Murder Ballads

Awful. Worst one I've heard to this point. I hope to never hear it again.

No.

Had a really hard time getting through this one. Not sure if it was the flow of the delivery or the vocals but did not love it.

Creepy murder stories told to music. Hard pass for me

Nah.

This feels uninspired. The whole horror aspect of this feels like it was chosen because this old man didn't have anything else to talk about. Which totally makes sense. It's his ninth album. The music was also boring. Three tracks with features is also an indication there is nothing new to see here. It's clear everything Nick Cave ever put to tape is on this list. That's becoming a bummer... He's never done anything that exciting.

250 albums in and this is the first album where I honestly couldn't get past the first two songs. Sometimes ok storytelling, but Mr Stagger Lee sounded too much like a rapey Dr Seussesque song. It's a shame because I thought Ghosteen was wonderful, but I don't need to listen to this before I die, though I can certainly picture being murdered to this album.

I thought it would be better. Rubbish, there's no other way to say it. It's like some nasty man is forcing you to listen to his story. 1/5

How is this one of the 1001 albums I need to listen to. This is just another in a string of several duds. I guarantee I can name at least 20 albums that the masses would agree are better than this.

This immediately reminded me of that talentless bum Tom Waits. There is no singing, just talking over bad instrumentals in the background. At least this guy has a normal voice compared to Waits, so there's that. 2/10.

Morose. Maudlin. Murder Ballads. This was a slog. Are these songs? Dude is just talking over some movie score type beats. It's a great album to put on during your Agatha Christie cosplay event.

woof. this one was a slog. i now see how everyone was so turned off by Nick Cave from the start. this album was... just so rough. its just him talking the entire time of dreary ass compositions.

I don’t get it….

Weird

Just.. strange. Not for me on ballads on murder...

I just can't get through these Nick Cave albums.

Gave this a second chance b/c of the generator but it remains creepy and unpleasant. Nick Cave is on my avoid list.

Nick Cave and the please god don't have any more of their albums on here

too doom and gloom

Disturbing

jakies przegadane gunwo, jeden poziom wyzej od poezji spiewanej

Literal 0

wtf was that

Kinda weird again!

Fuck right off

The world would be a better place without this album in it.

once again :-( how many albums of Nick Cave are in the list ??? If you want Nick Cave, you'll get it. Sounds like Waits sings Cohen (or simmilar). No need to be heard before I die :-(

Feel like this album would be in a spooky movie with vampires.

Um, no Nick Cave. Just no. I get it, you’re dark. We sing about dead people. But, seriously Nick, it wasn’t even musical. Or enjoyable. I expect so much better from you. I’m not mad. I’m disappointed.

Probably the worst album I've ever listened to.

Wow. That was sick. Song of Joy and O’Malley’s Bar…so disturbing.

This one was must not my thing. Weird concept and weird execution. But I'm not one for theatrics.

Never heard this one. I'm looking forward to the PJ Harvey and Shane MacGowen collaborations. I gave a distracted listen and liked what I heard but need to go back. I'm going to say did not listen as a reminder to go back. Went back and listened more properly and this one did not impress. I'm not going to 1, but it's probably a 1.5... ah heck, joining the crowd and rounding down to the single star.

This shit sucks

Did not like. Depressing lyrics and vocals.

I thought I liked Nick Cave based off a few songs I knew from him going into this thing but every album I’ve heard from him (why does he have so many on here? They’re basically all the same) has been worse than the last. I gave up on this at the end of the second track because it was just annoying the hell out of me by the end.

# 175 : This is weird. Can't Listen, will not go back to this. I don't like this guy. Not my kind of sound. Boring, depressing and badly sung.

There is no way this album needs to be almost an hour long, I had had enough after about 1 song. All the way through it's just Nick's annoying, monotonous, overly dramatic voice never doing anything remotely interesting, all the while everything about this album is just so repetitive. The song "O'Malley's Bar" was absolutely insufferable, 14 minutes of pointless annoying music that I just couldn't wait to be over. This is the second Nick Cave album I have received, the first one I got was actually pretty decent, but I have no idea what happened in the 4 years between these two albums, because the drop in quality is shocking.

