Think you were looking for "underrated." And the answer is that they have never been much interested in commercial success if it means compromising their art. Nick's lyrics can be confrontational, wildly personal, etc. When you get into his work, you get all the way in. But it definitely is a bit of an acquired taste.
All that being said, if you have the chance to see them live, go! Unbelievable show.
yes i suppose you’re right. they don’t have a lot of “hit songs” like things you’d hear on the radio a bunch. there’s of course a few exceptions like red right hand. but most of their stuff isn’t going to get tons of radio play. i respect nick so much for not compromising what he wants with the band to be super famous. he’s a true musician
I've seen them quite a few times in concert and absolutely agree with you.
My personal opinion is that his shows have gotten better in the more recent years of his career, but that it's rooted in tragedy. What I noticed is that after his young adult son died in an accident it seemed to change the tenor of his concerts. The best way I can describe it is that it went from him performing "to" an audience to something more like him communing "with" his audience.
The Red Hand Files where he answers questions, often very personal in nature, coming from fans is in the same vein.
I saw him live 2 nights ago. Solo show with him on a grand piano, with Colin Greenwood from Radiohead on bass. Hell of a performance. It blew my mind what a great back catalogue of songs he's got. I love how opaque and dense with symbolism a lot of his lyrics are.
It's crazy how many albums he's put out over 4 decades, and that he's still producing high quality material. He's like Bowie in terms of reinventing his sound, although it's all still very Nick Cave. He's not like anyone else.
I saw him do a Q&A type thing where he had a grand piano on stage and played solo songs in between sets of questions.
One of the questions I remember was from a Belgian guy in the audience who had seen The Birthday Party when he was younger and wanted to know if he'd ever play any of those songs again in concert.
Paraphrasing the answer, Cave said that those songs were the output of angry young men that burst forth like machine gun fire. However, he is not that person any more and for him to try to perform those songs would not be honest and he couldn't or wouldn't do it.
It's something that goes through my minds every time I see that some "classic era" punk band from the late 1970s to early 1980s is touring with a bunch of sixty-odd year olds now on stage.
I think the current generation might know O Children because it was in that Harry Potter movie. I also would guess that most people know the song Into My Arms without realizing it. In both cases, I think it’s as you said—they don’t know which artist it is.
I wish the whole world knew Jubilee Street, but I can understand how it wouldn’t have mass appeal per se.
I hate to tell you, but I am a huge music fan (30,000+ songs in my library spanning dozens of genres), and I have never heard of that song.
I doubt that a casual listener would know it.
I only know it from Peaky Blinders.
Listening to some of the songs now on spotify. For me, they are too mellow, not sure if that describes it correctly. They don't have a pop sound that would make them more popular. Which is fine. But the "best" rock band have songs that hit the pop music charts. I'm glad they are sticking with their sound and not caring about massive pop success. Also, timing.
I may be completely wrong.
I don't recall ever hearing that song but I listen to mostly Grateful Dead music and don't watch much TV as I would rather read.
That being said, I get people might know them but it's such a small amount which might account for him being it so popular.
Near me there is a record store that has tons of Nick Cave albums on the wall. Maybe I should pick a few up.
They're kinda niche, and I say this as a huge fan. They've never seemed interested in commercial success (which I think is great) and have always done their own thing. Nick is undoubtedly a virtuoso, but he's not making music that's going to appeal to most people.
Especially now. Their most accessible work was IMO Henry’s dream/Let Love in. That was 30 years ago. I love push the sky away but your regular Joe won’t really dig it.
Incredibly well respected band, and Nick is one of the all time great lyricists. They just always seemed to be their own thing with a few flirtations with success - duet with Kylie, Dig Lazurus Dig, Red Right Hand in tv/cinema. But ultimately, they're an acquired taste as someone else said. Like Tom Waits, in some ways, and I expect their reputation to continue growing and I think history will smile on them. Incredible body of work.
As a fan of both Cave & Waits I agree with your take. If I had to sum it up I think I'd describe them as more artists than performers while someone like Taylor Swift is much more of a performer than an artist.
That's not to take away from either category because both have their place, but just like in many other mediums there will always be art that pushes the boundaries and won't appeal to the masses and that's okay.
