Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Murder Ballads

Murder Ballads, the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is a gruesome, blood-splattered reimagining of English ballads, American folk and blues music, and classic literature. It earned the band their first Parental Advisory warning label and brought them their biggest critical and commercial success. Santi Elijah Holley investigates the stories behind the songs and the numerous ways these ballads have been interpreted through the years.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 144 pages
\n Publication date: 12 November 2020
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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In a seedy bar called The Bucket of Blood, a man embarks on a violent rampage, shooting the bartender four times in the head. This gruesome act takes place in the small town of Millhaven, where a teenage girl, driven by an insatiable thirst for blood, secretly and gleefully commits murder. Meanwhile, a serial killer roams the streets, leaving a trail of blood and terror in his wake. Murder Ballads, the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is a chilling and blood-soaked reimagining of English ballads, American folk and blues music, and classic literature.

These macabre tales have been told countless times, but never before have they been presented in such graphic and profane detail. Despite earning the band their first Parental Advisory warning label, Murder Ballads, released in 1996, propelled Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to their biggest critical and commercial success. The album's award-winning single, "Where the Wild Roses Grow," an unlikely duet with Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, played a significant role in this triumph.

In his comprehensive analysis, Santi Elijah Holley delves into the stories behind each of the ten songs on the album, exploring the various interpretations these ballads have undergone over the years. Murder Ballads serves as a captivating journey through the evolution of folk music, while also shedding light on the dark and sinister aspects of American history. It is a testament to the enduring power of music to evoke emotions and provoke thought, even in the most unsettling of contexts.

\n Weight: 140g\n
Dimension: 122 x 164 x 11 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781501355141\n \n