Arts & Entertainment
 

Cave, Seeds succeed with 'Murder Ballads'

by Jason Gagnon
The Daily Cougar

Nick Cave will always be cooler than you. After the implosion of ferocious post-punk band the Birthday Party, Cave moved on to form the Bad Seeds and kick an almost decade long heroin habit. 

Fears of critics and fans that Cave might lose his dark edge without being a slave to the needle were silenced upon release of the group's first album, From Her to Eternity. In 1996, lyrically devoting an entire album to the ultimate sin proved to be the Bad Seeds' masterpiece. The deliberately offensive Murder Ballads even had some support from MTV, which nominated the album for one of its awards. Preserving his integrity, Cave asked to be removed from consideration since he doesn't view his art as competition. 

On the record, Cave inhabits the personas of homicidal youth, tortured victims and serial killers. It's a combination of sinister, macabre portraits of humanity with the singer acting as storyteller. 

"Song of Joy" sets the record off with a drifting, graphic tale of the brutal slaughter of his wife and children. A quiet bass, crashing drums and the haunting echo of Cave's piano give the song an epic feel. The filthy rendition of obscure blues track "Stagger Lee" is influenced by poet W.H. Auden. Cave injects a massive shot of homo-sadism to make it an unforgettable album highlight. 

Duets with P.J. Harvey and Kylie Minogue (both former lovers of Cave's) brought much acclaim to Murder Ballads and add further insight to the songs' killers. "Where the Wild Roses Grow" perfectly sets Minogue's soft, virginal voice against Cave's deep croon. The lush string section intensifies the tragedy of the song as the Bundy-esque killer sings "I kissed her goodbye/ Said 'All beauty must die'" before smashing the woman's head with a rock. 

There is plenty of pitch-black humor here that helps Cave succeed in his desired offensiveness. "The Curse of Millhaven" is a hellish country tune where 15-year-old Lottie disposes of "God's children" in her town through various, absurd methods. After she is (eventually) captured, the police ask if she has any regrets. Lottie proudly announces "Why of course/ I could've done so much more/ If they'd let me!" And in "O'Malley's Bar" a barmaid's head is shot off and lands "in the sink with the dirty dishes." At times, the sadistic behavior of the characters is taken to such extremes that it's hard not to crack a guilty smile.

Of course, the lyrics may not appeal to all, but music fans will love the diverse styles on Murder Ballads and the layered production. Check this out to experience truly dark genius. 

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 

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