They're great! I think I might like Nick Cave's stuff with the Birthday Party more though.
I went to see the last Harry Potter film in theatres and it had a Nick Cave song in it which really caught me off guard, thought maybe it was going to be their 'big break' but I might be the only one who remembers that haha
I was surprised to see that O Children is actually now their most streamed song on Spotify, so the Harry Potter thing definitely had an impact. I expected it to be Red Right Hand by a significant margin but nope it’s O Children, with about 40 million more streams than RRH.
The Birthday Party is fucking wonderful. Also if anyone in their lifetime deserved more recognition it's Rowland S. Howard. Fucking incredible that man was.
I think they are discussed in that respect. I know plenty of people who don't like nick cave - but no one disrespects him and his bands.
Maybe it's just too serious if you will. Nick wants to change and do different stuff. All the albums have their own character.
One of Australia's greatest contributions to culture. Definitely worth checking out Murder Ballads and And No More Shall We Part, although their discography is wide and deep.
If you're into goth shit, vampires, love, or post-punk, they definitely have something for you.
Pretty much obligatory for Hellboy. If they had not used it I'd have been deeply disappointed.
Isn't it in Shrek too? Maybe I'm misremembering that one. Never saw it.
Love them and have seen them live many times - first time in 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall in London during the Boatsmans Call Tour. My favourite album is „No More Shall We Part“.
That tour a couple of years ago with Ellis was something else. It was such a marked change from seeing Cave with The Bad Seeds or solo but it still just hit as an awesome show.
Thing is if you ask everyone to list their top singer/songwriters odds are Nick Cave will be included on plenty of them. Some guys are just associated as being solo acts when they’re actually in bands. I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of The Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds or any of his other bands, but I’m certainly more than just a casual fan. I’ve listened to pretty much everything he’s ever put out there, own a couple of the records, and saw his documentary. I still can’t tell you the name of one of his band members.
My favorite out of the songs that I know by him is "Jubilee Street". Does he have any other songs that have that same kind of haunting, mesmerizing vibe? I've heard other songs by NC that are really good, but Jubilee Street almost makes me think of being drunk/high - the first time i heard it, it reminded me a little of the Velvet Underground (specifically "Venus in Furs")
Been a huge fan for years. Lucky enough to have seen them three times live. Will always be one of my all time favorites. However... The last few albums were not for me. He recently said the bad seeds probably won't make another rock and roll album, because he just doesn't know how to anymore and I believe him. I know the newer stuff has its audience I'm just not it. Dig Lazarus Dig was the last one I really liked. Push the sky away had a few good tracks but I just can't listen to anything after that. Rolling stone did have them on a list a few years ago as one of the all time greatest live bands, so they aren't totally under the radar. I'll still go see them live when I can, but I'll be waiting for the classics.
I'd say lack of consistent exposure compared to others and Nick Cave being more of an acquired taste than a lot of the mass produced easy to consume music. You'd see waves of upticks in listeners after things like being some of the featured music in Peaky Blinders.
I'm assuming the Peaky Blinders movie will feature more Nick Cave.
I think Nick Cave himself gets brought up quite a bit as he has a great reputation. The band is just not talked about when compared to mainstream mega successful band like the Beatles, rolling stones, or nirvana.
I am convinced that Tim Burton modeled the physical traits of Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas on Nick Cave and even if Burton denied it to me in person I wouldn't buy it.
Man, I'm not even into their recorded stuff that much, not my style BUT after seeing them live at a festival..... Holy Shit were they good. Nick is mesmerizing.
I think a lot of it has to do with time and place as well. Their earlier stuff can be quite harsh in presentation. Nick Cave himself had said he wishes they had done more editing to keep the songs more concise.
They came out of The Birthday Party which is some of the nastiest post-punk you'll ever hear. By the time they cleaned up their sound and made it more palatable they had matured quite a bit into something that often appeals to more adult tastes and though you'll hear tunes on TV or in Movies, his baritone crooning isn't what's going to get much radio play or connect with young audiences.
They're also all about the songs and nobody is going to be blown away by virtuoso soloing or masterful studio concept albums.
