Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds released Kicking Against the Pricks on August 17, 1986. Besides being noteworthy as an astonishingly good all-covers album, Kicking Against the Pricks is notable for the arrival of a new key member for the Seeds, drummer Thomas Wydler. Besides being a fine percussionist, able to perform at both the explosive and restrained levels Cave requires, Wydler also allowed Harvey to concentrate on adding guitar and keyboards live as well as in the studio, a notable bonus. Race reappears briefly to add some guitar while former Birthday Party cohorts Rowland Howard and Tracy Pew guest as well, the latter on some of his last tracks before his untimely death. The selection of songs is quite impressive, ranging from old standards like Long Black Veil to everything from John Lee Hookers Im Gonna Kill That Woman and Gene Pitneys pop aria Somethings Gotten Hold of My Heart. Matching the range of material, the Seeds are well on their way to becoming the rock/cabaret/blues showband of Caves dreams, able to conjure up haunting, winsome atmospheres (Sleeping Annaleah) as much as higher-volume takes (Roy Orbisons Running Scared, the Velvet Undergrounds All Tomorrows Parties). The version of Leadbellys Black Betty is particularly grand, Harveys drumming driving the track with ominous power. This said, often holding everything back is the key, as the creepout build of Hey Joe demonstrates. Even more striking is how Caves own vocals rebut the charges that all he ever does is overdramatize everything he sings -- consider the husky, purring delivery on Johnny Cashs The Singer. Other winners include a masterful version of Jimmy Webbs By the Time I Get to Phoenix and the stately, album-closing The Carnival Is Over, originally a mid-60s hit for the Seekers. Review by Ned Raggett
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 06:25:54 +0000
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