I've had a break from Nick Cave since "Skeleton Tree" [2016]. It just got too dull, depressing, grieving and frankly boring for me. I prefer my Cave with more life and joy and I don't mind if it rocks a bit too.
The new album opens strongly with "Song of the Lake", a song that sounds almost like a movie soundtrack. Next song and title track "Wild God" is perhaps a self portrait of Cave and it has a sound that would fit right in on the "Push The Sky Away" [2013] album and not only because it references "Jubilee Street" in the lyrics.
"Cause I'm A Wild God Flying And A Wild God Swimming
And an Old Sick God Dying And Crying And Singing"
There is a really great use of choir and strings on the album. It creates a big full sound and atmosphere. Some of the 10 songs are more interesting than others but you never want to skip songs during the runtime of 44:25. You just want to go with the flow. The album is very consistent and even the more quiet songs have some qualities to them.
"Conversion" is a song that starts out rather quiet but builds up to a fantastic break with drums and a powerful choir. This is my favorite song on the album and it has that classic Cave feel that you also found on the albums "Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus" [2004].
"Touched By The Spirit and Touched By The Flame
I Never Ever Saw You So Beautiful As That Again"
"O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She is)" is a beautiful little song that is dedicated to the memory of Anita Lane. Anita was briefly a member of The Bad Seeds and she and Nick were a couple many years ago. Anita did provide lyrics and vocals on several Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds songs in the past. The song includes a recording of Anita's voice. Anita died in 2021.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are clearly trying hard to return to form and they manage to get most of the way there. "We've All Had Too Much Sorrow, Now Is The Time For Joy". While Nick Cave is not exactly a Rock God on this album, it is still a very enjoyable album to listen to, and it has many of the Cave qualities that we love from the past. I look forward to hear some of the songs live in the fall on the upcoming European tour. It's really good to have you back, Nick.
Rating: 
Band: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Record Title: Wild God
This Release: 2024
Record Format: LP
TrackList:
- Song Of The Lake
- Wild God
- Frogs
- Joy
- Final Rescue Attempt
- Conversion
- Cinnamon Horses
- Long Dark Night
- O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)
- As The Waters Cover The Sea
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2024-09-01 16:51
Created: 2024-09-01 16:35
