Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – “Wild God”

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds online.

Rating: 3 out of 4.

Like most artists I like, Nick Cave walks the thin line between sublime and silly. “Wild God” once again leans into Cave’s laziest tendencies as a poet who happens to be a rock star for people who don’t like rock music (or pretend that they don’t like rock ‘n’ roll). Yet at this point, it’s impossible for The Bad Seeds to sound bad. Most Nick Cave songs start too slow, so I like that “Wild God” gets right to the point and crescendos into a massive singalong that leans into Cave’s strengths as a secular preacher for music listeners like me who either 1) grew up religious or 2) don’t have the stomach to be religious yet wish to believe in some kind of faith or higher power. I’m assuming the new album will once again be six songs too long and be at moments gorgeous. Can’t wait.

-Brady Gerber

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