Reviews (page 6 of 8)
cool concept, executed fairly well
7/10
So conflicted. I feel like I should love, love, love this with the darkness and mood, but did not connect.
Got interesting towards the middle but I wasn't a fan really
6/10
Note to self, try this one again. It was nasty and interesting. A little on the fence about its artistic merit, but it's definitely appropriate for this kind of list.
Great music and lyrics but super depressing..
Story
I like the idea of this album and had a good time listening to it. The songwriting style gets a little repetitive, but overall a good listen. I don’t think it’s something I’d put on frequently though, it’s just a little too out there for me to listen to much.
This one is somewhat weird and also rather a mixed bag. Sort of sounds like bad guy songs from Disney cartoon movies. The quality also widely varies. For most of the album I wanted to round this up to a 4 from a 3.5. But O'Malley's Bar went on for way too long and then the last song Death Is Not The End was horrible. The album was at least quite interesting and had some very good parts. So this could have been a really good one. But it is what it is.
Extremely uncomfortable but also very good. I am torn. Might go back to this. 3 for now
ну это не смешно уже, братцы!.. Да, понятно, что это самый коммерчески успешный альбом Ника Кейва, за счет того что он, видимо, поёбывал Кайли Миноуг и заманил её спеть сингл вместе. Но ёбаный рот, сюда-то это пихать зачем? Человек, который послушает этот альбом, охуеет и к творчеству Кейва, вероятно, больше не притронется, решив, что это какой-то ебанутый реднек со сказками уровня Короля и Шута. Ну окей, послушали. В целом, настроение похоже и на другие альбомы Кейва, но из-за того, что он тут перепевает какие-то старые народные песни про ковбоев и чертей, а там обычно куча текста - музыка отходит на второй план. В итоге мы получаем просто невыносимо затянутые номера Stagger Lee и O'Malley's Bar. Последний - это пиздец просто, он идёт почти 15 минут, и там буквально нихуя не происходит, один и тот же квадрат по кругу (простите за каламбур) и заунывное нытьё Кейва. История, конечно, интересная (нет), но всему предел же должен быть, мы тут не Русское Поле Экспериментов собрались слушать. Касательно остальных песен - ну так-сяк, есть милые балладки, фит с Миноуг мне не сильно зашёл, на фоне общего мрачняка он сладенький какой-то. Как и кавер на Дилана - чето это чересчур уже. Некоторые песни порадовали атмосферой, схожей с таковой у Lake of Tears (на наиболее мифичных песнях), но я в любой день лучше LoT и послушаю. Да и вообще сам Кейв говорит, что сочинил этого 15-минутного мутанта и не мог придумать, куда его вставить, поэтому написал целый альбом, чтобы ему было не одиноко. Ну так оно и звучит, написали чтоб было просто. Я хуй знает, господа, зачем этот проходняк было сюда проталкивать (мне напомнить, сколько охуенных альбомов не попали сюда даже в редакциях двадцатых годов?), ну пусть будет 6/10 за атмосферу и фиток с Пиджи Харви. Лучшие песни: Henry Lee, Lovely Creature, Stagger Lee (при всей затянутости песни я всё равно кекаю каждый раз, когда Кейв кричит "YOU BETTER GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND SUCK MY DICK") Не очень интересное: O'Malley's Bar, Death Is Not the End
Mostly found this overwrought. Certainly interesting, but I can’t matinees sitting down and choosing to listen through this for pleasure.
I guess you have to give him credit for sticking to a theme and carrying it all the way through. Definitely story-time song in the Nick Cave style about death. They range in gratuitousness, but are generally consistent and though the last song is probably weaker than the rest, they keep a steady balance through the album. if you're in the mood... this will do it.
I didn't try to listen to this too hard. Maybe there's something there, but I couldn't find it on one pass... and frankly spent a lot of time listening to my favorite dental hygienist, Jane Weaver this weekend.
This album is a hoot! Super theatrical, great storytelling, decent musicianship. I'd keep it around for kitsch value, but probably wouldn't do much "pleasure" listening. The Kylie Minogue duet is clearly an outlier as the most accessible song on the album, but I also dug some of the earthier, more raw tracks too.
Good but not my favourite Nick Cave album.
Oli siinä biisejä ainakin
Non tutto quello che fa mi piace, ma comunque trovo Nick Cave un personaggio interessante. In quest'album la sensazione è la stessa: è interessante ma non tutto quello che ho ascoltato mi è piaciuto. La cosa che non mi spiego è come, nonostante sia spesso incompatibile con i miei gusti, riesca a non farmi schifo e anzi, rimanga ad ascoltarlo. Tranne Where the Wild Roses Grow che ho trovato troppo banale e al secondo ascolto ho skippato. Tra il 2 e il 3. Ma 2 mi sembra troppo poco.
Not my cup of tea, but very well made for what it is. Last two songs, though a tad repetitive, are the highlights for me. “Death Is Not The End” is a perfect darkly optimistic finish in both concept and execution for this mostly bleak album
Exactly as the title suggests. Super vivid stories told in each song. It was definitely something different, I don’t know if I would listen again
Był okej
Loved it! Loved the style, loved the variety of voices and styles, the use of irony, loved all the murder and death and darkness. I thought it was brilliant. Didn't appreciate the message that we should all keep our daughters at home because of the big bad world, but I don't think he'd get away with that now so I'm going to overlook it.
Actually quite good fun, notwithstanding the subject matter. Fairly eclectic covering much of Cave/Bad Seeds styles.
Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: Song of Joy, The Curse of Millhaven Cutting Edge: O'Malley's Bar Overall Notes: Was a LOT better the third time compared to the first and second. Great storyteller, but I prefer it when my music does something beyond telling a good story. Similar to Marvin Gaye in that I need to be in the mood to enjoy it.
