Make Me Like is a new series we’re trying out where we Vultures talk about popular things that we are supposed to like but don’t. It’s up to you readers to convince us to see the error of our ways! Be gentle, though. This isn’t ragebait.
They’re a band that are in that awkward position of being widely respected without the commercial success to match. Despite decades of releasing critically-acclaimed music, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have never quite hit the big time.
They’re the musical equivalent of Marmite: you either really, really, really like them or you hate them. I fall somewhere in the middle.
I have had my fair share of exposure to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; my one time father-in-law was obsessed with everything the Australian group have ever done. Every car journey would be filled with the sounds of discordant instruments, abstract lyrics and outright weirdness. Perhaps it was a case of overindulgence, but it was a connection I could never make.
Just what is it about Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds that makes people so obsessed?
There’s no denying that they do things differently in an admirable way. By preferring to tell a narrative with his songs, Nick Cave has cemented his legacy as a unique songwriter. It’s a shame then that most of his lyrics are smothered in intrigue, too unapproachable for most, myself included.
It’s not as if I am not a fan of some of their work. For the times when you just want to sink into your mattress and lose yourself, you won’t find a better soundscape than the moody ‘Red Right Hand‘. ‘Into My Arms‘ is another fantastic track, simplistic and haunting in equal measure.
However, when listening to the rest of their output, it just sounds like…noise. Really noisy noise. Like you’ve wandered into a bar at 1am when all the patrons are pissed up, passed out on the floor and there’s a solitary man left standing, bashing out random notes on a piano. Is that kind of the point, though?
A lot of Cave’s work (or so it appears to be) is based around drink and doomed romances. From what I have heard, it doesn’t seem to extend further than that, or perhaps I am just not hearing the message that others are. There’s only so many times you can hear your friend tell you about his ex after four bottles of Budweiser before you stop inviting him out.
When working with Warren Ellis, Nick Cave produces some of the best music I have ever heard. Their soundtracks for The Assassination of Jesse James and The Proposition are two of my favourites, perfectly composed to suit the scenes they’re a part of. ‘Song for Bob’ from the former never fails to make the hairs on my arm stand on end as it captures the tragedy of a conflicted man’s life in just six minutes. Although every clickbait article ever has ruined the word, it truly is stunning.
It’s just another story altogether when it comes to Cave’s other work. There’s something weirdly inaccessible about them to me, which is strange because I am a fan of those he and The Bad Seeds have inspired. The National clearly take cues from the group, especially in the vocal department, and they are one of my favourites.
I am completely open to becoming a fan of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, I just need to be pointed in the right direction. What are some accessible examples of Cave’s famous lyricism? Are there any hidden gems that might win me over? Let me know in the comments.
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.
