I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't like Sundays. They typically put me in a bad mood. Today is no exception. Before you start flaming me and saying #FirstWorldProblems, let me assure you that I know. There are people who have it a lot worse than I do... I have it pretty good, in fact. But when I think of others and their far-worse problems it just reminds me how fucked up the world is, which doesn't help my mood any. So let me focus on my own petty problems. If you just don't want to read about it, guess what? You're in luck. I'm going to quit complaining, drink my coffee, and talk about today's record. After all, I started writing this blog to give myself a reason to slow down and relax on Sundays (you see how that worked out)... so that's what I'll do.
My squirrel mug is full, my tube amp is warm, and the lighting is just right. Today's coffee is a k-cup (i know, i know... but when you're in a hurry you do what you gotta do) called Dark Magic. It's pretty good but a bit one dimensional. Sort of earthy with a little bite to it. It's a go-to coffee for days when I need to just grab a quick cup (which ends up being most weekdays... and Sundays).
The record I've selected today is the latest from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It's their sixteenth studio album entitled "Skeleton Tree". The album was recorded in 2014 and 2015 in England and France, mixed in London and released in 2016. I bought it the day it came out. Apparently, the first pressing had some issues, because I ended up with two copies that skipped in the same place, but the lovely people at Indy CD & Vinyl helped me out. They were able to do a deep cleaning on my second copy and get it to playable (but still with a couple minor skips) state. They're my local shop, but if you want to buy from them online they recently began doing that. Cool people with a cool place... I highly recommend supporting them any way you can.
I've gotten way off point... This band has been around for a long time. I think their first album came out in the mid-80s. I first caught wind of them quite late and in a way that may surprise some of you. You may remember a movie called "Scream", which prominently featured the song "Red Right Hand". That was my introduction to the band, but it wasn't until much later that I started to explore the rest of the discography. Over the last few years, I have become a big fan and am systematically filling in the gaps in my collection. I only have 4 of the 16 studio albums so far, but I'll get there eventually. At this point, I could go into the history of the band, why I like them, and what's so important about Alternative Post-Punk Art Rock, but my coffee is almost gone and I really just want to listen to this record. So let's drop the needle.
But wait.... first I have to fold some laundry (fucking Sundays, am I right?)
The first track is "Jesus Alone" and starts off with a pulsing drone that makes me drool. This is the first point where my record skips and tries to spoil the mood for me... but I won't let it. The mood is eerie and somber. Nick Cave comes in with a low monotone, half-spoken vocal. The only fully sung line is "with my voice, I'm calling you." The poetry of the lyrics is hard for me to describe. Lines like "You're a distant memory in the mind of your creator, don't you see" stick in my brain and rattle around until they mean everything and nothing at the same time. Toward the end, we get added harmonies on the main sung lyric, as well as some other partially sung lines. The performance is powerful yet restrained and mournful. The drone from the beginning continues throughout, and at the end is joined by melancholy vocal swells and an eerie synth melody. It ends abruptly and is immediately replaced by "Rings of Saturn". This song starts off with piano and lo-fi drums. Again Nick Cave joins in with spoken word poetry. I'm equally mesmerized and jealous of performers who can talk through their songs... the words and music separate but symbiotic. But I'm not a poet. The whole song just went by and I couldn't think of words to say. "Rings of Saturn" might be the highlight of the album for me. If you aren't listening to it already go do it now.
"Girl in Amber" is more sung than the last two songs, and Nick's vocal is pretty much all that's there. There are some sparse piano and synth string pads, but the vocal is the focal point. "The song the song it's been spinning now since 1984" and "If you wanna bleed, don't breathe a word." are some of the early lyrics that stand out to me. Again this song is about the poetry and the eerie mood. I know I said it before, but mournful is the word that keeps coming to mind. I can feel pain in the performance, and it's cathartic.
I have not seen the accompanying documentary "One More Time with Feeling" (it didn't play in my town... I need to just buy a copy), the name of which is taken from the lyrics of the Side A closer "Magneto". I'm really glad it's raining today. This is a rainy day track if ever there was one. Just dim the lights, pour a glass of wine (I don't typically drink wine... but whatever), and watch the rain fall.Side B starts off with something we haven't heard a lot on this record... Percussion. Fast but soft, with synth swells and the poet vocals that we've come to expect. "I hear you've been out looking for something to love." Here's another skip in my record.... this one does take me out of the mood. I put the needle back several times, cleaning in between, but not getting whatever is causing my issue. It's a shame, too... this song is compelling, but the skips (there's another one just now) take me out of the moment... Sunday is gnashing its ugly teeth again. Nick Cave says to close my eyes and brace myself, so I do... we're going back to the record now.
After "Anthrocene" (track one) is "I Need You", which is a fairly straightforward song, but is a good listen and a nice bridge back to the ambient moodiness of "Distant Sky", which features beautiful guest vocals by Danish soprano Else Torp. In my mind, not many vocalists can stand up to a mourning Nick Cave, but Else gives a wonderfully heartfelt performance that makes this one a song not to be missed.
One of my only complaints about this record is that I would like some time to breathe between "Distant Sky" and "Skeleton Tree"... maybe just 2 more seconds before the slowly swung acoustic guitar and drums come in to announce the final, title track. This is a simple song, but possibly the most produced on the record. "Sunday Morning, Skeleton Tree, Pressed against the sky. A jittery TV glowing white like fire". Maybe that's why I picked this record. Maybe because it calms me down. It's sad, heartbreaking, and painful... but something about it just makes me feel better.
Well, my coffee is long dry and the record has spun. Thank you for taking this Sunday afternoon to listen to a record with me. Until next time... do cool shit. Listen to more records.
Cheers!
-squirrel