Nice, very moody.
I’ll pass on “stagger lee”. I don’t hate the music style but I don’t think I love it either.
Me ha sorprendido un par de canciones chulas. Buena cadencia y ritmo.
I don't love albums that really demand my attention lyrically, but I did enjoy this more than the ABC - Love album we listened to earlier. Favorite track - The curse of millhaven
Meh. It's violent and depressing.
Murder Ballads is an appropriate name for this album. I didn't hate it, but it's not something I would listen to on the regular. I appreciate the artistry of it.
Haven't listened to an album this dependent on narrative song structures in a while. Some tracks definitely overlong, but this is an LP meant to be taken in as a whole.
Decent album with good story telling, it's an album of murder ballads
Only listened to first few songs
Tämä levy oli joskus ensikosketukseni Nick Caveen hittibiisi Where the Wild Roses Grow:n kautta. Hieman vaikeampi lähestyttävä kuin listalla aiemmin ollut Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. Työnteon taustamusiikkina välillä jopa häiritsevän poukkoilevaa menoa. Rauhassa keskittyen kuunnellessa tämä toimi paremmin, mutta silti preferoin hieman rauhallisempaa Caven tuotantoa. Death Is Not The End oli miellyttävä päätös levylle.
3.0
Cool vibes. Love his deep voice. Works well with the album. Fav track is the duet with Kylie Minogue
Strange album. I kinda liked it but only out of amusement. Does it belong on this list?
Like a rock opera
Väldigt creepy, inget jag skulle lyssna på annars men gör det den är till för. Instrumenten är snyggt byggda kring Nick och han gör en sjuk insats
växte på en
I'm currently in an electronic-pop mood right now so having another Nick Cave album in less than two weeks is pretty jarring to me. Felt unsettled by the intro, not because of the dark vibes but because of how wordy it is. It's giving Disney villain theme song but without the catchiness, just the storytelling. The duets are probably the most commercial sounding (2.5-3).
A 14-minute song? No. The songs featuring other artists were okay. 2.5
Naaa mate
I really did not enjoy this. A few small moments that saved it from being a one star, but not by much. 2/5
not my thing wouldn't say its the worst but man uff. every track remind of a some old school movies somehow
liked it, cool concept but a bit freaky/psyched me out
No lo disfruté para nada, en serio intenté escucharlo bien, pero no pude
ugh please stop
This guy deserves more than one spot on the list because…? Might I recommend So Runs the World Away by Josh Ritter?
Yikes. So far the most hit or miss album I had. I had high hopes for this; I always appreciate an artist that tours as relentlessly and as thoroughly as Nick Cave seems to, it's like I have the opportunity to see him every year or so relatively close by and that's saying something considering I live in an area that's typically very dry in terms of popular western touring musicians. That being said, this really did not impress. While I did enjoy some songs such as Curse of Millhaven and the duet songs with PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue, the other ones really did take me away from this. Take O'Malley's Bar: a more than 14 minute song which seems forced the entire way through, not to mention the gibberish at the end of it which I don't consider to be very cool for a group's 9th album (more if you count previous bands) and a man that was near enough 40 years old when this album came out. Not an album I'd consider necessary for this list considering how many other entries this group has, especially and hopefully if any are better than this one.
Stagger Lee was great, the rest was okay, except for The Kindness of Strangers which bordered on bad taste.
Not really "my cup of tea". The subject matter was a little off putting.
This album excels when the track has a guest vocalist. Nick Cave vocal style really doesn’t appeal to me save where it is contrasting with PJ Harvey or Kylie, even if these tracks just make me think of the Shirehorse’s versions (long live Mark and Lard). Other than these ‘The Curse of Millhaven’ at least offers some life, but does kind of feel like they’ve just sped ‘Henry Lee’ up. ‘The Kindness of Strangers’ isn’t too bad.
I'm so tired of being forced to listen to this guy by this list
Dislike
Not for me, sad, creepy…not my my thing
Sounds like Bob Dylan if he had schizophrenia and lived on the streets spouting non sense
Oh great, another one. There’s millions of artists out there yet Nick Cave is on this list again. Somehow or someone thinks he is a better artist than even the Beatles. I highly disagree. This is still just poor poetry over top of half assed music . I’m disappointed that I’ve been forced to listen to Nick Cave more than twice. He and his albums are not that good
2.5 Idk man there’s just too many Nick Cave albums on this list. Idk if this is actually the worst one, I’m just tired of getting Nick Cave albums. We get it, guy who made this list, you like Nick Cave. Is there an argument for one or two Nick Cave albums? Absolutely! He IS important to music, and is well respected. Do all his albums, plus albums that he appears on, plus albums where people cover his work, plus albums he produced, plus multiple albums by the people in his band, do all THOSE also have to be on this list? It gets a bit silly, doesn’t it? The songs with the ladies are the best ones.
Heavy handed storytelling performed by a community theatre performer that takes themselves way too seriously. I really like some Nick Cave songs but wow this was a chore
I'm trying to get what Nick Cave is putting down as this is my third album from him and am still put off. My take on this one is he is intentionally making the juxtaposition of the clean rock band sound and his unstable off putting vocals represent the murders in the stories. I think he himself is the discordant nature that upsets the rhythm of life (the music) and that is kind of interesting from an artistic point of view but I still don't like listening to it very much. I'm glad to have heard it cause it informs me on music in the future but I would not go back to re-listen without external reasons. The instrumentation is solid and I would rate it higher without the singing but I'm also just not a "Ballad" kind of guy.
Too musical theatre for me unforch
I love the guy but the music is just mostly not listenable.
I tend to cut Nick Cave a lot of slack but this is intolerably grim.
