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Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus” (Best of the Decade)

One could easily get into a heated argument with fans of the band about what should be considered Nick Cave’s “best work.” The singer has released such a stunning body of material between his 1973 debut with the Birthday Party and last year’s Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! that choosing a favorite becomes no easy task. Though when narrowing down Cave’s post millennium output—which that makes the decision much easier—2004’s Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus double album leads the pack as such an achievement that it even overshadows the utterly fantastic Lazarus.

While both albums share themes unsurprising to anyone with a cursory knowledge of Cave’s discography (philosophy, morals, degradation, and SEX) the two are also markedly different. Abattoir is a no-holds-barred look and the coarser side of mankind’s nature, from craven sexual perversions to murder and depravity. Cave’s insistent shouts never quite feel like lectures though; while his themes are largely of a moral nature he almost always seems complicit in man’s dirty deeds, rather than holding himself above them. In this way Cave is your guide through a tour of the failings of mankind—throwing dirt on the fire with his right hand while fanning the flames with his left.

On the flip-side, Lyre of Orpheus finds Cave re-imagining the Greek Orphic myth, complete with Orpheus and Eurydice, and a few peculiar additions to the story (like Eurydice threatening to shove Orpheus’s lyre up his ass). Lyre contains a few of the album’s more tender moments as well, such as a yearning “Babe, You Turn Me On,” and “Breathless,” as great a love song as Cave ever wrote. Both albums have some assistance from a backing choir, as well as the Bad Seeds’ incredibly bombastic sound. “Get Ready for Love,” “Supernaturally” and “O Children,” use these most effectively, making a fuller sound one of the defining characteristics of Cave and the Bad Seeds’ recent work.

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Also: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” Review

7 Comments

    In revisiting the albums I seem to prefer Lyre of Orpheus… it might not roll as fluid, but the songs seem to stay with me longer. Great commentary on them both!

  • This is where I kind of dropped off following Nick Cave, or I guess I should say Nocturama was the last thing I have heard. I should really check into this one still.

  • I didn’t get into Nocturama as much as I probably should have, considering how much I enjoyed these and Lazarus (though I think I enjoy Lazarus the most out of these mentioned here). There were definitely some great songs on that though: Bring it On, Rock of Gibraltar & I think my favorite might be Babe, I’m On Fire.

  • Nick Cave at the State Theater around 2001 or whenever that was still ranks as one of my favorite few shows of all time.

  • I think Erik was at that one, and I think he’s on the same wave-length as you in that regard (though it’s far from my place to speak for the guy)

  • Cave is one of those performers that I have never seen live but want to before I die (or he dies). I think Nocturama is ok, but is absolutely blown away by the past couple records

  • Well written piece on a consistent artist. Best regards

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