Ghosteen
by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
  • Record Label: Ghosteen
  • Release Date: Oct 4, 2019
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 284 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 245 out of 284
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 284
  3. Negative: 20 out of 284
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  1. CMRuppert
    Oct 25, 2019
    6
    The music since Push the Sky Away has become more and more eclectic, electronic, and ambience, this is not to say bad, but its become more of a Cave & Ellis project than a Bad Seeds one. This album is a perfect example of that. As an album it is consistent and beautiful, but it's no longer rock and roll. As always, Cave's lyrics are penetrating, expressive, and from the soul. ButThe music since Push the Sky Away has become more and more eclectic, electronic, and ambience, this is not to say bad, but its become more of a Cave & Ellis project than a Bad Seeds one. This album is a perfect example of that. As an album it is consistent and beautiful, but it's no longer rock and roll. As always, Cave's lyrics are penetrating, expressive, and from the soul. But musically, it's more of an accompnying track to spoken word poetry than a Bad Seeds album. I miss Harvey and Blixa, even if it is good, strong art.… Expand
  2. JaneMetascore
    Dec 18, 2019
    4
    The further time passes on the more Nick Cave seems regrettable, like a has been. This album's ambiance lacks the same greatness as indie icons, or classic rock stars of other ilk, and is that bad, like something completely mediocre. When sounds change here it's a little like that surf sound, rockabilly, or Floyd, or some kind of pulsing chug-a-lug behind the piano, yet it's not very good,The further time passes on the more Nick Cave seems regrettable, like a has been. This album's ambiance lacks the same greatness as indie icons, or classic rock stars of other ilk, and is that bad, like something completely mediocre. When sounds change here it's a little like that surf sound, rockabilly, or Floyd, or some kind of pulsing chug-a-lug behind the piano, yet it's not very good, especially live, where it falls flat. This album is bad for meditation since Nick Cave is so terrible.… Expand
  3. strangerthan
    Nov 24, 2019
    5
    Masterpiece. An important record for anyone whose lost someone. Achingly beautiful and devastating. An album for the ages.
  4. musicreviews7
    Dec 26, 2019
    6
    Given the circumstances around this album, you're sympathizing with Nick Cave before you've even heard the first tune. The critics has praised this album. And it is indeed a beautiful rendition of songs. They are deep, emotional, thoughtful, harmonic but most of all: boring. I tried my best to ignore that fact as far as I could, but in the end of the day you have to be honest. It's veryGiven the circumstances around this album, you're sympathizing with Nick Cave before you've even heard the first tune. The critics has praised this album. And it is indeed a beautiful rendition of songs. They are deep, emotional, thoughtful, harmonic but most of all: boring. I tried my best to ignore that fact as far as I could, but in the end of the day you have to be honest. It's very good, but also very boring. 6/10.… Expand
  5. Zwalraven
    Feb 1, 2020
    5
    I hate to have to write this, but every album past Dig Lazarus Dig!! has gotten further
    and further away from narrative song writing. Telling story's is what Nick
    Cave did so well. Now it is all loose poetics over loops. I'm not saying I hate it, it's just not rock n roll anymore. It's not the Bad Seeds I know, it's Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. It's a bit pretentious and kinda boring.    I hate to have to write this, but every album past Dig Lazarus Dig!! has gotten further
    and further away from narrative song writing. Telling story's is what Nick
    Cave did so well. Now it is all loose poetics over loops. I'm not saying I hate it,
    it's just not rock n roll anymore. It's not the Bad Seeds I know, it's Nick
    Cave and Warren Ellis. It's a bit pretentious and kinda boring. The whole
    album has the same texture and it's just been getting worse per album for
    the last three. Mick Harvey said he left band because he didn't like the
    direction things were going creatively. He made the right choice, Mick Harvey was
    always there to rain Nick in when he went too far out. That doesn't happen
    anymore. Mick Harvey was a huge part of this band and he got traded in
    for Warren and guitar, piano and chord structure are far better than
    loops and soft piano. Hopefully they bring back Grinderman at some point and we will get Bad Seeds tunes again instead of this stuff they are putting out now. Stagger Lee is laughing at what manner he would use to snuff these songs out.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2019
30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. The Wire
    Nov 20, 2019
    80
    Unsurprisingly the mood is melancholy and the louche, theatrical sexuality or carnal drama of earlier albums is replaced by a battered and searching tone, striving to make sense, or failing that, some poetry or beauty out of the tragedy. The narratives take on a less devilish tone here. [Nov 2019, p.46]
  2. Record Collector
    Nov 13, 2019
    100
    It can only tower when it comes to naming this decade’s great albums; miles above and light years ahead of anything else.
    Read full review
  3. Classic Rock Magazine
    Nov 13, 2019
    90
    A richly imagined widescreen masterpiece that grows deeper and more emotive with each listen, Ghosteen may well prove to be the most ambitious, achingly beautiful, boldly experimental album of cave's career. [Dec 2019, p.83]
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