Honestly just weird? It just skates past a 1 rating because it isn't unlistenable, but just not my cup of tea. I also take pause about someone who can find so many ways to sing about killing women but ok
I’ve listened to a fair bit of Nick Cave at this point, but I find his music to be like a really strong drink: I can only enjoy it in small quantities and very specific settings. I liked the production on “Stagger Lee” (which, strangely, reminded me of Sublime) and the closing “Death Is Not The End,” although it’s worth noting that these were two of the few non-originals on the album. Sometimes dark and morose subject matter can be a medium for entertainment or deep meditations, but in this case I found myself wondering at the writer’s inspiration. Overall it was a hard one for me to get through.
If anyone could pull off this album’s concept, it should be Nick Cave. But this work just rubs me the wrong way. (Kinda like Stagger Lee.) It’s all just…too much. Too bombastic. Too over-the-top. Apparently I prefer my murder ballads on the more subtle side, so I’ll take Springsteen’s NEBRASKA over this every time.
Great band, clever lyrics, and strong guest vocals from PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue — but Cave’s talk‑sing style kept me from fully enjoying the album.
Literally just an hour of singing about killing people in an old timey 1900s kind of way. Outside of the subject matter, I don't think this style of music is for me.
eu achei interessantinho o conceito do álbum, mas, como todos do nick cave, é um album chatinho e a voz dele me incomoda um tanto. dando um 2 só pelo conceitinho e pela kylie minogue.
Just not a nick cave fan. Kinda weird and dark album.
Ei lähtenyt hirveästi itselle. Rankkaa tekstiä joo, välillä vähän cringeä omaan korvaan, puhelauluhommat on vähän vaikea laji
tired. boring. yawning.
just can't do it
The duet with Kylie is a classic, but in general I need something a little more uplifting in my life right now
Idk how this is on the list. 2
In a perfect world, this would be the only Nick Cave album we would have to review. The full schtick is firmly in place, but the guest vocalists break up the monotony a bit. As it is, we've been assaulted with a Nick Cave album regularly for years now and I'm thoroughly sick of it.
UN AUTRE NICK CAVE? C’EST QUI LE CAVE QUI L’A RAJOUTÉ???!!! J’AVAIS PASSÉ À TRAVERS, J’EN ÉTAIS SÛR!!!! Osti qu’il est lourd ce gars-là, toute ses tounes c’est «J’suis un weirdo alcolo qui frappe des femmes et tue tout le monde qui rencontre mon chemin parce que je suis un weirdo alcolo», suivi de 10 minutes de simagrées vocale de retardé intellectuel.
The vocal delivery and much of the music ruin what, for me, could be interesting songs lyrically.
Not really my cup of tea, but the duet with Kylie Minogue was ok.
Fuuuuck. I just don't get Nick Cave. His work with the Birthday Party is pretty good, but this album just sounds like mass shooter Bob Dylan.
Cool sound, but I don't like the songs. Or the cartoonishly dire vocals.
Wait, there are FIVE Nick Cave albums on this list? wow... just, wow.
I'm not a fan of Nick Cave's style, and this was as tiresome as I expected. An interesting idea, but not my style at all.
Australian Leonard Cohen tells stories about murder. It was interesting for the first few songs
I saw that this was Nick Cave, and my initial thought was a revolting “ugh”. Lo and behold, I kept looking at how much of the album I have left. Glad it’s over, I’m not coming back.
This kind of voices are not my thing
I know, I know, I know I need to be listening to the lyrics here. He's a storyteller, and that's the whole point. And probably I would find this very valuable if I keyed in. But damn, this dude's voice sucks. And damn, this is some weird shit. I can't be too upset, because at least it's artistic and interesting, but what exactly is the point here man. Fave tracks: - Stagger Lee - Lovely Creature - The Curse of Millhaven - Crow Jane - O'Malley's Bar (side note: this seems to me like the epitome of this album. A long, thought-out, wacko story. Pretty cool, even if it was weird and somewhat boring.)
Oh good, more Nick Cave :eyeroll: The first track reminds me of Andy Bernard from The Office singing the Sweeney Todd soundtrack. I don't really DISlike Nick Cave, but I've just never gotten the fascination with him. I definitely don't think a person needs to hear multiple Nick Cave albums before he/she dies. I liked the PJ Harvey track. "O'Malley's Bar" went on way, way, WAY too long. Covering "Death Is Not the End" was cool. This gets a 2 - 2.5 from me.
Dosadnjikavo. 2/5, 3/10
Found it fairly tedious and self-indulgent.
Id rather listen to tom waits
A concept album of songs about murder? Well it certainly is unique. His voice on this annoys me and the Kylie cover is pretty bad. Like the last album we had of his, it goes on far too long.
it's been one of the most boring albums I've ever heard. and dreadful man's voice. maybe i should pay attention for lyrics bcz it's named "murder BALLADS" but I'm too lazy to do any research.
I don't appreciate this... I don't mind the stories, but the vocals make this an unpleasant listen. Also R.I.P Biko.
Mördarmusik?? Inte så nice.
yeah not my vibe. most songs sounded like theyd be on a disney villians soundtrack.
Coldplay left me well, cold
M’lady ass music
*Cool world building *Dark mood- unique sound but probably won't listen again
My wife wants to leave me. I‘m in a period of sorrow. This is not the right time for this album. I wonder though for whom it is the right time.
I... Don't like this. I don't know exactly why but it just all feels wrong. The instrumentation is ugly and the vocals aren't much prettier. At first it just felt like random noise. Looking into the story of the album (and, well, the name), I guess it does make sense why it sounds the way it does. It's about ugly crimes. But still, this doesn't appeal to me.
Interesting but a bit bland
2.5
2/5
Weird somehow, 14 Minuten Song?!
