Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree

nick cave and the bad seeds skeleton tree album coverI don’t really do album reviews anymore, but I feel like saying something about this one. To me it’s whole unto itself and I’m not even sure I should be able to hear it. I waited til today to listen to it cause I knew what I was in for.

Music gets pretty abused in the process of selling it but something this personal and honest doesn’t deserve that. It shouldn’t be made to work the streets, if you follow my meaning. Advertising campaigns and vanity and logos and marketing strategies are all inappropriate for this one. Hipsters will be idiots for appropriating this album’s credibility to pad their depth on social media. This isn’t Spotify music. Commercials peppered throughout its running order would be offensive. Its pieces shouldn’t get inserted into your shuffle. I don’t get sanctimonious about too much these days but really: if you aren’t a mess when Else Torp comes and cracks the curtains on “Distant Sky” you’re not paying close enough attention.

I’ve heard a lot of music in my life – maybe too much – but I’ve never heard a record quite like this one. It definitely deserves some reverence. Certainly, it doesn’t deserve ironic detachment. Please don’t take a selfie with it. There’s my 2¢. I’m sure there’s plenty to disagree with.

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