Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

Cryptic and catchy!!

This is the first CD by Nick Cave that I own. Before this, I'd heard (and liked) the odd song of his, usually on some soundtrack or compilation; "There is a light" from the "Batman forever" soundtrack, The songs he did on the "Leonard Cohen: I'm your man" album, "People ain't no good" from "Shrek 2" (which coincidentally I saw last night again on DVD) and the dark but brilliant ballad "Where the wild roses grow" with fellow Antipodean Kylie Minogue.

"Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!" is a rock album steeped in biblical imagery, and reminding me in parts of Bruce Springsteen (vocally) or Robbie Robertson (his dramatic narrative style). The title track is a chugging rocking narrative about Lazarus set in modern day New York.

The midtempo groovy "Moonland" is a killer song. Other standouts are the eerie effect laden "Hold on to yourself" (with nice twanging guitars), the bouncy and extremely catchy "Lie down here (and be my girl)", the brooding ballad "Jesus of the moon" (brilliant!), the lilting and shimmery "Midnight man", and closing , the midtempo verbose "More news from nowhere" (which wouldn't sound out of place on a CD by the Boss).

It did take me a few listens to really get into it, but it's turned out to be one of my favourite albums so far this year... August 20, 2008

Resurrection Joe

To say Nick Cave isn't the force he once was, is like saying Vlad the Impaler had minor anger management issues. Glories LONG gone, he's resorting to loose balladeering and conventional rock in a vain and desperate attempt to disguise the fact he's got nothing new to say and should've given up on this music thing a long time ago.
A new Nick Cave album is cause for despair, where once it was cause for celebration. Ok, you can't go on re-living past triumphs (ask Morrissey) but the guy must have SOME of that early threat and purpose kicking around somewhere. Where's the gusto and urgency that drove classics like 'Nick the Stripper' or 'Mr Clarinet' ?
He's become a rock dullard, a pale imitation, a caricature of all he once meant.
He's got a hopeless band together. The keyboard player looks like Bob the Murderer off 'Twin Peaks' and the rest of them try ham-fistedly to be eccentric, playing at being rock misfits in a Beefheartian sense, but the sad drone of long departed inspiration means the sound is a resounding mis-fire.
Like a once-proud wild animal that's become old, and needing to be put out of it's misery, Cave is a sorry sight. He tries vainly; 'Jesus of the Moon' is appalling, melody-less and uninspired. 'Midnight Man' is unco-ordinated pseudo HM dreck, in dire need of some serious oomph and pazzaz. Each song is asleep on it's feet, and finally, laboriously, drag 'Dig!! Lazarus Dig!!' sorrowfully along to it's spiritless, uninteresting conclusion.
The spark's gone. It went a long time ago, and what we're left with is lazy MOR for the less discerning 'alternative' masses. Cave always seemed close to breaking point, never far from the loony-bin, and his music reeked of that creative morbid intensity. But he doesn't need his straight-jacket any more. He's a summer season, woolly jumper and fabric softener man now.
I bet he even does requests....
August 11, 2008

It's so inspiring

It's so inspiring to watch a natural genius like Cave not only survive but thrive and mature. This record makes me want to say to every 20 and 30-something rock-star "THIS is how it's done!" August 4, 2008

Another fantastic album

I have to admit that I wasn't impressed the first time I heard this album. I liked the title track well enough, and I enjoyed News From Nowhere, but none of the others impressed me. Every time I listened to the album it grew on me, one song at a time. Now I can't stop listening to it- I absolutely love Jesus of the Moon, Hold on to Yourself, and Lie Down Here. It's one of my favorite albums. July 17, 2008

Phenomenal Album

Best album of the year. I can't get this out of my CD player. If this CD came out from a better known artist than Nick it would be all over the radio. That is my only problem with the CD. Not enough people will hear it. Sorry Nick but I've burnt a bunch of these and gave them to friends who otherwise would not have heard it. The response has been great, everyone loves it. This CD more appeals to the masses than most of Nick's other stuff so I hope the hardcore Nick fans aren't hating it. I've purchased a lot of music I really like lately; Consolers of the Lonely, Mudcrutch, Felice Bros, Weezer Red album and REM Accelerate but I keep coming back to Dig Lazarus Dig. I have tickets for him at the Wamu Theatre in October. I haven't seen him in probably 20 years and I can't wait. July 4, 2008

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