Is the cult of Nick Cave still such a big thing? Hmmm.... I must admit that I prefer my Nick Cave as a twisted balladeer, rather than as a rocker.
Unfortunately this album still needs some work. While it is at times absolutely wonderful, there are many times when the words are clumsy and awkward. It's a shame, because with more work, this could have been as good as Leonard Cohen, & other A listers.
You sometimes hear psychologists talk about the link between anger & depression. If you have any doubts about that connection, slap on this album. This is Cave as angry young man. He already has more artistic desires than most of his contemporaries, but this is loud, clanging stuff. Sure, there's a few tracks that seem to foreshadow his later incarnation as a twisted balladeer, but for the most part it's anger and power that rule the show.
Here's the most notable track, from the performance in Wings of Desire.
