Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Murder Ballads (1996)
Best Tracks: Song of Joy, Where the Wild Roses Grow, The Curse of Millhaven
Weakest Tracks: O’Malley’s Bar (though hardly weak, just really long)
This is an interesting beginning to round four as I’m sure some of us here are familiar with Nick Cave. While I haven’t heard a full album of his (though that will eventually change), I have heard quite a few of his tracks, including at least two from this album. I can see why he has a devoted fan base, and his Mercy Seat rates as one of my favorite songs of the eighties.
As for this album, it starts off with the haunting Song for Joy. I especially like the chant at the end. This album also features duets with two very different women in PJ Harvey (who I happen to be a big fan of) and Kylie Minogue who, last I checked, was a pop star. Both of the duets are fairly impressive, particularly the one with Minogue in Where the Wild Roses Grow.
It’s typical Nick Cave in many ways as his music tends to be dark. This album is especially haunting. It likely isn’t for those who are into depressing music. For me, I’ve always liked a little mood in my music.
Almost every track is superior here. Even O’Malley’s Bar, which I rated as my weakest track, got points taken only because it was so long, yet Cave weaves a sordid tale much as he did on other tracks.
I would definitely recommend this album for those curious about later Nick Cave. I will almost certainly listen to this album again as well as most of Nick Cave's catalog.
9/10 (the Word has spoken
)
Hybrid Mode