Just a bit cringe honestly
Not for me. Found it kind of cheesy even
It's like Tom Waits but worse. Will I listen to again: 2%
Another NC&tBS album - I am now confident in my assessment that I just don't like his sound/music direction. It just doesn't land well and annoys me.
What a weird concept, not my vibe at all, but I ended up enjoying some parts of it.
Nick Cave and The Bad Album 2/5
No me cautivó en lo absoluto
I remember being in high school and my friend handing me his cd player to listen to Stagger Lee off of this album. I didn't want to hurt his feelings in describing how annoying I found it to be. I think Nick Cave is tedious and this is a tedious album.
not for me. it does feel a bit musical theatre, with each song storytelling about something murdery. I just don’t think the music itself is interesting enough to be something I return to.
Meh
This is NOT background listening. It gets a half point back for that 2.5
Another artist I want to so like & parts I really do. However, this album save his tracks with Kylie Minogue came up short to me.
I dunno not for me. Temu Lou Reed vibes sorta
- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM
Tom Waits walked so Nick Cave could also try and walk but fall flat on his face and be boring. That might be the worst version of Stagger Lee I’ve ever heard.
I once saw Nick Cave at the bus stop, which was more exciting than this
I figured the album title was just a title only but nope - this album is nothing but murder and death. It's pretty morbid AND it feels lazy with the multiple repetition of names "Mary Bellows", "Elisa Day", and "Stagger Lee". Even our Queen Kylie Minogue can't redeem this l album. I'm curious how you can make a full album of this…."
That's enough Nick Cave thanks. Bonus point for Kylie bringing the sexy back on "Where the Wild Roses Grow"
I feel like if I listened to this more i might like it more but i'm not 100% sure on that. 2.5
This is okay, but it's no Birthday Party. Cave is playing a character here, and I guess your opinion of this album depends on whether you like or identify with that character, or not. Personally I can take or leave it. A collection of songs about people being murdered isn't really my thing. This is quite polished in terms of presentation, and that for me is where this falls down. Much as I love Blixa Bargeld, the all-star karaoke Dylan track at the end sums this album up for me. All style and no substance.
Only Nick Cave could get away with an album all about murdering women - although I doubt if he would walk away unscathed in 2025. The Kylie duet gets all the headlines. But it's the PJ Harvey collab that works best for me. Polly brings out the best baritone in Smiling Nick.
The record reminded me of The Doors album. The only difference is that I love The Doors; in the meantime, I don’t like Nick Cave as a singer. The theme of murder I do not like at all.
Pretty dreary and depressing but that's the point so mission accomplished. Can't think of when I'd willingly listen to this again though.
Didn't care for it.
2. Nope
Weird album
This was kind of weird and was kind of like a musical in some ways.
point8.
Really too dark and empirical for me. This guy has popped up in a few movies (like Wings Of Desire) and he works there but his music is just not for me. 3/10
1.5
This is haunting gothic rock alternative turned up to 11. I still don't understand the appeal of Nick Cave, and so far this is the darkest of the three albums we've heard. I'll feel better once I check this one off as complete, never to visit it again.
I just can't find much that's enjoyable here or with anything by Nick Cave. I have honestly tried on this journey and it just consistently disappoints. The music is just a vessel for whatever poetry Nick Cave has brought to the recording sessions and is generally just haphazardly thrown underneath it. There's a certain type of human who enjoys this kind of music and more power to them for being able to hear it differently than I do. Enjoy it in my stead.
About like all Nick Cave. Meh. 2.5/5
jesus cristo eu quase bati o carro com esse vsf o colega que eu tava dando carona ficou até meio triste
ê vozerão, hein achei o conceito legal, mas algumas dão bastante soninho viu, apesar de terem outras legais. mas a música de 14 minutos lombrou o batalhão pra mim, que canseira!!
Interesting concept for an album but this just didn't vibe with me too much, unfortunately.
I’m sorry but I really have no idea what it is
Not my vibe at all. So strange.
Meh. Like what a 16 year old thinks is edgy
too weird, but did a good job of creating a very specific creepy environment
Listen... I get that this kind of music has an audience (and it's probably the exact same people who get genuine enjoyment out of true crime shows), but that audience does not include me. So many of the tracks on Murder Ballads ("Song of Joy," "Stagger Lee," "O'Malley's Bar") make me feel gross, like I need to go take a shower to wash them out of my system. Of course, not all art is designed to make you feel good and I've enjoyed my fair share of downer albums (heck, I gave Elliott Smith's Either/Or four stars), but it just feels like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds went a step too far here. PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue ultimately saved Murder Ballads from getting a one star rating from me – their respective duets are genuinely compelling music, even if the subject matter isn't my favorite. I can commend the musicality on show throughout the LP as well, but it's generally hard to appreciate while my ears are being assaulted by some of the most vile lyrics and rank vocals I've ever heard in my life. Highlights: Henry Lee, Where the Wild Roses Grow
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds veröffentlichten 1996 mit Murder Ballads ein Konzeptalbum, das ausschließlich Balladen über Mord und Tod versammelt. Die Aufnahmen entstanden in London und Melbourne, produziert wurde wie gewohnt von der Band selbst. Cave, der aus Australien stammt, nutzte hier seine Vorliebe für traditionelle Erzählweisen und verband sie mit dunklem Rock, Folk- und Bluesanklängen. Bekannt wurde die Platte vor allem durch das Duett „Where the Wild Roses Grow“ mit Kylie Minogue, das die Band einem breiten Publikum öffnete. Weitere prägende Stücke sind „Stagger Lee“, eine rohe Adaption einer alten amerikanischen Folklore-Ballade, das fast 15-minütige „O’Malley’s Bar“ sowie „The Curse of Millhaven“. Als Gäste wirkten unter anderem PJ Harvey und Shane MacGowan mit, was die Vielfalt der Stimmen im Album zusätzlich verstärkte. Musikalisch wechseln sich ruhige, beinahe zarte Arrangements mit aggressiven, chaotischen Passagen ab. Die Texte erzählen detailreich und ohne Zurückhaltung von Gewalt, Schuld und Bestrafung, oft mit schwarzem Humor. Trotz der Schwere des Themas bleibt die Musik abwechslungsreich und zeigt die Band auf einem Höhepunkt ihrer erzählerischen Kraft. Murder Ballads ist ein Album, das verstört und fasziniert zugleich. Es ist nicht leicht zugänglich, aber in seiner Konsequenz beeindruckend und ein Schlüsselmoment in der Diskografie von Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
This was pretty cringe. Stagger Lee sounds like if a teenager who just learnt the word "motherfucker" rewrote Rocky Raccoon.