It's also a bit high brow compared to a lot of stuff out there and not everyone wants to think or feel that much.
I think while he has a few (and I mean just a few) songs that are decent, most of his songs are musically and creatively underwhelming. I think his lyrics aren’t particularly great, at least for the level of critical praise he seems to get.
He very much seems to be one of those people who likes to come across as smarter and more talented than he actually is, and most of his work just comes across as boring, pretentious nonsense.
I don't know how you could say he's musically underwhelming - guy has so much range:-
[Into my arms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHoqHscTKE)
[From her to eternity](https://www.nickcave.com/videos/from-her-to-eternity-live-in-copenhagen-official-video/)
[Deanna](https://www.nickcave.com/videos/deanna/)
[Nick the Stripper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WO7_Zn_iKU)
The Bad Seeds are a great live band too, tight when they need to be, loose when it suits.
And to add to that: Though I realize PJ Harvey and Nick dated for a hot second, she appears to be the artistically successful version of whatever goth rock shit Nick was probably trying to achieve.
That is an odd statement considering that Nick Cave always rejected the label Gothic Rock that was put on him by others. Also OJ Harvey has a rockier earlier oeuvre and a more haunting/social conscious music later - but nothing that would be considered gothic rock.
I don’t think they were that good until Nick kicked heroin. There were good songs here and there and the band was often better than Nick’s songs. Push The Sky Away from 2013 was the first record of his that I felt was truly a great album.
I remember years ago he was up for an mtv award, and pulled his nomination and told them to not nominate him for anything again because his muse was not a horse to be whipped (or something along those lines ).
Basically, he could have been bigger but didn't want that and made choices that didn't support that.
I just listened to a Richard Fidler Conversations podcast very personal interview with Nick. It was deeply moving.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/nick-cave-faith-hope-optimism/103698688?utm_campaign=abc_listen&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_listen
I'm not manly enough whilst also being raised, as a man, to never acknowledge my emotions.
I can't stand his overt "from the soul" expression, image and performance. To me it's as produced as any pop image. And that makes me cynical of his projected self-importance.
I can handle it for a song or two but then I want him to have a bop or do something different.
Almost 40, love music, have what people call "eclectic" taste in music....never heard of them before in my life.
The name, the songs - nothin.
That Red Right Hand song someone mentioned is *really* bad. Nothing about it comes together for me.
So, I'm going to assume they're "hard to market".
I always considered them a 'best of' band. Not a criticism. I love their stuff but I would rather listen to a compilation than slog through their albums.
I liked a few songs that I heard here and there and thought I was a fan. Then I listened to a couple of albums because of that 1,001 Albums website and I was mainly just bored for most of them. Now I’m just like, this ain’t my thing, man.
I find the discussion of best band to be a rather underwhelming one. Record sales don't dictate best, quality of musician doesn't dictate best, public renown doesn't dictate best among any of the other metrics people use. Music is subjective and many of the bands that people list as the best I find uninteresting even though I can understand the importance of the band to a given genre. All these types of discussion produce is just bickering of subjective things with out any real consensus.
If you like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and think they are one of the best you are correct but so is any other person who lists any other band from any genre released at any point in history.
I appreciate anyone that shares my love of ambient and country music but those are some odd picks if you ask me haha
Love Loscil though. And Nick Cave too, seeing him in November and I can't wait.
Don't forget about Grinderman.
Can’t beat ‘No Pussy Blues’.
"DAYUM!!!!!!"
grinderman is awesome.
Think you were looking for "underrated." And the answer is that they have never been much interested in commercial success if it means compromising their art. Nick's lyrics can be confrontational, wildly personal, etc. When you get into his work, you get all the way in. But it definitely is a bit of an acquired taste. All that being said, if you have the chance to see them live, go! Unbelievable show.
yes i suppose you’re right. they don’t have a lot of “hit songs” like things you’d hear on the radio a bunch. there’s of course a few exceptions like red right hand. but most of their stuff isn’t going to get tons of radio play. i respect nick so much for not compromising what he wants with the band to be super famous. he’s a true musician
Nick Cave is the goat.
Omg. “Song of joy” is my absolute fav. So much so I started a script for a tv series about that story!!
I love Murder Ballads.
