Well, hmm, what can I say? Nick and I won't be friends anymore. He’s undoubtedly a brilliant songwriter, and this album is certainly one of his best. Its understated, ballad-like quality certainly suits his nature. "The Boatman's Call" is a melancholic album. The post-punk attitude of his earlier albums has vanished, and Cave makes unmistakable references to past music. Elvis, Sinatra and perhaps also Scott Walker and Tom Waits have served as his muses, both lyrically and musically. Here, Cave is not the rebel of his early years, but the poet. However, there’s always a point in his albums where the cosy poetry becomes overbearing, and the posturing and self-absorption seems to become apparent. Towards the end, I found it hard to listen to the album. If it were half as long, I’d be completely satisfied. And yes, I’m probably doing Nick Cave an injustice. But I simply can’t get to grips with him over the length of a whole album.