I was excited to see a Nick Cave album come up as I thoroughly enjoy him, but this album album did not do it for me.
Gave this a shot once, didn’t like it. Gave it another shot today, still don’t like it, but I liked it enough to not give it 1 star like I planned - there are some good moments on here (Where the Wild Roses Grow, Henry Lee), but O’Malley’s Bar STILL runs on 10 minutes too long.
A couple tracks throughout that I liked a bit, but for the most part didn't enjoy a lot of the tracks - not a fan of Mr. Cave's voice - great album art though!
Another slow burn on the list.
A little less rambling and more cohesive than I expected, but every song went on way too long in a seemingly self indulgent way
Sympa mais pas trop mon del
Somewhat experimental. Not a big fan of Cave's singing. Reminds me of the Epic musical.
I don't think any of these songs are bad, but it's undeniable that I've not vibes with any of them so far. I respect the music but it's definitely not my thing. I think I've just been bored by most of the songs on this album, maybe it's the tempo? I feel like this is the genre of music I usually vibe with but nothing is clicking here, I feel like the songs miss a x factor?
I see a lot of love for Nick Cave so I had high hopes for this, but it really wasn’t my thing. It was pretty theatrical and sounded good, but based purely on my enjoyment gotta go 2.25/5
This is too weird and interesting to dismiss outright. Weird and interesting does not equal good, though parts "O'Malley's Bar" and the songs with PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue are better than the others where Cave sings in a voice befitting a ghoul on Scooby Doo. I am glad for this list or I would have never heard this album. I am torn but I think it belongs on the list.
Tales of Murder, narrated in song in the style of Vincent Price and the Crash Test Dummies.
Not for me really 2/5
Still can't quite get into this group. The drone and somber sound gets dull almost immediately. It feels operatic and showtimey at times too. There are moments where I dig it, but overall it's not something for me. Maybe it'll grow on me over time?
Kinda sounds like if Meat Loaf couldn't sing. Also, it has all these murder stories but doesn't mention the best murder song of all time: https://genius.com/Tim-robinson-the-day-robert-palins-murdered-me-lyrics
2/5 large variety of sounds but many not very good
I would be really uncomfortable around anyone who played this unironically.
im never escaping this man am i i cant at this point. no hate to mr cave but i'm just not in the mood for this at this point. i just feel so out of depth since hes a seemingly complicated artist, so im just cant really get into any thing yet. ill relisten someday but im not that interested at this point. 30/100
Not my cup of tea.
I don’t get it this album was genuinely hard to listen to
Ruim, não é meu estilo
Listening to this is like watching a train wreck. It's awful to watch/listen, but there's nothing you can do to stop paying attention to it. The guest singers (shoutout PJ Harvey) prove that this could be a decent album if the singing is good. But Nick Cave is a terrible singer. What stinks is that murder ballads have an opportunity to be really good music. But this sucks. I think I like this more than the order Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album that we already got, but that has nothing to do with Nick and the Seeds, but everything to do with the features. Favorite Song(s): Henry Lee
Bernster - 4 Big L - 5
Oh my.
Before: Never been a big fan of Nick Cave. Find him pretentious and the music never really grabbed me. After: yeah it’s pretentious. Some of the music and production is cool.
I struggle with a full album of Nick’s voice. A track or two is fine, but it wears on me after a while.
2.5 of 5. Some good some okay
This has been an experience. I didn't love it. I'm probably going to listen to it again at some point. But only once.
You really have to be in the right mood for this one. I was not.
+mamá, podemos comprar Pink floyd de época mala (the grass was greener)ft. Johnny Cash? -no, hijo, ya tenemos Pink floyd de época mala (the grass was greener)ft. Johnny Cash en casa Pink floyd de época mala (the grass was greener)ft. Johnny Cash en casa:
I don't get it
The Good: We’ve managed to plant seeds… The Bad: Do I have to say it?… The Ugly: How these ballads left me… There is a universe where Men in Black rule, and I am not talking about the kind who need to go chase after aliens. This is a universe where gloom and doom, at least the way that they present themselves, is all the rage, and people will throw themselves at the feet of these Men in Black, and herald them as kings… It is the universe where Johnny Cash and Nick Cave vie for supremacy… I don’t live in that universe… So why have I being dragged into it? I’ve listened to the album, I can put the notch on my belt… and dish out 2* as there was nothing that stood out for me, shame on those who want to live in the MiB universe...
Wow this was a tough listen. All the songs where Nick Cave was alone on the track were dreadful. The songs with featured singers were decent. It's a shame because the instrumentals aren't bad, but Cave's drunk, creepy rumblings drown it out.
This guy is a sick freaking cyclepath.... Fav song: Henry Lee or Death is Not the End
Just not for me, "Draining" is the first word that comes to mind. Even the better songs on the album like O'Malley's Bar just drag on and on for far too long. Not 1/5 because I listen to artists who were primarily influenced by this guy.
