B-Sides & Rarities

Usually, when a record label released a boxed set, I expect -when it comes to an artist I revere- to spend a large amount of money for those few songs that were unreleased or belonging to EPs I did not buy. In general, I am resigned to the fact that the rarities and occasional collaborations will be few and varying in quality, And I if buy these collections is due to my heart being hostage to my passion for having the complete works of someone I respect.This could not be farther from the truth, when it comes to this collection. The material selected throughout this 3CD set -by the band's Mick Harvey, by the way- finds Cave and his esteemed Bad Seeds show a wealth of great songs. The quality of what's goes from very good and interesting to superb. Actually, some of these songs are inexplicable exclusions from his albums, given their depth and beauty.On Disc 1, you get a thorough sample of Cave's fiercer output, when a certain "literate Punk" spirit reigned over the Bad Seeds' material. Selections like "The Moon Is In The Gutter," "Rye Whiskey" -which sways like you might, if you ever drank the stuff- or "The Girl At The Bottom Of My Glass, are great examples of such period.In addition, there are some rare beauties like the stunning acoustic version of "The Mercy Seat," the tender melody of "The Train Song," the somber "Blue Bird." Also noteworthy are his version of Neil Young's "Helpless" and "Cassiel's Song" from the movie "Faraway, So Close."Disc 2, in my opinion, is dominated by the mood, if not the songs, from Cave's "Murder Ballads" period, in which the acoustic rendition of "Jack The Ripper," the raucous multi-part "O'Malley's Bar," and "The Willow Garden" and the gorgeous "Where The Wild Roses Grow" with the original guide vocals by Herr Bargeld.And then comes, to my taste, the best of the three CDs which is infused of Cave's most recent material, ranging from the "The Boatman's Call"s atmosphere of "Little Empty Boat," "Right Now I'm A-Roaming," and the band version of "Black Hair," to the moving outtake of "Sheep May Safely Grace," anticipating the hymn-like ballads of No More Shall We Part."Speaking of this last mentioned album, if you've been moved by the work contained in it as much as I have, you are in for an abundance of gems. Both, "Grief Came Riding" and "Bless His Ever Loving Heart," are Cave's poetry and melodies at their dramatic peak ("where beauty lies exhausted on the streets").The great songs don't end there, with Nocturama being represented through the B-sides of several singles. Actually, if you already like Cave's most recent album, you may be further enthralled with it when listening to these songs. "Shoot Me Down" is stunning, and "Everything Must Converge" is the band at their most hopeful, a call to hope that has always been part of Cave's vision side by side with his dark denunciations.All in all this is superb collection of songs that, to many, weren't known nor recognized. It is a tribute to a great band that three CDs worth of more obscure material can hold such depth of graces.Whether you are a faithful worshipper already or a curious beginner, this collection is an excellent retrospective of an artist who has written some of the most remarkable material recorded over the last twenty years.Cave's name does not only deserve to be mentioned along Tom Waits, or even Leonard Cohen -both obvious musical comparisons- but also it must be included in any list you may compile of those singer-songwriters whose music may shape your life.I can't imagine any other future releases this year that can surpass this one, for reissue of the year.

...and the only thing that keeps this collection from being perfect is the exclusion of a few songs that ought to (in my opinion) have been included. Where is Cave's awesome cover of "Mack the Knife"? How about "Let It Be" and "Here Comes the Sun"? I also greatly miss "To Be By Your Side," a song Cave did for a French movie (which is titled something like "Le Pueple Migrateur," but please don't quote me on that). I also really wish the piano songs from "Secret Life of the Love Song" were included, since that disc is one big long track, and you can't directly access the songs.Ah, but those are just carps, really. What's here is great ... and there are THREE discs of it!Disc One begins with an awesome acoustic version of "Deanna." I think my favorite song on this disc is "Rye Whiskey," a Cave arrangement of a traditional song, but there are several standouts, such as "God's Hotel," "(I'll Love You) Till the End of the World," and "What Can I Give You?"Disc Two has Cave doing a cover of "What a Wonderful World," and while that's an idea that threatens -- in theory -- to tip over into ridiculousness, it's actually quite good; not sufficient to make me (or anyone else) forget Louis Armstrong, but fine in its own right. If you ever wanted to hear Nick doing country music, check out "there's No Night Out in the Jail"; you won;t regret it. The two classics on this disc, though, are "The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane" (which is as good a b-side as any I've ever heard) and "Time Jesum Transuentum et Non Revertentum," a marvelously gloomy song that originally appeared as a hidden track on an X-Files-inspired compilaion.The third disc is easily the best, representing the last four of Cave's albums, three of which are what I would call his best three. And the b-sides aren't much less good, which means that this one disc is better than most bands' greatest hits collections would be. "Little Empty Boat," "Opium Tea," "Grief Came Riding," "Good Good Day," "Everything Must Converge," "She's Leaving You" ... these are all classics. There's not a bum track on the disc, though.Needless to say, if you're a Cave fan, you HAVE to own this. But if you're not, give this collection a shot, and you may well become a fan.

