Somehow I've missed him through the years, but "Abatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus" was one of my fave records of last year and I'm interested in hearing more.

What else should I get? I'm open to exploring his many different sides, as long as it's quality work.

Murder Ballads is amazing.

i'm apparently odd because i don't like to start people off with a band's best material, even though that does run the risk of them not enjoying the band initially. so, i'd work backward, but skip nocturama. that's really the only clunker for nick cave. everything else is at least good.

Just a few suggestions for where to start:

Boatman's Call
Murder Ballads
Let Love In

perhaps - Tender Prey as well.

But - I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, really. Except perhaps Nocturama and No More Shall We Part.

Good topic swiateck. I've had Lyre of Orpheus on my Ipod for 2 months and haven't listened to it until this past weekend and I really dug it.

May have to check out Murder Ballads it appears.

After listening to Lyre of Orpheus I can see the common ground that he and PJ Harvey had in common. I would've liked to have been a fly on the wall during some of the turbulent times of that volatile relationship.

rparis' got it right, coupled with some Birthday Party releases:

Boatman's Call
Birthday Party - s/t
Murder Ballads
Birthday Party - Prayers on Fire
Let Love In

A note about Boatman's Call:
It is a very mellow record.
And after first hearing Murder Ballads (my intro), I wasn't too taken with [/i]Boatman's...[/i]. Still am not. I imagine that with the last 2 records being your intro, you may find the same thing.
But I do know that lots of people consider it to be one of his best.
Still, just my 2¢.

From Her To Eternity is probably his least accessible (though still not inaccessible by any means) but perhaps his strongest. I got hooked on Nick Cave from listening to assorted singles, but this was the first album i heard in entirety, and was enthralled immediately. I didn't get into his post-clinic, 'dry' material until long after i had fell in live with his work from when he was a junkie of sorts. No More Shall We Part got me into his newer work, and since then he's pretty much become my favourite artist of all time. For some reason i haven't yet got around to purchasing The Good Son, but ive heard it numerous times and is a great record.

i'd have to throw out 'no more shall we part'......its the album i pull out the most

Actually, the recent 3-disc compilation of B-sides and rarites might be a good place to start.

I'd also like to second Murder Ballads.

I'm not sure I have No More Shall We Part. If so, I need to find my copy.

From Her to Eternity.
Tender Prey.
Boatman's Call.
Let Love In.
Henry's Dream.
Your Funeral...My Trial.
The Good Son.
Murder Ballads.
...everything else except Nocturama.

and if you ever have the chance to see him live then go AT ALL COSTS. I'm reading his biography, Bad Seed right now as well, and it's also as good as starting point as any of his records. Once you read it you won't wanna do anything but listen to Bad Seeds or Birthday Party records for a long time. It's scrumptrilescent.

Back in 1998, a an excellent best of collection came out which is a great primer for his early bad seeds stuff which is my preference. Seek out his previous band The Birthday Party as well.