2008-03-24
The fact that Nick Cave's new album was to be a return to his rough, old-school dirty days origin was a given long ago. Anyone who claims to be surprised by the outcomes probably has never heard Cave's none 90's material.
The first sign was the "Grinderman" project released in 2007. This was Cave's first return to his genuine rock agenda since he began his piano era that marked most of his 90's albums. His raging comeback was aggressive, wild, oozing with sexuality, Testosterone-filled and guitar-saturated. The second sign was his "in your face – can't miss" mustache. The third was the album title: "Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!". Those three words, companied by the punctuation notes gave the final mark for which Cave we'll get in this album.
Just watch the word "Dig!!!" with its terrifying exclamations. It shows twice, caging the name Lazarus in-between. Lazarus, for those who didn't know, was a friend of Jesus Christ who died from a rough illness. Just combine all this information and picture the poor saint digging his way, back to his grave probably, while The Bad Seeds monitor him with wild craved eyes.
The opening track already delivers. Lazarus, AKA Larry, returns from his grave and starts walking around New York, San Francisco and L.A. He discovers the nature of modern life as a star. This life ends up breaking him down, pushing him into the street, slavery, jailhouse, madhouse and back to his grave. Meanwhile you can hear Cave's roar "I want you to dig" just to emphasize the craze state Larry's in.
Cave's writing talent is great, and rare. Always been and always will be. Try to read the first 60 pages in his novel "And The Ass Saw The Angel" to understand the complexity of his writing process. His poetry does not differ. In his latest interviews he tells of his daily routine; Going into his office (consisting of a piano and other keyboards) reading books, writing, rewriting, pondering and slowly giving birth to his lyrical children. In this case, 11 brilliant kids with supreme genes that were carefully selected. The Bad seeds, without Blixa Bargeld, still produce the meanest, sharpest and allegeable background to these well written lyrics.
The track "Night of the lotus eaters" actually reminds Cave's days as part of "The birthday party". Punk influences restrained with leather and chains like a wild horse in captivity. The stroke of genius continues with tracks such as "Hold on to yourself" and "Jesus of the moon", both qualify as ballads in the Nick Cave genre, addictive in their beauty. "Does Jesus only love a man who loses?" asks Nick in his everlasting religion debate. His answers remain unknown.
The closing track, "More news from nowhere" is a well written weaving of 7 scenes fluid with the sense of alienation and strangeness; Alienation from people, from sexuality, unsuccessful seductions and mostly humanly tiredness of people who come to switch faces with one another.
At the age of 50, an age in which most artists are too scared to take a real step forward towards change and renovation, Nick Cave marches on in his still long lasting musical journey. His energies, influence, and agenda are all still out of reach for all those 20-year-old rockers who think they've got it made.
Roy Povarchik