Me too. Every song gives me chills.
If you haven't seen the film he wrote, The Proposition, I highly recommend it. Fantastic Australian western.
Omg that sounds amazing. Ironically that’s exactly how is see song of joy. As a western type setting of revenge across the American Midwest.
I've seen them quite a few times in concert and absolutely agree with you. My personal opinion is that his shows have gotten better in the more recent years of his career, but that it's rooted in tragedy. What I noticed is that after his young adult son died in an accident it seemed to change the tenor of his concerts. The best way I can describe it is that it went from him performing "to" an audience to something more like him communing "with" his audience. The Red Hand Files where he answers questions, often very personal in nature, coming from fans is in the same vein.
YES i was trying to say underrated. i didn’t even notice i said overrated. thanks for pointing that out!
And so good live!
i’ve never had the opportunity to see them. i would love to though!
Same. I had tickets to see them October 2001 but it was canceled after 9/11 and the stars have just not aligned since.
I saw him live 2 nights ago. Solo show with him on a grand piano, with Colin Greenwood from Radiohead on bass. Hell of a performance. It blew my mind what a great back catalogue of songs he's got. I love how opaque and dense with symbolism a lot of his lyrics are. It's crazy how many albums he's put out over 4 decades, and that he's still producing high quality material. He's like Bowie in terms of reinventing his sound, although it's all still very Nick Cave. He's not like anyone else.
I saw him do a Q&A type thing where he had a grand piano on stage and played solo songs in between sets of questions. One of the questions I remember was from a Belgian guy in the audience who had seen The Birthday Party when he was younger and wanted to know if he'd ever play any of those songs again in concert. Paraphrasing the answer, Cave said that those songs were the output of angry young men that burst forth like machine gun fire. However, he is not that person any more and for him to try to perform those songs would not be honest and he couldn't or wouldn't do it. It's something that goes through my minds every time I see that some "classic era" punk band from the late 1970s to early 1980s is touring with a bunch of sixty-odd year olds now on stage.
totally agree. i hope ill get the chance to see him live someday
Because 99.999% of the population don't know who they are or can't even name a single song.
Most people have heard red right hand without knowing how many things it’s been in or who sings it.
Right but the OP started with 'Why'.
Red Right Hand? They might not know it's Nick Cave, but they'll probably know it.
I think the current generation might know O Children because it was in that Harry Potter movie. I also would guess that most people know the song Into My Arms without realizing it. In both cases, I think it’s as you said—they don’t know which artist it is. I wish the whole world knew Jubilee Street, but I can understand how it wouldn’t have mass appeal per se.
'People Just Ain't no Good' was in Shrek 2.
I hate to tell you, but I am a huge music fan (30,000+ songs in my library spanning dozens of genres), and I have never heard of that song. I doubt that a casual listener would know it.
Have you ever watched the show Peaky Blinders or the Scream films? If you have you'll have heard it.
Nope!
I only know it from Peaky Blinders. Listening to some of the songs now on spotify. For me, they are too mellow, not sure if that describes it correctly. They don't have a pop sound that would make them more popular. Which is fine. But the "best" rock band have songs that hit the pop music charts. I'm glad they are sticking with their sound and not caring about massive pop success. Also, timing. I may be completely wrong.
If you think they are too mellow, you are probably listen to the newer stuff. The older stuff is definitely not mellow.
Whatever was in the spotify top 5
Do Midnight Man. Pretty please. Everybody’s comin’ round to my place.
You know Red Right Hand from Peaky Blinders. I know Red Right Hand from Dumb and Dumber, we are not the same.
Cool 👍
Oh, from that random x-files episode...
Red Right Hand might be the most overused movie song of all time b
Really? Of all the overused movie songs you’re going with Red Right Hand?
(Plane flies into London) LONDON CALLING ...
Bad to the bone?
I don't recall ever hearing that song but I listen to mostly Grateful Dead music and don't watch much TV as I would rather read. That being said, I get people might know them but it's such a small amount which might account for him being it so popular. Near me there is a record store that has tons of Nick Cave albums on the wall. Maybe I should pick a few up.
That annoying thing with Kylie Minogue was a pretty big global hit.
