Top 3 Nick Cave Albums

[Crimen y Castigo]

I'm woefully deficient in the Nick Cave category and want to pick some up.

So here's my request: Please list your top 3 Nick Cave albums (Bad Seeds, of course; Birthday Party, no) with any description/rationale you feel moved enough to post.

I'd be happy to hear your top 5 or even more, but wanted to make it as easy as possible.

Thanks in advance!

[hangthadj]

nicodemus will probably give a better reply than me.

1. No More Shall We Part - Devistating storytelling. It seeps into you. It sticks with you. It darkens your mood for days. (That's not exactly a good selling job, is it.) But it's just powerful as hell, and then includes a really "simple" song to like Loveletter." that you can throw on a mix cd for a friend or ladyfriend without completely scaring them.

2. Let Love In - i probably listen to this one the most. If you ever see him live, you'll want to have this in case do you love me, or red right hand gets played youy can be as excited as everyone else. And unlilke no more shall we part, there is some nick cave humor in this one. something some people overlook.

3. Dig Lazarus Dig - This record floored me. When I played the title track for a friend he asked if it was the hold steady. which i thought was strange, but actually makes sense. i mean i guess the grinderman side project pointed towards this, but i didn't expect it. really, it's nothing but a really good pop record. but thats what makes it so fun.

[MeridianFC]

I'm more an old school guy so I gotta say three of the first four are where you want to be. His output is pretty consistently good but these are the ones I reach for when I reach for NC&TBS

The Firstborn is Dead - Nick explores the sparser folk blues that was hinted at in some of the earlier Birthday Party work. No less ********ed up mind. Check out "Say Goodbye to the Little Girl Trees".

Your Funeral My Trial - Cave the Crooner is born. You might recognize "the Carny" from Wenders' "Wings of Desire" though this song appeared a year before that movie came out. Originally came out as a double 12", which I am proud to say I still own. "I am a crooked man and I've walked a crooked mile......"

Kicking Against the Pricks - A record of covers. Cave's interpretive prowess is on display. All of the selections make sense and ol' Nick (geddit?) takes all of 'em deeper and darker.

After these I'd add the first record "From Her to Eternnity" and the later album "the Boatman's Call".

[The Double]

Hmm........

I probably listen to Tender Prey the most, followed by Let Love In.

[nicodemus]

This is where the diversity of his catalog will give you a million different answers...

The 3-4 I probably listen to the most are (in alpha order)

Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Dig Lazarus Dig
Murder Ballads
Tender Prey

Live Seeds is rather awesome too.

[Crimen y Castigo]

By the way, thanks to the responders. I've been so stacked I've not had time to pick these up.

[spoonman]

Live Seeds is rather awesome too.

Absolutely, especially "Papa won't leave you henry"

[nicodemus]

Absolutely, especially "Papa won't leave you henry"

Absolutely. Best performance on the record.