Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" (2008)

Artist: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Album: Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!

Release date: 2008-03-03

Tracklist:
01."Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" – 3:38 (Cave)

02."Today's Lesson" – 4:41 (Cave)

03."Moonland" – 3:53 (Cave/Ellis/Casey/Sclavunos)

04."Night of the Lotus Eaters" – 4:53 (Cave/Ellis)

05."Albert Goes West" – 3:32 (Cave/Ellis)

06."We Call upon the Author" – 5:12 (Cave/Ellis)

07."Hold on to Yourself" – 5:51 (Cave/Ellis/Casey/Sclavunos)

08."Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl)" – 4:58 (Cave)

09."Jesus of the Moon" – 3:22 (Cave)

10."Midnight Man" – 5:07 (Cave)

11."More News from Nowhere" – 7:58 (Cave/Ellis/Casey/Sclavunos)

Buy it: http://www.amazon.com/Dig-Lazarus-Nick-Cave-Seeds/dp/B0014DBZT2

Rating:89%

Ok, I‘ve decided to write the review of  “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” today, and now. Why would I wait, I thought.

This is actually my second review I’ve ever written. The first was of the Machine Head’s (a groove metal band, nowadays I listen to less metal than I’ve used to) “The Blackening”. I tried to submit it to metal-archives.com (please, no comments about that) and, what a surprise, it got rejected because, as they said, I only regurgitated previously mentioned facts and nothing new.

Anyways, enough of the introductionary BS.

“Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” was released in 2008- a year after Cave’s side project Grinderman released their self titled debut album. Grinderman is known for their rough, kinda hard to chew garage rock sound, which somehow (although not greatly) reassembles the early post-punk material of the Seeds. Fuzzy guitars, some noise, and, overall, a rocky sound, which was an interesting shift after the more mellow Cave albums (weeeell, “The Abattoir Blues” had some fast paced energetic songs). Anyways, “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” might be called a mix of these two: the mellow depressive elegies of the lyrical genius Cave and the satiric songs about life and everything in it. Not only we have hard rocking songs, but, also, ballads that might bring a tear to a sensitive eye.

Anyways, the album starts off with the energetic title song. The song has a certain ‘badass’ feel, and when listening to it, I don’t know about anyone else, I feel the need to go out and do some stupid things. The video of the song depicts Cave strutting through a, hmm, virtual New York City, while singing the lyrics and looking badass. The song is badass, the video is badass, damn, everything related to this song is badass. Anyways, the lyrics tell of a biblical character, Lazarus, who was resurrected not in the times of Christ, but in our modern world. Lazarus gets himself into all sorts of trouble. The lyrics make me laugh and feel sorry for Lazarus at the same time. Great song, the instrumental section is impossibly great, and even though the same riffs and motives are repeated throughout the whole song, it doesn’t get old.

The second song is ‘Today’s Lessson’. It’s also a pretty hard song, and moving your bum to it is a great thing. At least tap your feet, people, don’t be lazy! Instrumentation, as always, is of the best quality, and lyrics tell of a girl, who is telling Sandman, that children sleep beast, that they’re gonna have a really good time, tonight. However, even though this one is a good song, I somehow feel that it’s a filler. Maybe it’s just me.

Oooh, ‘Moonland’, one of my favourites! Definitely one of the best songs on the album. A story about an unhappy guy who is following his cheating girl, and holy dog, the lyrics are impossibly great. Only Cave can nail it, and he does it perfectly. The instrumental side of the song is very cool to listen, complete with interesting sounds in the background, and nice main riffs. A must hear, even if you don’t want to get the album, look it up on youtube or anywhere else.

‘Night of the Lotus Eater’. Hmmm, definitely a post punkish song, hard to listen when hearing the album for the first time, but enjoyable and even lovable after a couple of listens. However, I still want to fast forward it when listening to the album.

‘Albert Goes West’ is my least favorite song on the album, it sounds like a rock song from the 70’s, but in a poppy vein. The lyrics tell of a guy who doesn’t know where to go, what to do. To my ears, a filler, but still, enjoyable.

‘We Call Upon The Author’ is a great song, which, in my opinion, is about the stupid things that God might have done while creating everything. When listening to the album, I can’t wait to reach this track, it’s very refreshing and interesting, with noise sections in the song in-between normal guitar motives. Listen to the song, go go go!

Ooh, another rocker: ‘Lie Down Here and Be My Girl’. A great anthem about a guy with immeasurable love. Move your bums while listening to this, pure garage rock energy, complete with noise in background, and chants by the Seeds. One of the best on the album. Nothing else to be said, pure greatness.

‘Jesus of the Moon’ is a different kind of ballad. Very interesting, mellow, but the lyrics are so fun, that I just don’t feel how the song ends, and find myself repeating the track, again and again. The instrumental section is  great, as always, and if it could happen, Jesus of the planets and the stars would be my kind of a god.

Well, I told you once, that I’m your ‘Midnight Man’. Great, great and great. Mellow Cave mixed with garage rock Grinderman. I just love this song, it’s the last bit of pure energy before the end of the album, and so refreshing to listen. I want to be your midnight man, so go listen to the song.

Anyways, we end the review with ‘More News from Nowhere’. Mellow, tells of everything, which is nothing. More news from nowhere, everywhere. Seems like Cave just penned a perfect song to end the album with. The instrumentation is great, as always, and it feels like the musicians are relaxed while playing. A great ‘chill out’ song.

Anyways, this is an album that one would not expect to hear by a guy who has a career spanning more than three decades. After such a long time, rockstars tend to become bland and uninteresting, but Cave- he evolves and always tries new things. This is actually one of his best albums, and you must hear it. Find a friend who has it, or buy it. It’s worth the cash.

Mr. Cave, I hope that the goodbye at the end of the last song will not last a long time and we will hear from the Seeds as soon as possible.

Goodbye.