Disgraceful self indulgence

August 15, 2024 5:25 AM

Nick Cave speaks. On loss, on love for his wife, on collaborating with Kylie Minogue. On the beauty and privilege of answering questions on the Red Hand Files. On becoming a grandfather. On growing as a musician, and on realising what actually matters. Previously. Previouslier. Previousliest.
posted by tim_in_oz (8 comments total)

I just encountered Cave reading one of his letter responses today. A powerful testament to hope.
posted by gwint at 6:08 AM on August 15

Nick Cave--one of my faves--has really turned into a thoughtful elder statesmen of music. Do I agree with him on all things? Absolutely not. But I do like that even when I don't agree with his perspective, his comments are bristly yet kind.

The loss of two children over a handful of years can really shake up a man. I don't know if I would call the Bad Seeds' earlier catalog nihilistic, but there is certainly more hope in the last few records than there has ever been.
posted by Kitteh at 6:11 AM on August 15 [1 favorite]

I've just read Faith Hope and Carnage, and it's actually quite profound. Cave says insightful things about spirituality and creativity.

I have mixed feelings about Cave as a personality. I adored his songwriting, but historically his persona was the epitome of that insufferable hipper-than-thou junkie-beatnik bullshit. Which I think is starting to rinse out now that he's older. I'd drifted away from listening to his records, and was a bit surprised to hear ambient-synth + spoken word on some recent tracks (even if that recitation style kinda goes back to The Birthday Party).
posted by ovvl at 6:39 AM on August 15

Mod note: First link fixed per OP's request!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:46 AM on August 15

Ooh, I'm excited to sit down with this after work. I've never actually been a huge fan of most of his music but I like the way he says things, and even when I don't agree with them there's always something to think about in it.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:34 AM on August 15

Cool side-discovery for me on this one is that Nick Cave's wife is also the cover-model for The Damned's Phantasmagoria album.
posted by BigBrooklyn at 8:42 AM on August 15 [1 favorite]

I love Nick Cave, from Junkyard, to Into Your Arms and many points in between. I'd call him the punk rock David Bowie, but that would offend both gentlemen.
posted by alex_skazat at 2:40 PM on August 15 [1 favorite]

I have long had a liking for Cave's music, particularly that which emerged in the 80's and 90's, I did though recently read a biography of him that covers some of that period (Boy on Fire) and I realised I didn't like the man that produced the music very much. In more recent years he's worked a lot of that out and I like the current version of his persona a good bit more, and unfortunately the music a good bit less. It's quite a thought provoking situation to find yourself in.

Friends a bit older than me and more familiar with or part of the scene he emerged from (I'm in Melbourne) have always had a more jaundiced view of him. He made a scene that killed a lot of friends look inviting, was the way one friend put it. Boy on Fire brought home his callousness around that.
posted by deadwax at 7:58 PM on August 15 [1 favorite]