Might be the second album I don't care to finish. Not really in the mood to listen to emo murders today lol

Lahmer Gothic Rock.

hated it. turned it off after one track.

This album is wild. What a concept piece.

This is the 2nd Nick Cave album served up here. I rated that one “2”. This is more of the same, except the entire album is songs that relay the details of crimes of passion. Yeah, take a melancholy, mumbling singer, and have him recite grim and gory songs. With a healthy dose of gratuitous profanity. Yep, murder porn set to music. Example lyric: “I sang and I laughed, I howled and wept / I panted like a pup. / I blew a hole in Mrs Richard Holmes. / And her husband he stood up”…. Part of a 14.5 minute slog where he clinically describes 12 murders. No emotion, no passion, nothing. We don’t get a hint as to his motivations, the thoughts or fears of his victims…. Nothing. Just moderately graphic explanations as to how each is killed. Seriously, 50+ minutes of this crap. Apparently this was well received, though I can’t comprehend why. I Rolling Stone reviewer is quoted as saying “never before have manic elements elevated Nick Cave’s shtick to art”. Yeah, whatever…. I’ll stick with “crap”. As before, the music isn’t horrible, though it is overall slow and slogging and dragging. Cave’s vocal style is not really singing, but more spoken in a morose, “I hate the world and myself” sort of tone. Sorry, this doesn’t work for me at all. 1/5

This whole album has such a weird vibe, which was sort of the point I guess, based on the name. But even if we want to excuse the subject matter, still the music was pretty boring, the lyrics were strange (“I’d crawl over 1000 pussys just to get to one boys juicy butthole” - paraphrased, but not far off), and nothing stuck out in a positive direction. Not sure if “Death is Not the End” was meant to be uplifting, but for me it was creepy AF.

What the fuck is this?? As soon as he started talking I knew this was going to be unlistenable (and was confirmed with the “la la la la las” in the following song). I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.

This is the kind of thing that if the boys were at a bar and a live performer played this it would be funny and surprising and would be a fun inside joke that we would have after that. I am all about over the top comedy, but I am expecting more musically from 1001 albums. For this type of album to land for me on this list, it needs to be very strong (or at least memorable) musically. The most memorable thing about this album were the lyrics to Stagger Lee. But even that song is a reimagining of an older song not attributable to the band. The most similar type of music to this that I would like from the list is The Metal by Tenacious D. It’s Jack Black trolling, but he also has a hype all time guitar riff.

Am I listening to a standalone album or the soundtrack to a dark and depressing musical? I guess the storytelling is decent, but this style of ballad just isn’t for me. I like sad music usually but this taking it to a whole new extreme. The best songs are the duets. I won’t be listening to much more of these guys except for the Peaky Blinders theme.

I'm surprised this album doesn't have a parental warning on it. I'm guessing it's because they didn't think any kids would want to listen to it. I like the idea of this album. A series of ballads connected together with a theme. However, every balled sounds the same with most of the choruses just saying the made up name of a person. This was a slog to get through.

So bad.

Wish I could give this zero stars.

if you wanna listen to something similar but better try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al8D7oqVBQ8 1

Ugh I cannot stand his voice and how every song sounds like he just lost his dog in a fire, lighten up a little yeesh

Just bad, nothing else to say

Weird and fucked up lyrics and the music itself was below average

Terrible.

If I wanted a bunch of short stories about murder I’d read them, not listen to some poorly sung boring songs.

I often enjoy off center/ballad albums, but this one just really did not do it for me

Fucking terrible. The second track is over the top dirty and just dumb. It's hard to take this seriously at all.

Zero interest in this, overwrought lyrics, weird screechy sounds

Not my thing.

Absolutely terrible album. Music to commit suicide to. Horrible

That was terrible

Why’d you try to ruin Stagger Lee like that?

