Nick Cave is an underrated genius

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2005 7:06 am

he is one of, if not, the most prodigious talent of our era. Why isn't he ever recognised as such? I feel he should be more respected than someone like Tom Waits, but he never is. From Her to Eternity, Tender Prey, and Let Love In are absolute masterpieces. His new albums aren't as strong and are a little too nice, but they are still great. Discuss.

south pacific · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2005 7:57 am

I still haven't heard a single Nick Cave song that I liked. Or Tom Waits for that matter.

(shrugs)

I dunno.

A Northern Soul · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 3742

abbatoir/lyre was my #1 album of the year. just incredible. and this after he got old, when everyone else his age either quits or makes pop tripe.

The Donald · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:19 pm

when i heard some of his music i didn't find it exceptional in any way except its sheer strangeness, but then again, until recently i had no idea how old he was...

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

Northern Soul Wrote:

and this after he got old, when everyone else his age either quits or makes pop tripe.

You're not listening to the right stuff.

A Northern Soul · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 3742

any sugestions? im not being an asshole here, i really would like some. im like a music crack fiend. im always looking for more.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

I didn't think you were being snide...

Here's a bunch of albums that came out in the last few years by folks who have been around for a while:

The Go-Betweens: Bright Yellow Bright Orange
New Model Army: The Love Of Hopeless Causes
Martin Newell: The Light Programme
The Undertones: Get What You Need
The New Christs: We Got This
The Fleshtones: Do You Swing?
Stan Ridgway: Snakebite
Stiff Little Fingers: Guitar And Drum

A Northern Soul · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 3742

thanks for the tips. i just got kind of burned in another thread, and i didnt want any room left for doubt.

no guru · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:54 pm

Billzebub Wrote:

I didn't think you were being snide...

Here's a bunch of albums that came out in the last few years by folks who have been around for a while:

The Go-Betweens: Bright Yellow Bright Orange
New Model Army: The Love Of Hopeless Causes
Martin Newell: The Light Programme
The Undertones: Get What You Need
The New Christs: We Got This
The Fleshtones: Do You Swing?
Stan Ridgway: Snakebite
Stiff Little Fingers: Guitar And Drum

Agreeing with all this, except I haven't heard The New Christs one.

Red House Vincent · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:20 am

I saw the vid for "Nature Boy" and was kind of surprised by it. I really like it, but I need to know if it's a one-off on the album or not. It's a really good old-fashioned pop tune....

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

i'm sure this has been seen before by most nick cave fans, but i just ran across it again and had a good laugh:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/02/my ... horse.html

Quote:

21 Oct 96

To all those at MTV,

I would like to start by thanking you all for the support you have given me over recent years and I am both grateful and flattered by the nominations that I have received for Best Male Artist. The air play given to both the Kylie Minogue and P. J. Harvey duets from my latest album Murder Ballads has not gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated. So again my sincere thanks.

Having said that, I feel that it's necessary for me to request that my nomination for best male artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no-one.

My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her fragile nature.

She comes to me with the gift of song and in return I treat her with the respect I feel she deserves — in this case this means not subjecting her to the indignities of judgement and competition. My muse is not a horse and I am in no horse race and if indeed she was, still I would not harness her to this tumbrel — this bloody cart of severed heads and glittering prizes. My muse may spook! May bolt! May abandon me completely!

So once again, to the people at MTV, I appreciate the zeal and energy that was put behind my last record, I truly do and say thank you and again I say thank you but no...no thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Cave

bort · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:57 pm

He has a great delivery.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 9:42 am

Z Wrote:

i'm sure this has been seen before by most nick cave fans, but i just ran across it again and had a good laugh:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/02/my ... horse.html

Quote:

21 Oct 96

To all those at MTV,

I would like to start by thanking you all for the support you have given me over recent years and I am both grateful and flattered by the nominations that I have received for Best Male Artist. The air play given to both the Kylie Minogue and P. J. Harvey duets from my latest album Murder Ballads has not gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated. So again my sincere thanks.

Having said that, I feel that it's necessary for me to request that my nomination for best male artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no-one.

My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her fragile nature.

She comes to me with the gift of song and in return I treat her with the respect I feel she deserves — in this case this means not subjecting her to the indignities of judgement and competition. My muse is not a horse and I am in no horse race and if indeed she was, still I would not harness her to this tumbrel — this bloody cart of severed heads and glittering prizes. My muse may spook! May bolt! May abandon me completely!

