Nick Cave 101

January 22, 2015 6:09 PM

I've always meant to give more of a chance to Nick Cave. The songs of his I know I enjoy, but I have somehow managed to never really give him an extended listen. Where should I start?
posted by DirtyOldTown to Media & Arts (20 answers total)

Murder Ballads is one of my all-time favorite albums, because I love narrative songs.

(To piggyback, are any of Cave's other albums similar to Murder Ballads in this regard, or is it unique?)
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:33 PM on January 22, 2015

I've always liked Nick Cave but also could never get really into him for whatever reason. Like you, plenty of songs I liked but never really tried to get into much more beyond those. So, I put in a little more recently and had the most luck with Your Funeral My Trial.

Tender Prey is really good too.
posted by AtoBtoA at 6:40 PM on January 22, 2015

Not having grown up with him, I found the Grinderman albums to be the most accessible (and I prefer I to II, personally).

From there, I went to From Her to Eternity to Murder Ballads then to The Birthday Party's Hits. At this point in time, I sorta feel like that's enough for me, but I may expand out later if the mood strikes.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:43 PM on January 22, 2015

Nick Cave · Gateways To Geekery · The A.V. Club

My favorites are the quiet introspection of The Boatman’s Call and the kickass pure rock assault of the first Grinderman album. Other than those, the earlier stuff is a little too shticky for me but his last few albums have been really good. Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is almost as rock and roll as Grinderman and Push the Sky Away is a gorgeous reserved album that finds Cave and collaborator Warren Ellis using simple arrangements and violin loops to great effect.
posted by saul wright at 6:52 PM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]

Your Funeral, My Trial or Tender Prey or The First Born Is Dead for the Bad Seeds, I'd say, but I like their older work best and am not familiar with the most recentish albums after The Boatman's Call (which I do like, just not as much as the more raucous stuff). maybe also check out a compilation of The Birthday Party or Mutiny/The Bad Seed or Junkyard. the Birthday Party were insane. wish I was old enough to have had the chance to see them live.
posted by citron at 6:53 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

I cannot guarantee all the links will still be in good working order, but the_very_hungry_caterpillar's HEROIC Cave FPP may be a good supplement to your studies.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:08 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is a great rock and roll album. It really showcases the humor and often strange but amazing mix of styles and influences that make Nick Cave great. If you dig that, then I'd go on to Murder Ballads and Abbatoir Blues/ The Lyre of Orpheus. The early stuff is great, but Abbatoir/ Lyre is amazing.
posted by blueskiesinside at 7:41 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

Which Nick Cave songs do you remember liking? The thing is, his albums are all very different, some stark, some lush, some cocky, some deeply sad, all little worlds unto themselves, so it really depends what you're into. Otherwise you're just going to get a list of 15 albums (they've recorded 15 albums.)
posted by kapers at 8:46 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

Let Love In is his best album, in my opinion. Loverman is so creepy/captivating as to rival Frankie Teardrop. Jangling Jack is classic Cave "you are drunk and about to be stabbed. Look behind you". Red Right Hand captures perfectly that deranged, religious psychopath you hear so much on other albums like Henry's Dream or The Good Son. It is many faces of Cave and most of them at his best.
posted by munchingzombie at 8:56 PM on January 22, 2015 [8 favorites]

I'd say Boatman's Call, Henry's Dream and Your Funeral... My Trial are probably his most immediately accessible records. Know that his albums tend to be a little uneven. But so what? Same can be said of Bowie who is awesome I'll fight you if you say otherwise.
posted by pheide at 8:57 PM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]

Boatman's call > into my arms!

This guy has gone trough some serious transitions from when I first heard / saw him wayyy back in Pandora's Box...
posted by Mac-Expert at 9:13 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

Start with Let love in. If you like the rougher, more punk rock side of things go backwards chronologically. if you like the pretty melodic bits head forwards.
posted by St. Sorryass at 9:39 PM on January 22, 2015 [5 favorites]

Agreed with Let Love In.

Which of his songs do you already enjoy? Honestly, I'd suggest clicking on a YouTube mix and getting a feel for which of his styles and personas you prefer. The man is hugely talented at creating very different themes and moods. Whatever you do, give a listen to "From Her To Eternity", "Stagger Lee", "I Let Love In", "Oh Children", "Red Right Hand", and his cover of "Avalanche".

Some of my personal favourites in no particular order:

"The Mercy Seat"
"Up Jumped The Devil"
"Do You Love Me?"
"City of Refuge"
"Brother My Cup Is Empty"
"Lay Me Low"
"People Ain't No Good"
"Stranger Than Kindness"
"Death Is Not The End"
"Bring It On"
"There She Goes, My Beautiful World"
"We Call Upon The Author"
"Push The Sky Away"
posted by quiet earth at 12:59 AM on January 23, 2015

I'm intrested in what people say here too, but of what I've heard, most of my favourites are from the albums 'Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!', 'Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus', 'Murder Ballads' and 'The Good Son'.
posted by Ned G at 2:25 AM on January 23, 2015

Without wanting to sound too trite: The Best Of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds is a really good starting place. It's a bit old now so misses out on the later albums obvs but it a) it's a great collection of songs b) it might help you decide which Nick Cave you prefer (ballady Nick Cave, OT preacher Nick Cave etc) and you can take it from there.

(Also this question means am now about to spend the day listening to Nick Cave. First stop: The Boatman's Call)
posted by Hartster at 2:41 AM on January 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Henry's Dream is my favourite album, so naturally I'll recommend you start there. If you can get your hands on "Live Seeds" then grab a copy of that too. And if you ever get the chance to see him/them live, do it. One of the most intense shows I have ever seen.
posted by futureisunwritten at 5:47 AM on January 23, 2015

For a while I was obsessed with Cave, not so much anymore. Even though most fans probably would not agree with me, my favourite was his old covers album 'Kicking Against The Pricks'. It has some rock and some roots/gospel-influenced songs, but also some goofy Vegas-oriented shlock which is actually pretty cool.
posted by ovvl at 8:09 AM on January 23, 2015

I remember the exact day I finally "got" Nick Cave, and my life has been infinitely better ever since. In addition to the many good recommendations for songs and albums, you should also watch the supremely beautiful "20,000 Days on Earth" to complete your education. The scenes with Warren Ellis alone merit a viewing.
posted by thenewbrunette at 2:16 PM on January 23, 2015

The Boatman's Call is my favorite. That said, what I'd do if I had it to start over is watch a concert dvd so I could hear a variety of songs and really soak up his energy and the scope of his persona. I'd listened to him for ages before I saw him live but after I saw him I felt like that changed everything--his stage shows are just incredibly well-orchestrated and tight.
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:57 AM on January 24, 2015

Now that you've had a chance to listen to some of the above, check out Bongwater's "Nick Cave Dolls." (on YouTube)

(Also fun is when " Nick the Striper " becomes an earworm and you find yourself muttering "... He's a fat little insect.")
posted by SandiBeech at 10:37 AM on January 25, 2015