Courtesy of Reprise Records
Nick Cave, center, and the Bad Seeds blend jazz, goth rock and deep melodies to produce a haunting and breathless soundtrack.
Nick Cave’s latest album
shows brilliant brooding
■ Dark and unconventional,
‘No More Shall We Part’
is perfect for a night alone
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
‘No More Shall We Part’
Reprise
★★★★★
By Dave Depper
Oregon Daily Emerald
Attention music enthusiasts: If
you are in any way depressed,
down on yourself, lacking faith in
the world or just plain mopey, do
not listen to the new album by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It
will put you over the edge, and I
cannot be held responsible for
this.
For the rest of us, however, “No
More Shall We Part” is nothing
short of musical manna from heav
en. Utterly bewitching, beguiling,
confusing and contemplative, this
album is the perfect companion to
a night alone, eyes closed and can
dles lit.
The former leader of original
goth rockers The Birthday Party,
Australian native Nick Cave has
released 11 studio albums with the
Bad Seeds. Cave has long been
known for his darkly observant
and introspective lyrics, and he’s
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april 13-14,19-22, 27-28
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truly gifted at blending the humor
ous with the macabre. A few years
back, Cave even released an album
called “Murder Ballads,” on
which every song dealt with homi
cide — not exactly conventional
songwriting.
For “No More Shall We Part,”
Cave has assembled his Bad Seeds
into a beautifully understated en
semble of elegant piano, sighing
drums, groaning organ, stately vi
olin and muted guitars. The sound
of the album flirts with jazz, but it
is far more varied than just one
genre. On the opening song, “As I
Sat Sadly By Her Side,” the musi
cians start out quietly, each verse
growing in richness and complexi
ty. By the end of the song, tension
and dread are barely contained
within the bolero-like gait of the
violins and bass, and the listener is
left breathless.
“Love Letter” is simply one of
the most gorgeous songs I’ve ever
heard. The Bad Seeds sound like a
faraway soundtrack to a classic
movie, and Cave’s stately baritone
weaves its way through verse after
verse of naked emotion. On the
horror story that is “Fifteen Feet of
Pure White Snow,” the Bad Seeds
rock out with barely bridled con
viction, evoking the necessary
dread from the listener as Cave
spins out of control.
And the lyrics — oh, the lyrics!
Cave has long been known for his
engaging stories of social disor
ders, heartbreak, madness and
murder, and he definitely does not
disappoint on. “No More Shall We
Part.”
“God Is In The House” is a
scathing indictment of perfect
picket-fenced Bible Belt commu
nities: “homos roaming the streets
in packs / queer bashers with tire
jacks / lesbian counter-attacks /
that stuff is for the big cities / our
town is very pretty.”
In “Oh My Lord,” Cave spends
the verses working up a fever pitch
as he describes an ordinary man
who is very close to going ab
solutely mad before pleading in
the chorus, “oh lord, oh my lord /
how have I offended thee / wrap
your tender arms around me.”
And marvel at the imagery con
jured up in “Gates To The Gar
den”: “Past the ivy-covered win
dows of the Angel / Down
Athenaeum Lane to the Cathedral
/ my back to the gates of the gar
den.” Cave’s smoky baritone is in
fine form on “No More Shall We
Part.” Dripping with scorn, irony
and regret, it is the perfect vehicle
for such somber material.
Clocking in at more than 67
minutes, “No More Shall We Part”
is a long album. It might be a bit
much for the casual listener to di
gest in one sitting, but believe you
me, it is well worth the effort. I
cannot speak highly enough of this
album. It may not be what you are
used to, but it is a modern master
piece that insists on being taken on
its own terms.
Conscious Productions Proudly presents
from the Hiyh firm Can nobis Cup Band
Itoeto T & tto 1.M B&ftd
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Tickets $12 advance, $14 day of show
Tickets ® House of Records. Face the Music. Lazars Bazar. EMU ticket office and alt fastixx outlets
also look for Rocker T at Ocean Rythms 2001 * lune 15,16.17 Cold Beach OR * music, camping, food, waves, fun
loin the Conquering Lion after hours at Planet Coloka 679 Lincoln St.
D.l. Balou the Sasquatch £ Iron Fist Crew w/quest
after Rocker T Show starts ® 12:3c a.m. till you decide
A Planet Goloka/Conscious Production joint venture 431122;
Look for: Prezjdent Brown nay 23 • ITALS Reunion lune 4
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