I have not made any attempt at listening to Nick Cave in the past. I've always wondered why, and listening to Push the Sky Away made me wonder why even more.
After listening to Vampire Weekend, I have strengthened my position on avoiding all things that have anything to do with vampires in this day and age.
VW just seemed a little bland and predictable, not necessarily bad, but not interesting either.
Nick Cave was what I figured I was missing, and I had an immediate desire to hear more of his output.
Way to go Nick, you have won what surely will be considered a treasure as you look back on your life... A vote from me.
I actually own both these albums and enjoy them both. But, not surprisingly, I'm voting for Nick. I had the opportunity to see him play on the tour for this album last spring, and it was mt favorite concert of the year (I've been to 2 so far). I really like "Jubilee Street", the title track, and "Higgs Boson Blues", which fondly reminds me of one of the rambling "blues" songs on "On the Beach", my fave Neil Young solo album (See "Revolution Blues", "Vampire Blues", "Ambulance Blues"). IMHO, Nick is one of the few songwriters out there whose best lyrical output approaches something like literature or poetry. He is also one of the few artists whose work I find spiritually challenging, which I mean in a good way . In my book, er, album, he's right up there with Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Neil Young.
I'm not gonna diss on VW here. I think they're a great pop-rock outfit who puts out fun, smart music, and I am happy for them and their commercial success with this latest album. But they just can't compete against a heavyweight like Mr. Cave.
Oh, yeah, and "Hannah Montana does the African savannah...". Sounds like a VMA prophecy to me. Also that: check out this fun video for "Heathen Child" from Nick's side project Grinderman. Don't let it influence your vote. I just think it's one of the funniest, strangest, most unsettling videos I have seen in recent years.
I guess I'll be the first vote for Vampire Weekend although it was awfully tight for me (and in a way I'm kind of surprised at my choice). So, let's get this out of the way: Nick Cave rules; I think we can pretty much all agree on that. The first few tracks on this record are stellar. The rest of the songs are all solid, but as the album goes on, I find myself appreciating but not really fully enjoying it. So, for me, this is a bit of a middle-of-the-road album from Nick, which is not to say a middle-of-the-road album. Stuff that's average for him is still better than a lot of what's out there.
I think the last MDM, I had some negative (or at least mixed)things to say about Vampire Weekend, but this album turned me around. They get further away from sounding like they're imitating Graceland. And while I get Pagey's point about it not being terribly interesting (at least not on a first listen), I think the writing is strong, not overly flashy--yet I find myself always singing along when it's on and sometimes when it's not.
Maybe this is what it partly comes down to: I can put on the Vampire Wknd album almost anytime and enjoy it, but I have to be in a very particular mood for Push The Sky (it almost demands night-time listening). So, yeah, I'm going with the Vampires, but I'll be happy when Nick Cave wins this round.
I know all the cool kids like Nick Cave, but I think he's a creeper. And I get a real kick out of Vampire Weekend. Therefore, I vote for Vampire Weekend.
My comment is similar to Zwartitude's, but with a different spin. I think we can all agree that Nick Cave is an incredibly interesting dude and songwriter.
But I think you all (all? okay, some) are wrong to treat Vampire Weekend like a guilty pleasure. I only listened to the album once, but on almost every song I heard something I hadn't heard before. (I've only listened to the self-titled, previously, and this one sounds quite different; perhaps that's skewed.) Whereas with the Nick Cave album, it's all grim reapers and grand weepers and Europeans.
Don't get me wrong; I'm abstaining on this one, because both are good. But I just don't want anyone harshing on the Vampire Weekend.
I think I'd listen to Modern Vampires of the City more, so Vampire Weekend get my vote. Seems like they've matured from ivy-league pop darlings into something more interesting.
It's not really fair for me to vote on these two excellent albums after just one listen each, but it's not really fair for Andrew to assign such speedy and seemingly arbitrary deadlines, so...
I expected to vote Nick Cave. But I'm going with Vampire Weekend. This album surprised me by being more, um, substantial than their last. I'm looking forward to listening to this lots.
Nick Cave, on the other hand, didn't surprise me, nor did he satisfy expectations in the way I'd most prefer. Which would be reprising The Boatman's Call.
