Wednesday 27 March 2013

The Sky Not Even The Limit For Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds



Nick Cave is one of those artists that keeps releasing albums on a regular basis with a consistent quality. I challenge anyone to name a Nick Cave album that is actually bad. With every new album it's hard not to start comparing it to the other ones. So I cleaned my mind and head when I started listening to Push The Sky Away for the first time.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away (Ronald Says 9 out of 10)

With the Grinderman project, Cave was showing his rough and impulsive side. Gone were the Bad Seeds subtleties and we got some delightful powerful, energetic and aggressive songs instead. But on Push The Sky Away it's back to the thoughtful side again. The songs are showing the poetic, deep and calm Nick Cave. The side of a great composer who is patiently showing us the insight of his head with lyrics that embed beauty, excitement and tragedy all at the same time:

I’m pushing my own wheel of love
I got love in my tummy and a tiny little pain
And a ten ton catastrophe on a 60 pound chain


Of course The Bad Seeds know exactly how to give shape to these figments of Cave's imagination. But don't be fooled too much by the quiet nature of the nine brilliant songs. Still there's that dark side as well, lurking underneath. This makes them all the more impressive. Cave is like a predator that is slowly creeping towards his prey, lingering around, almost putting him to sleep. Just waiting for that perfect moment for his final strike. Cave comes in for the kill and leaves you stunned.

It's hard to pick a favourite one from the nine gems. The melancholic 'Jubilee Street', the dark title track 'Push The Sky Away' or the slow 'Higgs Boson Blues'? They're all equally great on this almost perfect Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album. Almost perfect? I think Cave couldn't care less about perfection. Or as he puts it:

And some people say that it's just rock 'n' roll
Oh but it gets right down to your soul




Listen to Push The Sky Away on Spotify.



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