Sounds a lot like it’s trying to be a concept album. I don’t know this band enough to know what is satirical or not, like the last song. The storytelling is okay but a bit weird and not in the way that I like weird songs. I liked “the kindness of strangers”. Sound a bit like pink Floyd wannabes. 2/5 Also the 13 minute song was unnecessary
Starting to learn to love the not-so-big Caves, and I do like this a lot! But I’m not quite there yet.
Some cool sounds and story telling but overall I think I just don't get it. Its Broadway but for hicks...
It was more fun then music , reminded me of forgetting Sara marshal
Correcto
I swear I tried to like this, but it’s just not that great. The songs Stagger Lee and Henry Lee were good enough, but I just can’t get into this overall. I think it’s partially his vocal style, I don’t seem mind so much when he’s sharing the lead vocals but most of the songs where Nick is the only voice it kind of annoys me.
Not for me, thanks. I’ll pass.
I fell like I should like Nick Cave more. His music has alot of markers of things that I generally like. For whatever reason I just can't get into his music. I even saw him and the bad seeds live (at Lollapalooza but still) and I couldn't get into it.
No thanks.
I'd never listened to Nick Cave until I was given the Birthday Party (aka Vulva from Spaced, the album) album a few weeks ago. That was my first introduction and this is the second. I can't see a love blossoming any time soon. The music is good enough but his vocal is painful. The guests were crap too. It reminds me of slam poetry. I imagine the average fan is a depressed and unemployed English Literature graduate. I don't get it.
How does an album of murder ballads end up sounding so silly?
Bad poetry spoken over ok music.
Exactly what it says on the tin. If you're into an hour of murder ballads and songs with wild stories then this is for you. I didn't connect with it at all, but I appreciate the effort and care that clearly went into the albun
I always want to like Nick Cave, but he’s hit and miss for me. This one’s a miss. Murder Ballads is exactly what it says on the tin. Performed in a dark Tom Waits-esque pantomime that I don’t appreciate. 2⭐️
Average album, didn’t like the style of it, it’s not a bop but more a spoken lyric over a beat, which I normally don’t mind but this was what I can only describe as a frustrating listen. 4/10.
I like the idea of this album a lot more than the execution of this album.
Obviously Nick Cave's whole vibe is to sing like a vampiric crypt keeper, but this was a gimmick
I don't understand the obsession some people have with Nick Cave. Another depressing Nick Cave album; the first track is "Song of Joy" which is anything but joyful. The track "Lovely Creature" is almost happy. The track "Where the Wild Roses Grow" features Kylie Minogue and was a big hit apparently, but it's just as depressing as the rest of the album.
13/04/25 I dislike long, silly songs. There is creativity here, it's just boring.
Stagger Lee Henry Lee Where the Wild Roses Grow
Its a weird thing…songs about murder and murderers. Kind of interesting as a concept, but the music does not really capture me
Fairly cringey
I don't get it. He's a mechanic vampire that goes for sticker shock.
A chilling & warm record
This was a pretty heavy slog. There are a couple of songs that would be fine if listened to on their own but as a whole, this album was a chore and I didn't enjoy it.
Look, there are some good Nick Cave songs and probably a good Nick Cave album or two out there, but I find it hard to believe that this is one of them. There was just nothing spectacular or anything at all that stood out about the music or songwriting.
I will be the first person to shout at the top of my lungs how much I love the Bad Seeds. Why this list chose a rambling messy concept album instead of some of their incredible early work is beyond me. Sure, there’s some incredible songs, especially his duets with PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue. But this is such a weird one-off take on murder ballads, and by the end the whole thing just drags itself along, culminating in the absolutely mind-numbing 15 minutes of “O’Malley’s Bar.” Nothing has the haunting, neurotic yelps of “From Her to Eternity” or the terrible creeping fear of “The Mercy Seat.” The whole time I’m here I’m just thinking of other good Nick Cave albums. Maybe, just maybe, we could’ve left this one off the list.
I hate this.
This isn’t for me but I get it
Very strange album which I didn't really like. Basically just stories spoken over music. That's fine, but the stories are very graphic for some reason. The music itself is decent - drums, guitar, some piano.
This is just Nick Cave talk singing stories about murder. Maybe nice for a thunderstorm evening or late October, but I don’t find much value in this. Overrated.
You know what I've never said to myself? "Hey I could sure go for some murder ballads right about now".
Holy shit! I for sure could have happily gone through my life without experiencing this. And if it doesn’t give me some nightmares there may be something psychologically wrong with me. Enjoyable it wasn’t, but it’s going to get an extra star just for the sheer twistedness of it! Life tip: please keep your distance from the people who are give this album five stars and say they love it. They worry me.
Disastrous
Nick Cave is just goth Chris Martin
Peaky fockin blinders, at first this album lost me but it slowly got me back to thinking it’s aight
Just likes the album cover; cold, bleak and unrelenting. A fun record, but by no means does it offer Cave's best lyrics or songwriting. Stagger Lee is a classic, and the features from PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue are highlights, along with the 15 minute epic O'Malley's Bar only slightly outstays its welcome. Best Tracks: - Stagger Lee - The Curse Of Millhaven - Where The Wild Roses Grow Worst Tracks: - The Kindness Of Strangers Rating: 4/10
I couldn't wait for this to be over
I thought I liked Nick Cave. Guess I was wrong as far as this album is concerned.
Insipid, a bit dul in parts.
One of my favorite tunes along the lines of murder ballads is Country Death Song by Violent Femmes. I only like a couple of songs off this album and those had help from guest singers.
I've heard enough of this to decide it wasn't for me. I love PJ Harvey though so I'm going to give this a 2 star. - edited, a pretty low value of 2 star though
conceptually a very cool album, murder ballads are what you get. moody, dark, interesting storytelling. prior to listening to the entire album, the only song i had heard was where the wild roses grow, and i thought it was great. goddamn was i not expecting stagger lee, wild song. this isn't really an album where i'd save a song or listen repeatedly, but it does feel like a fun, morbid experience. nick cave is definitely an acquired taste.
