Push the Sky Away - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30

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  1. mekaindy
    Feb 19, 2013
    7
    By album 15 Nick Cave has developed a kind of reputation of releasing an album of him blowing his nose into a tissue and would still achieve an 8 out of 10. He deserves it in a sense, however this latest offering is good not great. Its poles apart from Dig! Lazarus! Dig! the guitars have been put away (almost) it is a quiet, smooth and beautifully crafted album as usual, lyrically astounding. However, the album left me wanting more.… Expand
  2. LavishSumDread
    Feb 19, 2013
    10
    Nick Cave has produced yet another masterpiece. Nick Launay's talents just seem to keep on stretching, the mix on the LP is both gallant and harrowing, lush and dismal. Cave's choruses are cathartic and massive, but the listener is trained to wait; one must follow him through a sparse atmosphere of seedy, jagged lyrics and instrumental minimalism to open a trove of spectacular melody and spirituality. Although we lost Mick Harvey, Warren Ellis' arrangements more than satiate in terms of terror and beauty. There's less humor here but the moments where choice snark rears its head can make for some explosive lyrical poignancy. And yes, we're only into the second month of 2013, but Push the Sky Away will be a very difficult record to top in terms of my favorite album of the year.… Expand
  3. strangerthan
    Feb 25, 2013
    10
    Tension driven, Endlessly evocative, and ultimately transcendent. Cave has delivered what could very well be his crowning achievment. The seeds have done one their finest performances yet, delivering a taught yet lush bed of loops and strings for which Cave to weave his brillaintly fractured poetry.
  4. BKM
    Feb 24, 2013
    8
    Nick Cave has delivered another typically fascinating, dark, poetic and cryptic album. There aren't as many killer cuts as there were on Dig!, Lazarus, Dig!, and not as much twisted humor either. But longtime fans as well as those who appreciate great music will find much to savor; even if its many wonders aren't immediately apparent.
  5. StrawberryBlond
    Mar 16, 2013
    5
    This is my first listen of a Nick Cave album and while I expected something poetic, I wasn't expecting something this deep and lyrical. Most of these lyrics are rather difficult to decipher, especially the songs Jubilee Street and Finishing Jubilee Street. For the most part, it seems to be a collection of random songs put together on an album with no clear message. There's obvious meanings, like the ominous Water's Edge aboutt young irresponsibility, the drunken ramblings of Higgs Boson Blues and the self-motivational Push The Sky Away. This song is truly the gem of the album and lulls you into a beautiful daydream listening to it. The album has a very dream-like quality throughout, actually. While I couldn't listen to it from beginning to end constantly and it's not the kind of album you can play as you potter about the house, certain songs are wonderful to listen to in isolation if you're in the right kind of mood.… Expand
  6. Etaipalombo
    Mar 24, 2013
    9
    Like a long prayer to god above, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds continue to warn us from technological acceleration, the loss of place orientation and all the problems of modern times. It's a great album with a bright narrative of the modern history (5 songs per artist blog)

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 44 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Magnet
    Mar 15, 2013
    70
    Though at times exquisite, the slow-burn even instrumental keel is, ironically, the most jarring aspect of Push The Sky Away. [No. 96, p.52]
  2. Filter
    Mar 14, 2013
    88
    While it’s likely that Push the Sky Away will not cause the seas to part before him, it will surely ephemerally deliver us from this evil wasteland of vacant contemporary culture and mutilated morality.
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  3. Austin Chronicle
    Mar 13, 2013
    67
    It all adds up to a challenging song cycle.
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