Australian singer/songwriter Nick Cave is a music industry veteran
and Rock icon. He’s been releasing albums for 40 years and shows no sign of
slowing down, creatively. And after years of success, failure, tragedy, and
triumph, Nick Cave remains a survivor. From his early days fronting The Boys Next Door through their
transformation into The Birthday Party,
Nick Cave became one of the most infamous Post-Punk musicians of the late ‘70s
and early ‘80s. When The Birthday Party
split, he formed Nick Cave and The Bad
Seeds, gravitating towards a sound that was more atmospheric and less
abrasive. For 35 years, Cave has become of the most respected songwriters and
performers of his generation. In fact, his songwriting is now compared to
greats like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan,
Van Morrison, and Neil Young. And
looking back over his catalog, those comparisons are well-deserved.
Nick Cave, like all great
songwriters, has created his own musical universe. While he remains a
fascinating lyricist, his albums are layered with haunting atmospheres that are
both comforting and, at times, frightening. There may not be much frivolous joy
to be found on a Nick Cave album, but his passion and dedication to his craft
make each release a wonder to behold. His music is laced with shifting shadows,
and he sings from an emotional place that connects with his large – and ever-growing
– fanbase. There’s a reason that Nick
Cave is still making music 42 years after his recorded debut – he needs to
create and communicate. The fact that so many critics and fans adore his work
is proof that in doing things his way, he’s doing things the right way.
GHOSTEEN is his 17th
studio album. A double CD/LP release, it is his first album in three years,
following up the critically-praised SKELETON TREE (2016). While some may
assume that Nick Cave’s sad, funereal music is dark and lonely, it might be
time to dip your toes in again and reconnect. Intentional or not, GHOSTEEN is
an album that offers more than just a few sad thoughts on a life filled with
ups and downs. In a sense, it offers a little bit of hope. Like a man trapped
in a cage that lies beneath an ancient church, Nick Cave sings to the little cracks
in the ceiling that let the light in, hoping that the angels are listening but aware
that he is surrounded by demons. Never too morose but always painfully honest, GHOSTEEN’s
two halves can be felt long after the album is over.
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS
GHOSTEEN
11.8.19