I like both of these. Vampire Weekend are overall real solid, I think. I liked their first one quite a bit and was not as into Contra. Haven't listened to Modern Vampires before this, but I like it better than Contra. I agree that they are pretty super talented and am jealous. Thatboyrocks the Epiphone. I do not get the Vampire thing at all.
Nick Cave is the total package. I really like this one more than most of his recent work. Can't totally say why. I would agree that he is creepy, as Jane said. I guess I just think that's how the world is sometimes/always, so creepy, sad and dark (who give's a f***) music help in that regard. He sounds so assured. At this point, he's some sort of expert songwriter lyricist worker guy.
Plus, I think this album shows how they've moved on from the sad departure of Blixa Bargeld and Mick Harvey with the ascendance of Warren Ellis and his slinky tenor guitar. Blixa, if you're reading this, you owe me an electric razor.
Well put, Wilson. Also, I talked to Blixa the other day and he told me exactly what you can do with that electric razor you're looking for. In German, nonetheless.
Okay, as I predicted, Push the Sky Away wins (by one vote). I'd like to point out that once again, if the the person who nominated it had voted for it, Modern Vampires could have at least tied...but maybe it's best we didn't go into overtime again.
Also, in response to Sarah's claim of arbitrary deadlines, I want to reassure everyone, I spend considerable time thinking about how long to give you. I know these feel rushed, but if I stretched the matches out longer, the whole thing would take forever, and I don't think we'd finish (imagine that). So, I realize it's hard to make a decision so quickly, but it actually feels less arbirtary than having just one person decide the fate of an album (like, say an awesome one like London Calling). Feel free to register more complaints / disagreements here.
vs.
I have not made any attempt at listening to Nick Cave in the past. I've always wondered why, and listening to Push the Sky Away made me wonder why even more.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to Vampire Weekend, I have strengthened my position on avoiding all things that have anything to do with vampires in this day and age.
VW just seemed a little bland and predictable, not necessarily bad, but not interesting either.
Nick Cave was what I figured I was missing, and I had an immediate desire to hear more of his output.
Way to go Nick, you have won what surely will be considered a treasure as you look back on your life... A vote from me.
I actually own both these albums and enjoy them both. But, not surprisingly, I'm voting for Nick. I had the opportunity to see him play on the tour for this album last spring, and it was mt favorite concert of the year (I've been to 2 so far). I really like "Jubilee Street", the title track, and "Higgs Boson Blues", which fondly reminds me of one of the rambling "blues" songs on "On the Beach", my fave Neil Young solo album (See "Revolution Blues", "Vampire Blues", "Ambulance Blues"). IMHO, Nick is one of the few songwriters out there whose best lyrical output approaches something like literature or poetry. He is also one of the few artists whose work I find spiritually challenging, which I mean in a good way . In my book, er, album, he's right up there with Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Neil Young.
ReplyDeleteI'm not gonna diss on VW here. I think they're a great pop-rock outfit who puts out fun, smart music, and I am happy for them and their commercial success with this latest album. But they just can't compete against a heavyweight like Mr. Cave.
Oh, yeah, and "Hannah Montana does the African savannah...". Sounds like a VMA prophecy to me. Also that: check out this fun video for "Heathen Child" from Nick's side project Grinderman. Don't let it influence your vote. I just think it's one of the funniest, strangest, most unsettling videos I have seen in recent years.
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/14268386
NICK CAVE - PUSH THE SKY AWAY
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll be the first vote for Vampire Weekend although it was awfully tight for me (and in a way I'm kind of surprised at my choice). So, let's get this out of the way: Nick Cave rules; I think we can pretty much all agree on that. The first few tracks on this record are stellar. The rest of the songs are all solid, but as the album goes on, I find myself appreciating but not really fully enjoying it. So, for me, this is a bit of a middle-of-the-road album from Nick, which is not to say a middle-of-the-road album. Stuff that's average for him is still better than a lot of what's out there.