So once again, to the people at MTV, I appreciate the zeal and energy that was put behind my last record, I truly do and say thank you and again I say thank you but no...no thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Cave

That is the most-gracious "go fuck yourself" that I have ever seen.

discostu · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 2:18 pm

reposting this from the NP thread

my album of the year so far

Seeing Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play for the first time and especially during "Jubilee Street" the other night in Austin seriously affected me like no other concert has in the last 10 years.

I know I'm stating the obvious to long time fans, but Nick and the band posses something that elevates their performances to the upper echelon of any currently performing band. From the first note of "Higgs Boson Blues" began, they grabbed me by the mind and balls and never let go for one solitary second.

I'm getting chills down my spine listening to "Jubilee Street" right now. Holy fuck that show was amazing.

Nick Cave Wrote:

Having said that, I feel that it's necessary for me to request that my nomination for best male artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no-one.

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:48 pm

Yeah, the new one has grown on me a ton.

I checked his tour schedule and he's coming nowhere near Atlanta for the rest of his, really short, tour.

BOO.

Evil Dr. K · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:51 am **Posts:** 6327

I've never really paid much attention to Nick Cave mainly because he looks like someone I know personally that I don't like and I can't help but transfer some of that animosity on to him.

Anyway, I bought The Beatles Anthology 2 second hand the other day (mainly for the Strawberry Fields takes) and although Disc two had the Apple emblem on it and was marked as The Beatles it actually has a Nick Cave album on it. So I guess I should actually listen to it even though I only bought it unwittingly.

In other inconsequential news I crushed a giant woodlouse with a wet mop today.

jsh · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:39 am

also my top record of the year so far this year. i have always had an ear on nick cave since i started listening maybe 10+ years ago, and wave dipped in and mostly out of phases listening to him. but especially with this record – which slots in best alongside quieter albums like "the boatman's call", a favourite – i am full on into nick cave right now, and i'm extremely jealous that you were in austin to catch that show. i missed out.

and no fuckin' way... nick cave is playing massey hall on saturday... i had no clue! ... and it's sold out ...

discostu · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:05 pm

jsh Wrote:

and no fuckin' way... nick cave is playing massey hall on saturday... i had no clue! ... and it's sold out ...

fuck that, find a way in. Use your connections. There are always tickets held back.

jsh · **Posted:** Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:43 am

discostu Wrote:

jsh Wrote:

and no fuckin' way... nick cave is playing massey hall on saturday... i had no clue! ... and it's sold out ...

fuck that, find a way in. Use your connections. There are always tickets held back.

it is done! 10th row seats at massey hall. i am looking FORWARD to this.

Sketch · **Posted:** Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:22 am

Nice one, Jonathan.

NP: First listen of Push the Sky Away. It goog.

discostu · **Posted:** Fri Mar 22, 2013 2:58 pm

jsh Wrote:

discostu Wrote:

jsh Wrote:

and no fuckin' way... nick cave is playing massey hall on saturday... i had no clue! ... and it's sold out ...

fuck that, find a way in. Use your connections. There are always tickets held back.

it is done! 10th row seats at massey hall. i am looking FORWARD to this.

it's a mind-melter

ptrck · **Joined:** Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:55 pm **Posts:** 5568

yeah its great. hes great. ill go to my grave regretting having to be at work and not at the ryman on 3/16/13

jsh · **Posted:** Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:36 am

discostu Wrote:

it's a mind-melter

Well, that was fucking incredible. The feeling I'm left with is that if Nick Cave was in town every night at Massey Hall, I would have to go every single night just to try to parse whatever the hell that was. So intensely punk rock, leaden with substance, captivating delivery. The inner-city school choir was a nice added touch – Stu, did they perform with one in Austin, too?

I wasn't previously obsessed with Nick Cave; I am now.

jsh · **Posted:** Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:41 am

jsh Wrote:

The feeling I'm left with is that if Nick Cave was in town every night at Massey Hall, I would have to go every single night just to try to parse whatever the hell that was.

Judging by what I'm seeing of recent setlists, this is supported by some moderate changes to the selections night-to-night!

3/23/13 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Massey Hall, Toronto:

We No Who U R
Wide Lovely Eyes
Jubilee Street
We Real Cool
Higgs Boson Blues
From Her to Eternity
Red Right Hand
O Children
Jack the Ripper
Deanna
The Weeping Song
The Ship Song
The Mercy Seat
Love Letter
Stagger Lee

Encore:
Push the Sky Away
Tupelo

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:41 am

I love Nick.
But, you see, when I saw him a few years back, he did not have that same life-changing intensity that I've heard so much about from just about everybody else, ever.
I mean, he was good, but not the greatest performer ever, as I had heard he would be.

A case of expectations being too high?
Maybe it was an off night?

I was disappointed.
Still love the guy. But, you know...

Nick Cave is an underrated genius

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