April 19–26, 2001

cd reviews|rock/pop

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

No More Shall We Part

(Mute)

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds have been treading water for several years. The steady pull of the post-punk troupe’s late ’80s work gave way to a period of wavering output in the mid-’90s. The gimmicky concept of 1996’s Murder Ballads eclipsed its lavish compositions, and the following year The Boatman’s Call— a noble but lacking album — was harshly and undeservedly panned. Output since has been sparse. However, periods of imperfection and inactivity have begotten a refreshingly brilliant album. Having outgrown their youthful rowdiness, The Bad Seeds are soft and somber on No More Shall We Part. Full instrumentation this time around yields a gripping depth that was missing from Boatman. Twinkling piano dominates "Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow," with subtle drums and guitar driving to an intense chorus. The loungy tempo and strumming of "Sweetheart Come" build into an aching blend of violin, cello and ensemble vocals. Likewise, "The Sorrowful Wife" broods for four minutes before a brutal crescendo. Cave’s lyrics revisit recent themes of longing and loss, but the full-band sound adds a sense of tender beauty and subtle vigor to accurately convey those lyrics. No More Shall We Part is the album that The Boatman’s Call should have been; it’s also Cave & co.’s best work of the past decade.

—John Vettese