ReplyDeleteI think the last MDM, I had some negative (or at least mixed)things to say about Vampire Weekend, but this album turned me around. They get further away from sounding like they're imitating Graceland. And while I get Pagey's point about it not being terribly interesting (at least not on a first listen), I think the writing is strong, not overly flashy--yet I find myself always singing along when it's on and sometimes when it's not.
Maybe this is what it partly comes down to: I can put on the Vampire Wknd album almost anytime and enjoy it, but I have to be in a very particular mood for Push The Sky (it almost demands night-time listening). So, yeah, I'm going with the Vampires, but I'll be happy when Nick Cave wins this round.
I know all the cool kids like Nick Cave, but I think he's a creeper. And I get a real kick out of Vampire Weekend. Therefore, I vote for Vampire Weekend.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is similar to Zwartitude's, but with a different spin. I think we can all agree that Nick Cave is an incredibly interesting dude and songwriter.
ReplyDeleteBut I think you all (all? okay, some) are wrong to treat Vampire Weekend like a guilty pleasure. I only listened to the album once, but on almost every song I heard something I hadn't heard before. (I've only listened to the self-titled, previously, and this one sounds quite different; perhaps that's skewed.) Whereas with the Nick Cave album, it's all grim reapers and grand weepers and Europeans.
Don't get me wrong; I'm abstaining on this one, because both are good. But I just don't want anyone harshing on the Vampire Weekend.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd listen to Modern Vampires of the City more, so Vampire Weekend get my vote. Seems like they've matured from ivy-league pop darlings into something more interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really fair for me to vote on these two excellent albums after just one listen each, but it's not really fair for Andrew to assign such speedy and seemingly arbitrary deadlines, so...
ReplyDeleteI expected to vote Nick Cave. But I'm going with Vampire Weekend. This album surprised me by being more, um, substantial than their last. I'm looking forward to listening to this lots.
Nick Cave, on the other hand, didn't surprise me, nor did he satisfy expectations in the way I'd most prefer. Which would be reprising The Boatman's Call.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI like both of these. Vampire Weekend are overall real solid, I think. I liked their first one quite a bit and was not as into Contra. Haven't listened to Modern Vampires before this, but I like it better than Contra. I agree that they are pretty super talented and am jealous. Thatboyrocks the Epiphone. I do not get the Vampire thing at all.
ReplyDeleteNick Cave is the total package. I really like this one more than most of his recent work. Can't totally say why. I would agree that he is creepy, as Jane said. I guess I just think that's how the world is sometimes/always, so creepy, sad and dark (who give's a f***) music help in that regard. He sounds so assured. At this point, he's some sort of expert songwriter lyricist worker guy.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds get my vote.
Plus, I think this album shows how they've moved on from the sad departure of Blixa Bargeld and Mick Harvey with the ascendance of Warren Ellis and his slinky tenor guitar. Blixa, if you're reading this, you owe me an electric razor.
DeleteWell put, Wilson. Also, I talked to Blixa the other day and he told me exactly what you can do with that electric razor you're looking for. In German, nonetheless.
DeleteI vote Nick Cave.....is it the middle of the night yet? Is that Warren Ellis playing guitar? I did enjoy those slinky stlyings.
ReplyDeleteHere's Nick on the Australian news, after this album went to #1 on the Australian charts. He seems so relatively normal...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V30AkkJOtyw
Okay, as I predicted, Push the Sky Away wins (by one vote). I'd like to point out that once again, if the the person who nominated it had voted for it, Modern Vampires could have at least tied...but maybe it's best we didn't go into overtime again.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in response to Sarah's claim of arbitrary deadlines, I want to reassure everyone, I spend considerable time thinking about how long to give you. I know these feel rushed, but if I stretched the matches out longer, the whole thing would take forever, and I don't think we'd finish (imagine that). So, I realize it's hard to make a decision so quickly, but it actually feels less arbirtary than having just one person decide the fate of an album (like, say an awesome one like London Calling). Feel free to register more complaints / disagreements here.
Here's a complaint: Steve, Brian, Jeff...why do you hate us so?
DeleteNothing but love for Andrew and MDM. I just needed an excuse for when I second-guess my decision in a few weeks.
DeleteI vote Vampire Weekend. Oh wait, too late.
ReplyDelete