Enjoyed most of this,not all in equal measure,but well worth investigating for any fan,or even the curious,for that matter.Update.I enjoyed ALL of it,after further listening,I'm a huge fan of Nick Cave,and if Leonard Cohen and Jim Morrison ever had a son,it would be he,As dark as night,as bleak as the Pole,there's no one quite like this making music today,and this is a great way to find all those odd numbers that may have escaped you beforehand.Five stars for the music,packaging,price,everything is of top quality,and a great collection to have.It's on repeat,and will remain there.

Always liked Mr Cave and his pop combo, something about his works always seemed to touch a nerve so bought the Lovely creatures compilation of his "best tunes" and then this B-sides & Rarities advert started popping up on my account so I thought bloody cheap for 3 CDs and bought it . "Lovely Creatures" is a wonderful selection of his better known works but, good God. this "B-sides and Rarities" is just incredible. Brilliantly chosen playlist that presents almost easy listening side by side with pure N.C. edge. Cannot fault this - one of my best music buys.

Long-term Cave-associate Mick Harvey is behind this long-anticipated three-disc compilation of the Bad Seeds less documented moments - taking in b-sides, out-takes, the odd lost-single, cover-versions & alternate-takes of songs that are familiar. These discs are packed- which more than compensates from the minimal artwork (no booklet, pics or anything beyond the source of each track). Far too many tracks to go into, but I'll offer up some personal highlights of this compilation...Volume I opens a few years into The Bad Seeds, with acoustic-versions of 'Tender Prey' tracks which featured in Uli Edel's documentary 'The Road to God Knows Where' (& were given away in a limited edition single with 'The Good Son')'The Mercy Seat' is always great, but the version of 'Deanna' - put into a medley with gospel-standard 'Oh Happy Day' - really stands out here. A few of the early-b-sides are a bit formless (but kind of interesting...)- 'The Moon is in the Gutter' belongs to that strange-period where Cave played in a loose-outfit with Marc Almond and J.G. Thirwell (The Immaculate Consumptives); while 'The Six Strings That Drew Blood' is a re-worked version of a Birthday Party-out-take from 'The Mutiny Sessions.' There are further BP-connections with the appearance of their late, mythic bassist Tracy Pew on covers of 'Running Scared' & 'Rye Whiskey.' Things get stronger as the disc progresses- the excellent 'Train Song', a faithful rendition of CSN&Y's 'Helpless', 'God's Hotel' (which I never knew before this) & the amusing cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Tower of Song' - which is edited down from a drunken-generic exercise by The Bad Seeds! The two highlights of this disc remain songs from two average Wim Wenders films- the gorgeous '(I'll Love You) Till the End of the World'- which is easily up there with Tom Waits & was reportedly a fave of crime-writer James Ellroy- & 'Cassiel's Song', which comes from 'Faraway, So Close!' & reunites Cave & Harvey with former Bad Seed Barry Adamson (Cave would later collaborate on the brilliant 'The Sweetest Embrace' on Adamson's 'Oedipus Schmoedipus')...The second-disc opens with a lost-single, a cover of 'What a Wonderful World' which features Shane MacGowan - co-singing Louis Armstrong's chestnut and singing Cave's 'Lucy' alone (as Cave tackles The Pogues classic 'A Rainy Night in Soho') There's a superior "acoustic" take of 'Jack the Ripper' from 'Henry's Dream' & an epic-take of 'Red Right Hand' intended for the awful 'Scream 3' (which comes after a Dirty Three collaboration from the X-Files album). The version of 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' (Blixa plays Kylie) is more of a curio & the alternate-takes of 'O'Malley's Bar' more for fans of Mark Radcliffe! There are a few lost-murder-ballads (Knoxville Girl, The Willow Garden) & the improvised 'That's What Jazz is to Me' (still one to skip...)- another highlight is the gorgeous 'Sail Away'- how didn't this make 'Let Love In'??? Easily up there with 'Nobody's Baby Now' or 'Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore'...The third-disc is probably the strongest- covering the period when Cave conquered his demons & offered up several classic-albums in rapid-succession: 'The Boatman's Call', 'No More Shall We Part', 'Nocturama', 'Abbatoir Blues' & 'The Lyre of Orpheus.' These tracks are all easily on a par with anything there- highlights include 'She's Leaving You' (the flipside of 'Nature Boy'), 'Swing Low' (the flipside of 'Bring It On' & features the Blockheads), 'Grief Came Riding' (a 'No More..' out-take that features the McGarrigle sisters), a band-version of 'Black Hair' & the recent b-side 'Under This Moon.''B-Sides and Rarities' is great value, packed with alternate joys from The Bad Seeds career - a more expansive alternative to the best of a few years ago. I suppose the next job for Mick Harvey is compiling a box-set of live-performances!!!! One of the compilations of the year, without a doubt...

Good collection of rare b side from Nick Cave. thank for for fast service.

Are what many other bands and artists would call a pretty good career , fans of the great man will just love treat after treat of b-sides and stuff rescued from cutting floor and expensive obscurities. He really is something special.