An eclectic, sprawling, wonderful double album. Wonderful. 5 stars. Would I buy this album - I did, upon it's original release. Would I listen again? Most certainly. Disc one: Abattoir Blues 1. "Get Ready for Love" 5:05 - Rollicking, sprawling, rocking and loud. This type of Bad Seeds song hasn't been heard for a while. Great backing vocals. What an opener. 5* 2. "Cannibal's Hymn" 4:54 - Slower paced, dissonate sounds, lovely melody. The percussion is great. Great vocals. 5* 3. "Hiding All Away" 6:31 - Another in the line of Bad Seeds story/narrative songs. It sounds desperate, aggressive, dangerous and loud. 5*. 4. "Messiah Ward" 5:14 - Back to the more mellow sounds. Nice groove and melody. Subtle backing vocals. Good chorus. 4* 5. "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" 5:17. - A truly wonderful song. 5* 6. "Nature Boy" 4:54 - This song whizzes by and seems short, but isn't. It's to the point. 5* 7. "Abattoir Blues" 3:58 - Percussive, musically, drums and Piano. slower paced. Nice backing vocals. 4* 8. "Let the Bells Ring" 4:26 - Uplifting and up tempo. 4* 9. "Fable of the Brown Ape" 2:45- Interesting. Great dynamics. 4* 41/45 Disc two: The Lyre of Orpheus 1. "The Lyre of Orpheus" 5:36 - Brilliant. It has that "Bad Seeds" sound. You know it's them before the vocals kick in. 5* 2. "Breathless" 3:13 - This is a super song. Romantic and beautiful. 5* 3. "Babe, You Turn Me On" 4:21 - Another stunning beautiful song. Love the lyrics. 5* 4. "Easy Money" 6:43 - Warren Ellis influenced. Another wonderful song. Languid in its sound, not necessarily lyrically. 5* 5. "Supernaturally" 4:37 A change of mood, tempo and rhythms. Great chorus. 4* 6. "Spell" 4:25 Another slow, atmospheric number with lovely backing from the Bad Speeds and a haunting Violin in the background. 4* 7. "Carry Me" 3:37 Swirling, dramatic introduction that carries on through the verses. Lovely call and response between Nick Cave and the backing vocalists for the chorus. Soulful. 5* 8. "O Children" 6:51 - Ah, what is now known as the 'Harry Potter Song'. Just fantastic. Emotional and beautiful 5* 38/40 79/85