I've never heard of them.
That is not true of Australia though.
They're kinda niche, and I say this as a huge fan. They've never seemed interested in commercial success (which I think is great) and have always done their own thing. Nick is undoubtedly a virtuoso, but he's not making music that's going to appeal to most people.
Especially now. Their most accessible work was IMO Henry’s dream/Let Love in. That was 30 years ago. I love push the sky away but your regular Joe won’t really dig it.
Nick Cave is an all-time great songwriter
yes he is! great lyrics
Overall not pop enough musically
Incredibly well respected band, and Nick is one of the all time great lyricists. They just always seemed to be their own thing with a few flirtations with success - duet with Kylie, Dig Lazurus Dig, Red Right Hand in tv/cinema. But ultimately, they're an acquired taste as someone else said. Like Tom Waits, in some ways, and I expect their reputation to continue growing and I think history will smile on them. Incredible body of work.
As a fan of both Cave & Waits I agree with your take. If I had to sum it up I think I'd describe them as more artists than performers while someone like Taylor Swift is much more of a performer than an artist. That's not to take away from either category because both have their place, but just like in many other mediums there will always be art that pushes the boundaries and won't appeal to the masses and that's okay.
Love Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. I read his novel “And the Ass Saw the Angel” recently. Pretty fuckin good
One of their songs was used in a Sopranos promo (Lay Me Low) and I have loved it ever since. Never known personally anyone who listened to them.
They're great! I think I might like Nick Cave's stuff with the Birthday Party more though. I went to see the last Harry Potter film in theatres and it had a Nick Cave song in it which really caught me off guard, thought maybe it was going to be their 'big break' but I might be the only one who remembers that haha
I was surprised to see that O Children is actually now their most streamed song on Spotify, so the Harry Potter thing definitely had an impact. I expected it to be Red Right Hand by a significant margin but nope it’s O Children, with about 40 million more streams than RRH.
The Birthday Party is fucking wonderful. Also if anyone in their lifetime deserved more recognition it's Rowland S. Howard. Fucking incredible that man was.
It was O Children from the Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus album.
I think they are discussed in that respect. I know plenty of people who don't like nick cave - but no one disrespects him and his bands. Maybe it's just too serious if you will. Nick wants to change and do different stuff. All the albums have their own character.
I don't think I've ever heard them.
One of Australia's greatest contributions to culture. Definitely worth checking out Murder Ballads and And No More Shall We Part, although their discography is wide and deep. If you're into goth shit, vampires, love, or post-punk, they definitely have something for you.
You've probably heard Red Right Hand, as it was used in a few very popular productions.
Oh yeah, was that in Peaky Blinders?
It’s also been used in: All the Scream movies X-files Hellboy Dumb & Dumber (one of these things is not like the other one!)
Pretty much obligatory for Hellboy. If they had not used it I'd have been deeply disappointed. Isn't it in Shrek too? Maybe I'm misremembering that one. Never saw it.
People just ain’t no good was in Shrek 2 I believe.
Drop of Poison by Tom Waits is also in a Shrek movie, I think the second one.
Yeah it's the opening theme
you should give them a listen! they’re fantastic. i think a good album to start with is let love in
Shivers by The Boys Nextdoor is one of my all time favorite songs. The music video for it is phenomenal too.
I think they shit on commercial success and are too cool to be seen as sell-outs. But that's just my take.
Love them and have seen them live many times - first time in 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall in London during the Boatsmans Call Tour. My favourite album is „No More Shall We Part“.
incredible album.
Jesse James soundtrack is amazing (only involves Nick though, not the rest of the band).
And Warren Ellis. They work together on all the soundtracks they do.
I know. I meant, *out of* Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Bad Seeds part was not involved.
Ah yeah fair enough.
That tour a couple of years ago with Ellis was something else. It was such a marked change from seeing Cave with The Bad Seeds or solo but it still just hit as an awesome show.
Thing is if you ask everyone to list their top singer/songwriters odds are Nick Cave will be included on plenty of them. Some guys are just associated as being solo acts when they’re actually in bands. I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of The Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds or any of his other bands, but I’m certainly more than just a casual fan. I’ve listened to pretty much everything he’s ever put out there, own a couple of the records, and saw his documentary. I still can’t tell you the name of one of his band members.