Like why though?

More murder

Ah the campish drama of a Nick Cave record. Lyrically descriptive storytelling like Country music paired with theatrical melodies and vibe. No doubt there is some deeper meaning with this record which is going to fly over my head as, to be honest, I don't care. It doesn't really move me musically or interest me intellectually though I didn't mind The Curse of Millhaven track, that I could listen to more than once. The rest, less so.

Hard pass on this one Nick Cave

halfway through, I really dont want to finish the album but I will. At some point they stopped trying to make "music" and instead just played the blood-curling of a woman dying in an industrial meat grinder and somehow that didnt make the album worse than it already was

I’m not gonna lie: I did not enjoy most of this. I tend to like ballads and murder ballads and I think it’s cool how much of early American folk is just about crime. That said, the grung-y 90’s sound on these tracks abandons almost all that is charming about these songs and replaces it with bad and lazy rock. These songs belong in a B horror movie (derogatory).

Given the name I’m not sure why, but I hoped Murder Ballads would be an alright album to put on during my morning Amtrak ride. Alas, I was wrong, and from the very first track, Nick Cave makes clear that he intends to give us some murderous ballads indeed. He somehow gives a Tarantino vibe (particularly in “Where the Wild Roses Grow”), so this music definitely has a time and a place, but I’m just not feeling it right now. To complement my morning train ride, I instead put on Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash about halfway through Connecticut. New England may be on the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon Line, but starting off my day with the Man in Black is always good for my attitude, regardless of my latitude.

Saw this come up for review... and I thought... oh great, another Nick Cave album... this is gonna be shit. However, as I listened to the album I had a growing appreciation of how correct my gut feel was for the album. As it was very much Shit. The guy can't sing, just incredibly depressing narrative of dumb inert lyrics. Not even Kylie could bring a rose to save a track on the album for Nick!!

It’s a no from me

Didn’t like his voice and the whole thing felt cheesy to me.

I hate Nick Cave and I hate PJ Harvey and this album has both of them. What the fuck is wrong with Rob Dimery. I get the title because I want to murder myself after listening.

I just don't understand this album at all. Overly thematic in concept, sadly flat, and the weirdest attempt at "singing" I have heard. It's a no for me.

Did not enjoy this at all. For someone who is into true crime it might be good. Too dark for me.

1) то самое за что я не переношу Ника Кейва, 2) да это ж просто унылый киш

A pretty interesting premise/background of the album and it's subject matter. The song with Minogue was pretty cool, and the lead singer's voice was pretty raspy and ear-catching, but I felt like I was listening to songs from a musical, not a music album. Overall this project was not for my listening pleasure

Súper odd. Two songs only.

Couldn't finish it.

You'd think I would like Nick Cave, but I cannot take him seriously, nor can I make it through any of his songs.

just some shit ramblings over some unimpressive beats

All I'll say is I'm really glad I have a Beatles album on deck as a palate cleanser

Definitely not my kind of music. It’s like sing talking about very dark stuff

Ironically, only songs I enjoyed were the feature artists.

Call me old fashioned, but listening to somebody lazily explain how they murdered someone isn't my cup of tea. Especially not for an hour. The singer sounded bored, which, surprise, is what I was after two minutes! Who is this for? Why does this exist? We may never know the answers to these questions.

Dead is not the end is a good song I don’t like nick caves singing The girl was ok

I am not sure how one of this guys albums made this list let alone two. This album was filled with stories and songs that were so rough to listen to. The singer just talks and it’s mainly anecdotes that are supposed to seem cool or edgy. Overall it was terrible. 1.3/10

na moral, primeira vez que eu ouvi achei uma bosta. pq o cara canta falando assim? e a mina que canta junto faz ficar pior ainda std. Não é minha vibe, não clickou

Couldn't get past the first two songs YIKES

not a big fan of the first few. The lyrics do rhyme and there is a story line through at least some of the songs. "Where the wild roses grow" and "Curse of Millhaven" are better. The latter being more upbeat.

