it's probably only 9 or 10 tracks long.

La premiere chanson était prometteuse mais le reste de l’album était assez mid et trop long. Les chansons était répétitive non seulement dans la chanson mais aussi entres elles.

Die Band kratzt an einer 5 / 5, instrumentell richtig lecker teilweise. Die Vocals von Nick Cave klicken aber leider gar nicht bei mir. Sehr dominant, etwas triefend und pathetisch. Sicherlich eine Geschmackssache. Bin kein Fan von seiner Stimme. - Nee, macht mich aggressiv. Pseudo-intellektuell, nimmt sich selbst viel zu ernst. Musik für langweilige Menschen, die sich selbst als deep und intellektuell sehen.

Basta con este muerto

This was a little more rockin' than I was expecting. Based on the interviews I've seen from this dude, I imagined him to just be an absolute curmudgeonly miserable singer-songwriter. Maybe he really is! It didn't play off that way on this record though.

неожиданно хороший двойной альбом НИКА КЕЙВА от которого мне не хочется рыгать. ожидал мильон баллад и томной мрачной атмосферы, получил арт панк. спасибо, дура.

I actually surprised myself by liking this quite a bit. That said, I think it would have benefited from being broken into two albums of around 40 minutes each, tracks 1–9 and 10–17. 82 minutes is a lot to sit through, although I must admit this did not seem to drag particularly.