I started writing this review on Saturday, the day after the albums release, and it is only today (Monday) that I feel I can actually write something meaningful and in depth. Music is inevitably created as an art form that makes you feel, and this album definitely does make you feel. Since listening, I have felt incredibly attached, and I have felt emotion beyond believe. I don't really know whether this is because of the love I have for Nick and the personal connection this album creates or because of the cavernous nature of the album. All I really know is that I have had an incredibly tough time finding the words to write this post, to the point were tears have been falling on my keyboard.


I honestly thought that no Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album could ever top 'A Boatman's Call' but since the release of 'Skeleton Tree' on September 9th my mind is in a different world entirely. I couldn't quite pin point what it is about this album that brings so much life especially in light of such grievance, but then I realised that through the darkness, the mourning and the despair, Nick is still living; he is living in his family, and in his band. His whole word has changed, his music has changed, and I can't help but think that this album will catch us changing with him.

Sometimes, an albums personal meaning can be so intense that it throws the listeners field of vision right out of sync - Skeleton Tree is that album. The Bad Seed’s 16^th studio album comes shortly after the death of Nick’s son, who tragically died last summer, and is simply a masterpiece of love and destruction. Powerful, energetic, emotional, harrowing yet beautifully steady, each track is so fragile and sombre that they continue to remain extremely difficult to listen to, but even harder to turn off. 


"Let us go now, my darling companion/ set out for the distant sky's/ see the sun, see it rising/ see it rising, rising in your eyes" - Distant Sky

Unsurprisingly, we are introduced to a very dark album which allows us to delve into Cave's feelings, and connect with him personally through his journey into a new world, a world of loss and never forgetting. And for those who were lucky enough to watch the albums feature film 'One More Time With Feeling', it is evident that this is the connection Cave wants to develop with his audience as he documents his bereavement.

Carrying on from my last post, in second place, but not really because this is a fucking massive favourite too... its The Clash!

2/3: Stay Free, The Clash - Give Em' Enough Rope

I think this track speaks a lot for itself. Taking it even further back, all the way to 1978, I am starting to actually believe that I am definitely born in the wrong era, but at least I'm 23 and have fucking good music taste, right?

So for me, The Clash are that band that begun it all. I know we had The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, but The Clash introduced something much more special; they were part of the original wave of punk. They were the beginning of a musical serge that influenced a flock of young kids to pick up their guitars and start making music. One of those bands were the Manic Street Preachers.


The 70's was a time of economic austerity, global capitalism and political incorrectness, with the nation lacking in ambition and no interests in the political state. To many, it was noted that the anger wasn't there, as the nation continued to watch their lives reluctantly being controlled by the higher authority. This was until the punk movement, the movement that reconciled everybody regardless of gender, skin colour or age.

When the band signed to CBS to create their 2nd album in 78, with a much better production team behind them, it was obvious the band were going places; especially given that the ever famous London Calling album was to be released the year after. Give Em' Enough Rope jolted the nation in many of ways, with some fans actually complaining that the audio was too clean cut and although the record doesn't quite imitate the same intense energy as The Clash's third album London Calling, it does have a big forceful sound that is nearly as powerful.


Stay Free, track 8, dominates the second half of the LP and it blows me away every time I hear the intro. Written by Mick Jones, it gives a very different perspective to The Clash with its poignant lyrics and Jones' very affecting lead vocals which make you feel happy despite what the lyrics say. And not forgetting those clash guitar moments either.

I will never forget the first time I heard the lyrics 'Go Easy, Step Lightly, Stay Free', those simple lyrics that have somewhat become my life motto.

Yesterday, we were all crazed to hear that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are about to return, bringing with them not only a new album but also a new feature film to accompany it. 'Skeleton Tree', the album, is out for release on the 9th September, with the feature film 'One More Time With Feeling' being shown at cinemas nationwide for one night only on the 8th September.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

The news of the bands return has been lingering for a while now, with many fans anticipating what to expect. I was among the unsure fans, as I felt that due to recent events this could take a very, very emotional turn. But, it's Nick Cave, and he uses his memories, happy or sad, and he turns them into music, not just plain music, but actual music that breaks your heart one minute, then mends it the next. He's a lyrical genius. His creative way with words somehow connects with you on a mental and emotional level, almost as if he knows your entire life story, as if you have sat with him and told him all of your feelings.

And right now, upon reflection of the massive life changing experience Nick has just been through, we feel his pain and his sorrow; which will undoubtedly be visible throughout the feature film and heard throughout the album.




The trailer was released last night (2nd August 2016) and for the first time since the death of his eldest son, who died after falling from a cliff in Brighton last July, we are introduced to Nick and his feelings. Somber, but emotionally engaging it is expected to be an exploration of the frontmans grief. And if there is one thing I do know it is that his speech certainly left us all knowing that this is going to be an extremely fragile experience for us all.

It's taken me weeks to write this post... maybe I was just too shocked and shaken by the whole experience I completely forgot to tell you all about - I met The Stone Roses!


Ian (Brown) - I like to just say Ian because it sounds more like I know him personally which I do now of course- was stood outside my flat and I have never ran so fast in all my life. I looked like a right nutter as I turned up with no shoes on shaking a phone in his face. At first I only saw the back of his head so I would have felt like a right idiot if it'd not been him but lucky for me it was and he was amazing! Ian and bassist Mani where both what I can only describe as real musicians who showed me that they are really there for their fans after he waited for me to nip back to my flat to grab my vinyl for him to sign. I was shaking so badly I couldn’t believe this was happening, Ian even asked me if I was okay in which I told him this was the greatest moment of my life.

I couldn't resist asking him whether he saw my tweet and to my surprise he said " Yeah, it was you that let the cat out of the bag". As you can imagine I giggled and wanted to cry at the thought of Ian recognising me. And honestly when I got back to my flat I did cry... a lot (whilst staring at my signed photo and record).






I am absolutely gobsmacked at how much this story blew up! Since announcing to the world via Twitter that they were recording my phone has turned into a hotline with people constantly emailing me wanting the inside story. I got to say though being the first person to be told by Ian himself that the band recording new material is insane. With the band being so notoriously secretive it gave me great pleasure to get the word out first, I mean come on... this will go down in the history books, right?

Eager to hear their new material I am counting down the days until I go watch them live at Etihad Stadium in June. I've got a funny feeling that this gig will be one to always remember but until then I'll give their record a spin, stare at their autographs and pray for another meet and greet in the future.