What did I just listen to? The songs were all long but they seemed even longer than they actually were. Weird homophobic lyrics in "Stagger Lee" were offensive and the song devolved into something real annoying. This must have been Nick Cave's Leonard Cohen era. Between his voice and the style of the songs it might as well be Cohen but way more annoying. Did I mention annoying? Wow, that 14+ minute "O'Malley's Bar" was a slog. The one song that was worth the list was "Where the Wilde Roses Grow" not surprisingly the most popular song on the album based on Spotify listens.
Only a little familiar with Nick Cave. I like the name and art. Let’s see how it goes. Jesus Christ, Stagger Lee. Okay, I see what we’re dealing with here. Ok. So ok one hand I appreciate the lyrics — dark and often beautiful. On the other hand, does every nick cave song sound like a guy talk singing in a low voice? I love me some Dylan and waits and others with non-traditional voices but Nick cave’s just sorta bugs me. Otherwise this album kinda reminds me of the magnetic fields 69 love songs, just… murder themed. Some surprises: didn’t expect Kylie Minogue to show up, the aforementioned stagger Lee, and to a lesser extend PJ Harvey’s appearances. All in all something I’m glad I know about but wouldn’t seek out again. I wanted to rate it a 3 throughout most the album but the 14 minute o’malley’s bar was like a torture I never thought would end. By the end of this album, I think it’s a 2 for me.
What the Hell was that?!?!? So strange.
When I listen to this I can't help but hear Leonard Cohen, who has tortured us with numerous albums on this countdown. I did my best to listen to this, but it's just not my cup of tea. I'm sure Nick's family and hometown are proud.
Nick Cave is like the macabre version of Kid Rock. Some of his work sucks less, but it’s still obnoxious and creepy.
2 out of 5. Murder and Nick Cave's slow music wasn't a good fit for me here.
Almost tolerable, for once. Hardly a fan of toe tapping melodies though, is he And I hate how he's supposed to be some kind of god level musician
Just didn’t do it for me. Songs were not very good and that 14 minute song was a chore to get through. 2/5 Won’t listen again
I liked this a lot less than the first album we've listened to by Nick Cave, and probably a lot less than any of the other albums yet to come. The second half of the album with a few duets carried my attention much more but I think that murder ballads are just not my thing. 1.5
Where the wild roses grow und death is not the end fand ich gut. Ansonsten eher grenzwertig.
Ich dachte lange "interessant, Story songs" Where the wild Roses grows ist ein toller Klassiker, ich war bei 3 Sternen, aber das letzte Drittel war so scheiße und unerträglich. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Where the wild Roses grow
3/10. It's not for me. I can see the appeal though, so not quite a 1 star.
I've tried listening to Nick Cave multiple times before this, and I just don't care for him. I didn't enjoy listening to this, I found it very boring.
Found it a little self-indulgent. Not huge on his vocal delivery. I enjoyed Stagger Lee and The Curse of Millhaven 2.5
This is the fifth Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album I've had. Ridiculous. I actually found this album to be tolerable, unlike the other ones on this list. But, out of spite, I cannot rate this anything above a 2.
I get the style but I just don’t like it
I just don’t get Nick Cave. I’ve tried, because I’m sure I’m missing something, people with similar music tastes seem to love him, but the songs just aren’t for me. The music on this album felt quite simple and repetitive with exhausting rambling over the top. O’Malley’s Bar was particularly painful.
I didn’t find this to be very cohesive, but did enjoy the duet with PJ Harvey.
Too intense to listen to casually but pretty good as like, art and stuff. Somewhat unbearable... especially the 14 minute track. 2 star listen unfortunately. But I do like Nick Cave's other stuff.
this album was as big as a really fuckin big brick!!
Oh no no. At least it’s near Halloween
Not the type of Nick Cave that I enjoy. Too much Murder. Too many Ballads.
I didn’t expect the album name to be a literal description. I won’t rate it highly because I do not like the lyrics (I’m sure you all know by now that I am staunchly against murder). But the music is kinda fun. And nick cave’s voice is really compelling.
"So much joy" Where the wild roses grow - 5/5 Rest of the album was pretty annoying, id rather listen to Gogol bordello than this.
When I've been referring to overwrought murder ballads as Nick Cave's worst impulse in previous reviews, I was forgetting that he had an album flat out called Murder Ballads. The idea that O'Malley's Bar wouldn't fit on the other records and needed a whole album of murder ballads around it is a funny idea. Which Bad Seeds record did you think wouldn't fit a murder ballad, Nick? Henry's Dream? Really? anyway some of the instrumentation is cool at times. There's a little bit of interest in the idea of noting murder ballads as a fucked thing and deciding to take it to the extreme. But it totally misunderstands what's weird and fucked about murder ballads. It isn't grisly content. It's that we carry them around like they're just normal songs about timeless stuff. You hear a lovely rendition & wonder what the lyrics might be about - oh. well. kinda weird to sing that so nice isn't it. The stuff on this that isn't bathing in gore doesn't even get at the haunting part of traditional songs, only a fear of strangers. I think in the end Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger is a more disturbing piece of work. This one is like retreating from the world into comic books. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
I expected more. 5/10
I bought this album back when it came out and it was very disappointing. There are way better Nick Cave albums. The stories here get in the way of the music. Good stories don't necessarily make good songs. Some of the stories are just gratuitous violence without a point. Sure "Where the Wild Roses Grow" and the cover of "Death is Not the End" are fantastic, but, otherwise, it's hard to listen to this.
objectively good, but not really to my taste 5/10
Way too morose and “edgy”
Dreary dirges done in a Lenny Coen stylee. Just too much.