Horrifyingly bad. Listened to all the tracks and they all sounded like songs from a really bad play. Never again…

Used to like Nick Cave but his recent comments about Palestine have shown him up for the tosser that he is.

not my cuppa

Was not really a fan. I thought the obsession with murder was weird. I did listen to it while studying so maybe I would've enjoyed it more if I was able to listen to the stories more

Not really a fan of Nick Cave, can't see what the fuss is all about. Got a feeling I'm gonna have to struggle through a couple more of his albums on this list though.

Very difficult to get through this, I hated almost every minute of it. The concept is grotesque, and the repetition of it is like getting bludgeoned. I also hear the influence of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits in a ways that makes me embarrassed for him.

I find the concept generally repellent, and the execution just seems like some kind of half assed inside joke. Put this on the stereo and I'd be out the door before the first song was over.

After listening to the first song I immediately realised that Nick Cave wrote the Peaky Blinders theme tune and from that point on every song sounded like I was listening to the soundtrack. I probably should have listened to nick cave before this but here we are. Can't see myself putting this on ever again.

Meh!

to deppressing

Dog shit. Couldn't make it past the 5th track. No thanks

Couldn’t listen content made me uncomfortable

Wild rose is een goed nummer de rest was heel saai.

Boring and/or horrible songs. Showtunes without a show.

Underwhelming. It reminded me of Tarantino movie score, but forgettable. I've heard better ballads from the Avett Brothers. I didn't think the lyrics were all that spectacular either. If anything, they felt like parody of ballads. I audibly laughed at parts of O'Malley's Bar. This album stunk of a modern man trying to cosplay as an edgy, rugged cowboy. No real stand out songs from me... but I did think it was cool PJ Harvey was on some songs.

this is ass

There is a fine line between sounding like you are trying too hard, and sounding like you just don't give a shit. I honestly don't know where the hell these guys landed with this one.

Who goes out of their Way to listen to this moron. I did enjoy the fact that he knows he's ugly in the song's

Wannabe Johnny Cash?

No

The depictions of violence in this album were legitimately emotionally distressing and I was not prepared for it.

AHH NO. no no no no no no. no. i wanted to rip everything and scream at this. everything about it made me absolutely angry. not one good thing came from listening to this. no.

do.not.like. awful. That's as creative as I can get. It seems unfair; there was clearly a great deal of effort and creativity given to the music - haunting. It's almost entirely his voice - awful, dry, in-your-face;literally impossible to get by. Hearing his lip smacks - this is the kind of thing that would have gotten me a failing mark in engineering school having left that garbage in the tracks. omg these lyrics. jfc. Might have been really interesting as an instrumental soundtrack. Lovely album cover tho 2/10 1 star

One of the worst albums I've ever had to sit through. Like a high school creative writing class set to mediocre music

Listening to the first three songs of this was a real slog. I struggled with the vocals. I hated the lyrics. As each of these songs ended my desire to continue listening kept plummeting. “Lovely Creature” was the first song where things started looking a little better... and after that I already was familiar with “Where the Wild Roses Grow” which continued along this line. I didn’t hate this song, in no small part to the performance of Kylie Minogue. But it sounded much worse than I recall on this album. From then on it all heads rapidly south again. I’m sure someone might enjoy this as some kind of satirical joke or something, but my only joy was hearing it end.

Understand why this album is titled “Murder Ballads” as I felt like murdering myself while listening. Then realized it was Nick Cave who probably should be murdered, and I felt better.