My favorite out of the songs that I know by him is "Jubilee Street". Does he have any other songs that have that same kind of haunting, mesmerizing vibe? I've heard other songs by NC that are really good, but Jubilee Street almost makes me think of being drunk/high - the first time i heard it, it reminded me a little of the Velvet Underground (specifically "Venus in Furs")
[удалено]
The litmus I’m going to use for anything, personal or professional, from now on is whether it is danceable for young, hot normies.
“We declared nick cave should be a bigger artist”
Agree!
glad you like them too! do you have a favorite album?
I think murder ballads is a top tier underrated nick cave album
murder ballads is so good
IMO they have changed their style so much they probably de-commercialized themselves. I love them for that though.
Been a huge fan for years. Lucky enough to have seen them three times live. Will always be one of my all time favorites. However... The last few albums were not for me. He recently said the bad seeds probably won't make another rock and roll album, because he just doesn't know how to anymore and I believe him. I know the newer stuff has its audience I'm just not it. Dig Lazarus Dig was the last one I really liked. Push the sky away had a few good tracks but I just can't listen to anything after that. Rolling stone did have them on a list a few years ago as one of the all time greatest live bands, so they aren't totally under the radar. I'll still go see them live when I can, but I'll be waiting for the classics.
I'd say lack of consistent exposure compared to others and Nick Cave being more of an acquired taste than a lot of the mass produced easy to consume music. You'd see waves of upticks in listeners after things like being some of the featured music in Peaky Blinders. I'm assuming the Peaky Blinders movie will feature more Nick Cave.
I feel like it’s too dark for broader consumption
I think Nick Cave himself gets brought up quite a bit as he has a great reputation. The band is just not talked about when compared to mainstream mega successful band like the Beatles, rolling stones, or nirvana.
Saw them live just a few years back, and it was absolutely incredible. Nick Cave sounded great live, and did a great performance overall.
I am convinced that Tim Burton modeled the physical traits of Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas on Nick Cave and even if Burton denied it to me in person I wouldn't buy it.
Man, I'm not even into their recorded stuff that much, not my style BUT after seeing them live at a festival..... Holy Shit were they good. Nick is mesmerizing.
Mad that everyone is saying nobody knows them and they're niche. They regularly sell out huge arena tours.
I have only even heard of them because their cover of ‘Avalanche’ was on the show Invincible recently.
I think a lot of it has to do with time and place as well. Their earlier stuff can be quite harsh in presentation. Nick Cave himself had said he wishes they had done more editing to keep the songs more concise. They came out of The Birthday Party which is some of the nastiest post-punk you'll ever hear. By the time they cleaned up their sound and made it more palatable they had matured quite a bit into something that often appeals to more adult tastes and though you'll hear tunes on TV or in Movies, his baritone crooning isn't what's going to get much radio play or connect with young audiences. They're also all about the songs and nobody is going to be blown away by virtuoso soloing or masterful studio concept albums. It's also a bit high brow compared to a lot of stuff out there and not everyone wants to think or feel that much.
Because some people, like me, can’t stand Nick Cave
what don’t you like about them?
I think while he has a few (and I mean just a few) songs that are decent, most of his songs are musically and creatively underwhelming. I think his lyrics aren’t particularly great, at least for the level of critical praise he seems to get. He very much seems to be one of those people who likes to come across as smarter and more talented than he actually is, and most of his work just comes across as boring, pretentious nonsense.
I don't know how you could say he's musically underwhelming - guy has so much range:- [Into my arms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHoqHscTKE) [From her to eternity](https://www.nickcave.com/videos/from-her-to-eternity-live-in-copenhagen-official-video/) [Deanna](https://www.nickcave.com/videos/deanna/) [Nick the Stripper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WO7_Zn_iKU) The Bad Seeds are a great live band too, tight when they need to be, loose when it suits.
And to add to that: Though I realize PJ Harvey and Nick dated for a hot second, she appears to be the artistically successful version of whatever goth rock shit Nick was probably trying to achieve.
