Nick Cave - Where Should I Start?

Last nite's Killing Joke was the last concert on my schedule until Nick comes to town next month.

I am a very casual fan of his and have wanted to see him in the past but it never worked out.  Now that I do have a ticket, I ought to get familiar with his music.

Planning to work my way backwards.  Is there a better way I should try to tackle his catalog?

Thanks in advance…..

Start like I fortuitously did : let love in

That one is a priority for sure.

Nick cave has quietly amassed a great body of work with few valleys…you could start with Boys Next Door (Shivers) go to birthday party and just go album by album of Nick cave and the bad seeds (and the bad seeds are important) and Grinderman and be the richer for it!

He is such a great live performer though…

Another great entry point in my opinion is the underrated “Live Seeds” record!

Start at the beginning.  Get to the end.  It's all good.  If I had to pick a few….and these are listed in the order of their release…

From Her to Eternity
Let Love In
Murder Ballads
No More Shall We Part
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus

But even picking this many is so hard.

Or maybe just the Best of compilation he released a few years ago.  That should get you started.

hutch wrote:
the underrated “Live Seeds” record!

I think that was my introduction to Mr. Cave and Deanna on that is just the bee's knees
One of my favorite Live albums by any artist

His run of albums from 1990-97 are my sweet spot

We definitely rocked out to live seeds plenty in that sporty car (what was it?) you had


We probably even drove to see him in 94 or 95 Lola listening to live seeds


His live act is on another level and live seeds captures that….he’s a whirling dervish and rather demonic live…exceptional

Jubilee Street at the Strathmore show is one of my favorite live performances ever…gives me goosebumps recalling it…made the album version seem like parsley

Thanks everyone!

Live Seeds. Compilation. Back to front. I think that's the plan.

In a perfect world I'd start at the beginning but I'm not sure I have time for that. Need to give the albums time to sink in.

you might want to add Live at the Royal Albert Hall so you have some of his post 93 stuff

I fell in love with Nick Cave when he played Jubilee Street live. I was always a fan, but the live version of that song is just perfection in every way.

I would also watch One More Time with Feeling after listening to some albums.

Thanks. Will add that live album.  Looks like the film is on Amazon Prime.

I should have started months ago but I got lost in a Jesus Lizard kick. No regrets.

hows the research going?
up to speed yet

Going well. So far:

Skeleton Tree
Push away the Sky
Tender Prey
Let Love In
… and some live stuff.

The guy is amazing. Kills me that I didn't get into him earlier.

hutch wrote:…. i agree though some of these old classics could at least be rotated

agreed
he still plays 6 of the 11 songs off of Live Seeds …recorded in 92
they are some of my favorites, but pretty much the only old songs you ever hear

personally glad he's dropped DigLazDig and grinderman stuff
would love to get Breathless off Lyre…he's pulled that out a few times

Surprised Mercy Seat has left the set lists…and replaced with City of Refuge …

the stripped down version of Mercy Seat he's been doing is awesome!

One of those artists I simply can't stand. His music is grating and his voice is overwrought and annoying. Tell me why I'm supposed to like him.

Ugh …you are not “supposed” to like anything

Agreed. You don't have to like anyone. There are plenty of artists that I can't stand. To each, their own.