Musically, this album is great to listen to, a throwback to Western-style compositions, transporting one's imagination to the Old West. Spoken word/story-telling is certainly captivating until the subject matter callously reminds the listener that this is not western music. However, where this album subjectively fails is in the literal storytelling. Explicit language, innuendo, etc., these things may further storytelling in other mediums, but here it feels more like an intentional means of cutting one's self off at the knees. Inserting explicit references for perceivably no real reason to tell a story that ultimately fails at telling anything is frustrating to experience. "Swagger Lee" being the first cringe-worthy song, we are treated to an incredible setting with an interesting set of characters, until all of that goes away with "Swagger Lee" being nothing short of a despicable villain. "O'Malley's Bar" doubles down on the poor story-telling topped with terrible singing, sort of asking the question if whether or not this is where Kanye West learned how to not hold a note. This album is incredibly disappointing in spite of its capability to be a good jam. All the makings and presentation of a great gift, lacking the substance of anything meaningful.

Is this music? I couldn't take it after 4 songs.

Yeah I don’t fucking get it. The instrumentation is pretty decent but his voice is almost purposefully boring. What lonely bastard picked this list?

Couldn't finish the album, Nick was just getting on my nerves. I apologize.Tried to like Nick Cave before but i just couldn't and i think i have to deal with it , i never will.

This was...something. Its definitely interesting but im not sure I'll ever go out of my way to listen to it again.

realmente nao posso dar uma nota pra um tipo de projeto em que nao casa minimamente com o que considero bom. gosto é gosto

one of the weirder albums to add to this list 1.5

I just don’t get him ! 1*

Really not a big fan of this style of music. Reminds me of Tom Waitts.

невыносимый говор у этого реднека просто фу

Dear Nick Seed, Stop adding yourself to this album list. Sincerely, Disappointed Jon

This does nothing for me.

I still think would best, for most of these albums, to go into listening to new music with an open mind and not reading details and reviews in advance. (Not that I'm following that guidance very well.) "Murder Ballads" is not one of those occasions. It's good to know what you're getting into with this one. Are you in the mood to hear ten dark and haunting (both in lyrics and instrumentation) stories of murder? Halfway through the first song I realized - "oh, murder ballads!" I've heard the term before but didn't connect it at first. The dark and twisted cousin of sea shanties? I've never listened to a whole album of murder ballads. And I won't again. Felt a bit like wandering lost in cobblestoned back-alleys of a late 1800s city with poor sanitation, not knowing what horror will await you around the next corner. It's interesting and different, but it's a no from me, dawg. (And that was before "O'Malley's Bar" kept going, and going, and going, with weird grunts and moans...)

This might be my least favorite of the way too many Nick Cave albums on this list. Telling that the song I liked best was a Dylan cover sung by vocalists I like more than Nick Cave.

Utter shite…

This album is astonishingly bad. Surely it’s satire.

What the hell is this album, I did not like this album at all, way to weird for me 1/5

not this...

People always slag of Nick Cave and now I understand why. This is a pile of shite from start to finish, even the Kylie track is terrible. Whilst the macabre themes would usually appeal to me, unfortunately I desperately listened to all 59mins of this album hoping that surely one song would be alright but no! this was a waste of time to be honest and as far as I’m concerned Nick Cave now owes me 59 mins of my life back.

Well this was one of the weirder sets of music I’ve ever heard... lot of names of people and the same tone for everything, seemed pretty low-quality to my ears

Couldn't get through it - it's everything I dislike about weird storytime songs

Terrible.

Don't like his voice

The Curse of Millhaven was a nice break but honestly the album was really not my thing. A interesting voice but IMHO a goth Bob Dylan aka awful.

Hated it

Nick Cave war noch nie so mein Fall, nach dem 1. Song dieses Machwerks war mir auch wieder klar, warum: er enthält schlicht keinen Grund, das Album weiterzuhören. Was ich daher auch nicht getan habe. Und mir bei Nick Cave zukünftig sparen werde.

Just fucking weird. A girl crying in the background of one of the songs.

Nooooooooooope. Made it through 1.5 tracks before punting. I can tell that the orchestration is interesting, but there's absolutely nothing appealing with respect to the singing and the content itself. 1 tiny star.

It was not my kind of music, lots of storytelling, not very much melody, rhythm, good instrumentation, or vocals.