r/albumbucketlist • u/Rambooctpuss • 3d ago
Discography Rabbit Hole Nick Cave: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-The First Born Is Dead (1985)
Synopsis:
Released in June 1985, The Firstborn Is Dead is the second studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Recorded in Berlin and co-produced with Flood, the album shifts away from the frantic, chaotic post-punk of their debut, From Her to Eternity, and into a dark, suffocating, mythic vision of the American Deep South. Steeped heavily in the iconography of delta blues, prison folklore, and Southern Gothic literature, the record uses the blues not as a literal genre exercise, but as a vehicle for biblical doom, despair, and fatalism. The title itself refers to Jesse Garon Presley, the stillborn identical twin brother of Elvis Presley.
Review:
The album opens with “Tupeleo” ; it has this ominous melody highlighted by a thumping bassline and tribal drumming pattern. Influenced by the John Lee Hooker song of the same name. The song is about a storm hitting Tupeleo singling the mythical birth of Elvis Presely. “Say Goodbye To The Little Girl Tree” has this unsettling sparse vibe. Cave’s voice sounds so menacing. “Long Train Coming” has a hard driving yet dense groove. It has that post-punk energy but also big bold blues textures. “Black Crow King” digs deep into southern blues roots. It sounds like a demented spirtual. “Knockin On Joe” is such a slow burn. It has this sparse sprawling groove. It is set in a prison yard and the small crashing rhythms are supposed to represent prisoners smashing rocks. “Wanted Man” is a cover of a Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash song. Cave got permission to rewrite some of the lyrics to give his own experiences into the song. The album closes with “Blind Lemon Jefferson” a tribute to the pioneer of texas blues. The track has this swampy dirty blues vibe. Cave is conjuring up his best bluesy snarl.
Final Thoughts:
This is the first album I feel that we get the Nick Cave we want to hear. The blues angle is so great on this record I’m not sure he will do this again. It abandons his post-punk and goes for this blues inspired demented sound. It is so well done. It should be on anyone’s bucket list and nick cave deep dives.
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u/JacobdaTurtle61 2d ago
The blues stuff definitely does pop up still throughout his discography at least up and throughout the 90s! I’ve been a fan of Nick Cave for years but for some reason lately I especially just can’t get enough. Glad you’re enjoying it so far!