Cave, Nick and The Bad Seeds – “Push The Sky Away” – [Bad Seed Ltd.]

Yes, I know he’s headlining Coachella, whatever, none of the dumbfucks who are going to Coachella know who he is anyway and this is the best Bad Seeds album since ‘The Boatman’s Call.’ It seems the spirit of Grinderman continues to revitalize Old Nick and dual collaborator Warren Ellis (whose subtle electronics and string drones are a total highlight here). Unlike the raucous garage sound of the other band, however, this is mostly minimal and somber in atmosphere, musically retaining a slight blues influence and lyrically concerned with aging, yearning, nostalgia and male sexuality. There are references to mermaids on a few songs in a motif gently cribbed from Eliot’s ‘Prufrock.’ Great artists steal, I guess, though it’s true Eliot never discussed doing a “Mermaid Altertness Course” (t.5). In all seriousness these are the finest lyrics Cave’s written in ages, effortlessly alternating between extreme tenderness and bitter nihilism/horniness. Some songs (t.3, 4) seem to be fictional narratives. Death looms large on this album, but it’s Nick Cave, did I really have to tell you that? Topical too, with references to Wikipedia (6), The Higgs Boson Particle and Miley Cyrus (8). Nice to hear Conway Savage on backing vocals again on t.2, and some very talented female singers chime in on t.2, 7 + 8. Some light Bible-thumping on t.s 5+6, but he means well. This band shits on musicians half their ages. Get some.