Trollheart

If there's one thing that's synonymous with Nick Cave's music, it's death. From his first album (The Firstborn is Dead) to his latest (The Skeleton Tree) images of decay and death haunt Cave's discography, but not as a spectre, more as perhaps not a friend, but a companion you know there is no point avoiding: he's gonna be there whether you like it or not. So surely then the natural evolution for the Antipodean scribe of doom was this, an album of songs based on, about or concerning death, or specifically, murder. From the dour “Song of Joy”, with its chilling revelation right at the end to the manic, frenetic and quite hilarious slaughterfest that forms the centrepiece of the album, “O'Malley's Bar”, murder in all its forms is placed under the microscope and examined by Cave with the detached, cold interest of a scientist studying a bacterium. Not my favourite Cave album by a long way, it's definitely in the top ten, and for those getting into his music, a decent gateway album.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
N/A

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Love it personally, though I can see how some people might find it a little dull with its typical almost sotto voce vocal and what must be seen as somewhat monotonous melody. Great opener though.

3. What did you think of the next track?

One of two traditional songs covered by Cave on this album, it's not my favourite but it's pretty funny I guess. A little numbskull I feel.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)

It's Cave. I love the guy. Must give credit too to Kylie on "Where the Wild Roses Grow".

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)

Absolutely. Very dark and ominous for the most part, and deceptively upbeat when taken alongside the lyric on some other songs.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?

n/a

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

Love it. Some very different interpretations of murder. In “The Kindness of Strangers”, for example, you have the sad tale of a girl who goes looking for love in a cruel world that repays her desperation with rape and death, while as mentioned in “O'Malley's Bar” you have a guy killing everyone in sight, for no reason, and revealed as a coward in the end, unable to push his convictions to their natural conclusion. And in “Where the Wild Roses Grow” it's a tale of love that ends in betrayal and murder. Sweet.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)

Oh yeah.

9. What did you think of the production?

As ever.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?

Yes, I love all of Cave's work.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?

See above.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

n/a


13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
“O'Malley's Bar”, “The Kindness of Strangers”, “Where the Wild Roses Grow”, “Death is Not the End”, “Lovely Creature”

14. And the one(s) you liked least?

“Crow Jane”, “Stagger Lee”

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)

n/a

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?

n/a

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?

n/a

18. Did the album end well?

Yes, I like the sort of promise of hope in the song, even if it is a cover.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

Not really no

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

Hung together very well I feel.

A solid 9/10 from me.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018