The Boatman’s Call

Cave puts forth his oeuvre easily- dour, gloomy, and heartfelt feelings all over these songs. I liked this one better than Abbatoir, which was messy. Overall a solid 3

Pretty good, tho i would not classify this as my style

Is there anyone more over represented on this list? So many great jazz, blues and world artists but FIVE Nick Cave Albums??! 5!

Idk, it’s…fine..SO boring and relying on the fact that its brooding to make up for any musicality at all.

I love his voice, I love the music, but the lyrics are country-style/evangelical Christian vibes, cheesy. Also, when he throws in random swears, it makes me giggle. There's a time and a place for all these things and I'm stuck between enjoying it and not being able to take it seriously.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 is one of Nick Cave’s most intimate albums. Stripped back to piano, subtle arrangements, and his unmistakable baritone, the songs place the focus entirely on the lyrics and the emotions behind them.

What struck me most is the album’s dark, melancholic atmosphere. Even at its most beautiful, there is a quiet sadness running through these songs that never really disappears. Cave doesn’t rely on dramatic gestures; instead, he lets the music speak through restraint, making the emotional weight feel even stronger.

It’s not an album I would describe as easy listening, but it rewards patience. The combination of understated arrangements, thoughtful songwriting, and a lingering sense of melancholy makes 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 one of Nick Cave’s most compelling records.

I’m hot and warm on Nick Cave. Henry’s Dream and Skeleton Tree very much sit within the “hot” category and this album is more “warm”.

This collection of piano ballads pitches The Boatman’s Call as one of Cave’s more reflective efforts, which is not to say it’s laid back, it’s too intense for that. Opening track Into My Arms is a song for the ages, one of the very best piano ballads of all time. It sets a high bar which the rest of the album never even gets near. But at the same time, it’s an enjoyable, heartfelt listen throughout.

Not super interesting.

Starting with Into My Arms is emotional blackmail!

Anyway, the rest is pretty good but I need at least one snarling, rougher-edged song to really enjoy a Nick Cave album.

I've only gotten one other Nick Cave album and I enjoyed the punk elements and style a lot. That isn't to say this was bad, but I wasn't expecting somber piano throughout. I suspect a different mood gets a higher rating from me.

Started off well, but got worse with each song

Something is off here. Perhaps less Nick Cave and more Bad Seeds next time? This felt like a guy got his hands on an emo girl’s diary and is doing dramatic spoken-song versions of tfe entries as a disinterested band, who may or may not be aware of what is going on, plays music in the background. It’s definitely not what you’d call compelling.

I've only heard prob a few of his songs before this, so not sure if this was the best place to start, but ya, it was good.

artists I don't understand the love for:
1. elvis costello
2. nick cave
3. dire straits

A really pretty record by Nick Cave. Who knew?

After Murder Ballads, this is a very calm, somber departure. Marking Dirty Three’s Warren Ellis’ elevation to a regular member of The Bad Seeds, whose contributions can be heard in the quieter moments. A series of love songs, deliberations and thoughts put down with minimal backing, letting Cave’s voice shine through.
Opening track ‘Into My Arms’ is just beautiful, and one of my favourite songs to sing along with in the car (baritone ftw). Other key tracks ‘Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For?’, ‘People Ain’t No Good’ and ‘West Country Girl’ (reportedly about PJ Harvey).
A beautiful album, highly recommended for a quiet, thoughtful Sunday afternoon.

Nick Cave is sort of a "pick me Christian" in that most of his songs are about God, the Devil, Jesus, such and such a biblical story, etc etc etc. But he also swears and sings about sex and is "too cool" to just be a Christian rock singer -- he's "not like all the other Christians," which is a doubly annoying persona to take on. A lot of the lyrics here are clever by a half, rotating all the way back around to being stupid (e.g. "In a colonial hotel we fucked up the sun / And then we fucked it down again"). I like a lot of the musicians he works with (Nick Cave is probably the worst part of this Nick Cave album) and I maybe would have liked this album more if I'd heard it at a different time/place of my life. But on this listen, I mostly cringed and rolled my eyes.

*I understand the musicianship of this album but it is not a style I enjoy.

First half was a good listen but I lost interest towards the end.

Shrek 2 baby!

More portentous piano ballads from the world's dullest Leonard Cohen wannabe.

Nick Cave’s lyrics are a mix of spiritual and moody. I like the lounge/guild-hall ambience but I don’t hear any catchy melodies. Plus his vocal delivery seems safe and monotone, I feel like I have to try twice as hard to detect emotion (not you Green Eyes, I can tell how you’re feeling 😭) (2.5-3)