Not so alive
This might be the first album I doubt it has to be listened before die. No nothing
I don't think Nick Cave's style is really suited to this schedule of listening to an album every day. I think he does something well, but I'm just having trouble getting into it. Maybe if I were in the mood and had time to process, I would get it. But it was a rough listen.
Nick Cave and violence. My two favorite things to listen to during this project.
Well, it’s relentless, to be sure, as only an album where every song is about brutal murder can be. And, see, I guess that’s a clever concept, but maybe not quite as clever as Mr. Cave would want you to believe. As for the execution, I’m a bit torn. Some of the songs are quite beautiful, especially Ms. Harvey’s and Ms. Minogue’s. It’s good to get a break from Mr. Cave’s voice, which, again, I’m not as impressed as he is. Ultimately, though, I think even one more full listen would be quite difficult, not because the subject matter is so difficult to bear, but because so many of the tracks just go on and on into dullness.
This sort of spoken word-y thing + highlighting Cave's voice is not for me. Favorite songs are with the features…where I don’t have to listen to him as much.
This was a bit of a slog. Occasional good bits, but felt like homework. 2/5
This wasn't actually as bad as the other Nick Cave albums I've had. It was still bad though, so 2 stars.
O’Malleys bar might the worst song I’ve ever heard. Rest of the album is kind of interesting though. This is a weird one
Not his best album
It’s tough. I have a really hard time getting into this casual, melancholic style. There’s no redemption in it, it’s sad for the sake of the sad. His singing style is unrefined and the music choices are odd to say the least.
Nothing gets you going in the morning like listening to multiple songs about psychos murdering people.
That's not my taste in musik.
A fun album from a concept perspective, but I didn't love the lyricism, and the ballads themselves didn't feel anything special. Favorite song was "Where the Wild Roses Grow", though, which was very nice.
Second Nick Cave album in two weeks? I guess Murder Ballads is an apt title based on the first song alone; this could be in a horror movie or a depressing musical. This is ok but not my jam, 2*. This album has Kylie Minogue in it?! Highlights: the curse of millhaven, death is not the end (for the fee-fees it gave me)
Looking back at my history, this is my fourth Nick Cave album and I have rated all of them a two. This one is no different. I'm not a fan.
Meh
Struggled with this one
On paper I should really like Nick Cave but I just don’t. Maybe this should be a play rather than an album? Idk but still 2 stars.
I wasn't a big fan of this one. Kind of a weird album and not in a good way.
I think I like Nick Cave; I don’t think I like Murder Ballads, in particular. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to it in the dead of summer while I sweat my ass off with the AC on full blast, not on a dark snowy night deep in the throes of the Winter Blues. Maybe I don’t like the balladry concept, maybe I don’t like the traditional folk and lounge elements. Maybe I dislike the theatricality, and miss the harder edged post-punk of Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. Maybe it’s a grower. It’s not completely devoid of value, and there’s some tracks I really love. I like Cave’s general vibe – dark, edgy, brooding, death obsessed and referential. But most of this was a slog, most of it was too edgy, and most of it never caught my ears or made me perk up. But then again, maybe I’m just burnt out.
Like listening to the cast recording for a musical you've never seen and have absolutely zero interest in ever seeing. I like Nick Cave's voice, and I like that he's found his niche, but I just couldn't find a single track on this album to really appreciate or enjoy. I was digging a bit of O'Malley's Bar, but then saw that track was like 14 minutes long and that pissed me right off. Sorry, but nobody's got time for songs that long! That is so overly self-indulgent, I just can't get behind it. Very cool album cover though.
97/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
I honestly was not a big fan of the vocals on this LP, all of my favourite songs featured guest vocals, such as where the wild roses grow, and Henry Lee. Otherwise this album and the genre as a whole just isn't really up my alley
I disliked this more than I thought I would
Mid album Top tracks: Where the Wild Roses Grow
Far too cool for me
Wow. This was uh. Something. It’s fun if it’s a campy murdery ballad thing. But like. It’s not fun to listen to. I’ll add a few to our Halloween playlists but like. I’m not gonna listen to this album again.
The guy singing sounds like the grinch. Even though I didn’t really like this. I’ve got this strange feeling that my friend Tyler is loving this. 4/10
Grungy, hard and a little dark...not really my vibe
I had a Nick Cave phase a few years ago but somehow never listened to this album all the way through. I love Henry Lee and Where the Wild Roses Grow very much. There are a lot of interesting parts of The Curse of Millhaven and I think the crying in The Kindness of Strangers adds a lot to the song. I think I like Nick Cave on a song level because listening to this album all in one go felt like a slog, even though there are definitely elements of this album I thought were great.
I just don’t think Nick Cave does it for me. Very monotonous, but I appreciate the storytelling aspect of this album
Great voice, great story teller. Maybe he should just read an audiobook
Couple of great tracks followed by too many paint by numbers Cave songs
Interesting concept for an album and cool for the novelty but fairly boring musically.
Not my sound, but Where The Wild Roses Grow isn't bad.
Not really enjoyable.
Classical example of a poet who should let someone else sing his work. Alas, ego. 2 stars for being uniquely bad.
The album goes around one theme, murder and has a lot of weird lyrics. The music is really not my cup of tea and I can't stand his voice and singing style. The 14-minute song, O' Malley's Bar would be far better as a poem, not a song which was just pretty unbearable. 2 stars - only because of Where The Wild Roses Grow, and Crow Jane.
Probably the best album of all time that features back to back songs called "X Lee"
Nope. 😂
Nick Cave just has this weird brooding thing for me. Pretty sure I said the same thing about a different album of his that I've had in this list. Reminds me of the vampire musical that is in the plot line of Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Kinda sad kinda weird