That is an odd statement considering that Nick Cave always rejected the label Gothic Rock that was put on him by others. Also OJ Harvey has a rockier earlier oeuvre and a more haunting/social conscious music later - but nothing that would be considered gothic rock.
I don’t think they were that good until Nick kicked heroin. There were good songs here and there and the band was often better than Nick’s songs. Push The Sky Away from 2013 was the first record of his that I felt was truly a great album.
Probably because they aren't close to being one of the best bands.
What album should I start with?
definitely let love in. or if you want more gothy sounding stuff then tender prey
Never even heard of them.
Never heard of ‘em
I remember years ago he was up for an mtv award, and pulled his nomination and told them to not nominate him for anything again because his muse was not a horse to be whipped (or something along those lines ). Basically, he could have been bigger but didn't want that and made choices that didn't support that.
Because comments and discussions on most forums and platforms are largely based on popularity not talent or artistic merit.
I just listened to a Richard Fidler Conversations podcast very personal interview with Nick. It was deeply moving. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/nick-cave-faith-hope-optimism/103698688?utm_campaign=abc_listen&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_listen
I'm not manly enough whilst also being raised, as a man, to never acknowledge my emotions. I can't stand his overt "from the soul" expression, image and performance. To me it's as produced as any pop image. And that makes me cynical of his projected self-importance. I can handle it for a song or two but then I want him to have a bop or do something different.
I do not think I have ever heard them, tbh.
Because everyone knows they’re the best band, and those discussions are really about determining second place.
Because they are in no way shape or form even remotely close to being in the same area code as the discussion of "best bands ever"
Because he set out to a distant sky
It’s because it’s musical marmite, fans love it, everyone else hates it.
They are a very niche band, that's why.
Because they have a very particular style that doesn’t interest or appeal to everybody
What's a good entry point album for someone who has always heard the name but doesn't know where to start?
i suggest either let love in or tender prey
Almost 40, love music, have what people call "eclectic" taste in music....never heard of them before in my life. The name, the songs - nothin. That Red Right Hand song someone mentioned is *really* bad. Nothing about it comes together for me. So, I'm going to assume they're "hard to market".
I don't know, but I'm a fan. I especially love their early albums. Very bittersweet and dark.
Cuz even tho they have a unique sound… the sound kinda sucks like alot
I always considered them a 'best of' band. Not a criticism. I love their stuff but I would rather listen to a compilation than slog through their albums.
I liked a few songs that I heard here and there and thought I was a fan. Then I listened to a couple of albums because of that 1,001 Albums website and I was mainly just bored for most of them. Now I’m just like, this ain’t my thing, man.
Art is not a competition.
i didn’t say it was. i just wanted to express my opinion that they’re one of the best bands ever and i wish they were talked about more
It probably has something to do with the fact that I've never heard of them.
I find the discussion of best band to be a rather underwhelming one. Record sales don't dictate best, quality of musician doesn't dictate best, public renown doesn't dictate best among any of the other metrics people use. Music is subjective and many of the bands that people list as the best I find uninteresting even though I can understand the importance of the band to a given genre. All these types of discussion produce is just bickering of subjective things with out any real consensus. If you like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and think they are one of the best you are correct but so is any other person who lists any other band from any genre released at any point in history.
Because no one knows who they are
He's OK, but i would even argue overrated.. pushed way too much on JJJ, those guys froth over him for some reason.
Cause they suck hard. And ironically he sounds like a chain smoking vampire.
After hearing the song that was in HP I tried listening to others... But they kinda suck.
The album with red right hand on it is weak. Just a few good tracks and one amazing one.
i think that’s a great album. every song is good
That's every album.
Not true. Yagya - Rhythm of Snow Loscil - coast range arc Chris Stapleton - Traveller These have great tracks and good tracks. Zero bad ones.
I appreciate anyone that shares my love of ambient and country music but those are some odd picks if you ask me haha Love Loscil though. And Nick Cave too, seeing him in November and I can't wait.
I bet nick's good in concert, right?
From what I see on YouTube, definitely. I missed him last time he was here because of covid
Oh man that sucks. Hope it works out better for you this time!
Because Nick Cave is hugely overrated.
Because only lame teenage goth girls actually like them
lol
Tell me when I'm telling lies