Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - The Abattoir Blues Tour [2006]

Customer Reviews:

No further explanation needed.......2007-04-08

It is said that Nick Cave and The The Bad Seeds are the finest rock band 'known to humanity' either live or in the studio. Well whether you agree with this or not there is no denying the creativity and musicianship of the pairing and for those who sense that there is something unique and satisfying there but can't quite get at it this DVD will leave them requiring no further explanation. Everything that anyone ever eulogised about (and that is quite a lot) is here in abundance.

I have never seen the band live (you need to be quick to secure tickets to their concerts) and was intrigued to find that songs that don't quite work on some of the albums are actually designed for and transformed by the marvellous subtleties of the live performance. This is something that I had not expected and will be a rewarding component for anyone who also has has yet to see the band perform.

There is a unique relationaship at work between Cave and the Bad Seeds and this film unobtrusively and expertly captures something of the essence of that. However perhaps there is room for a more 'Last Waltz' approach on the next one, if Cave like Dylan has to remain an enigma the voices of those who are the other key components of the partnership would be worth hearing.

They've Still Got It!.......2007-03-25

Was very excited to to the announcement of this, as the AB/LoO gigs were some of the best live work by these guys in a while. I was at the Brixton gig, and Cave was electric, stalking the stage like a man half his age. It's a shame there's not more from that gig (which they did in two halves: all new material the first, all classics the second), but I'm glad Stagger Lee made it on there. That performance has stuck with me for the last 2 1/2 years!

As said before, the second DVD isn't quite as good as the first, but is still excellent viewing, and the production on the CDs is first rate.

I'm guessing you're not going to be buying this if you're not a Seeds fan anyway, but if you are, I would class this a must-have.

Super-doper Seeds.......2007-02-16

An excellent live DVD let down by the omission of O Children (available on the CD but not the DVD).

Just as a note the majority of the Bad Seeds seem to have given up smoking!

Don't let you kids listen to Stagger Lee (a nasty story, in the best way, with nasty lyrics!)

live cave and seeds in abundance.......2007-02-07

Here it is at last, the much-anticipated live abattoir blues tour dvd set.Taken from one show in London, the disc is beautifully shot and sounds superb, although it's best to make use of the range of audio options.This is a masterclass in how to film a live band, with plenty of varied camera angles and positions, without ever distracting from the performance and music.Oh yes...the music...simply, the 10 A.B/L.O.O songs sound fresh and sharp, with the only slight lull being Lyre of Orpheus itself. This seems to jerk and clunk along to no particular purpose,but lowpoints here are strictly relative. 4 older songs finish the disc, with 'Staggerlee' and 'Red right Hand' in particular serving to remind the viewer of the intensity and depth of Cave's singular vision.There's more understanding of elemental rock, blues,country and soul in this one disc than in most long careers. The Hammersmith dvd pales,literally, in comparison and offers a more muted pallette. 'Bring it on'and 'Nobody's baby now' may be the choice cuts. Performances are fine , from the same Bad Seeds line-up but for the full force Cave extravaganza, disc one is hard to follow.
5 recent videos accompany the Hammersmith film, along with the 'Bring it on' shoot by Mick Harvey and an A.B/L.O.O short film. This latter is actually TOO short,as Cave and The Seeds are generally witty, literate and interesting to listen to and watch- even when talking about their own music.
2 live cd's round out the 'limited'box set. These are good quality compilations from shows across Europe. A few old favourites creep in [always good to hear Deanna],although there is some duplication of tracks from the dvds. A minor quibble- what happened to Abattoir Blues itself and Cannibal's Hymn?
Other than that, this is formidable evidence of maybe the finest live band around today. Sound, vision and packaging all bear the signs of careful attention to detail. Highly recommended

Tracks:

Call Me When You Get This
Trouble Sleeping
Breathless
Enchantment
Till It Happens To You
Since I've Been Loving You
Like A Star
Put Your Records On
Butterfly
I'd Like To
Chouz Pastry Heart
Seasons Change
Documentary
Put Your Records On
Trouble Sleeping
Like A Star
I'd Like To

Tracks:

Call Me When You Get This
Trouble Sleeping (1)
Breathless
Enchantment
Till It Happens To You
Since I've Been Loving You
Like A Star
Put Your Records On
Butterfly
I'd Like To
Choux Pastry Heart
Seasons Change

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