Push the Sky Away
by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56

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  1. 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 andNick 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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, lyricallyBy 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
  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 obviousThis 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)
  7. Neilluj
    Mar 11, 2015
    8
    “The tree don't care what the little bird singsWe go down with the dew in the morning lightThe tree don't know what the little bird bringsWe go down with the dew in the morning” Les premières paroles de l’album Push the Sky away reflètent bien la renaissance de l’auteur compositeur interprète Nick Cave. Son groupe the Bad Seed œuvre depuis 1983 ayant le talent comme unique alternative.“The tree don't care what the little bird singsWe go down with the dew in the morning lightThe tree don't know what the little bird bringsWe go down with the dew in the morning” Les premières paroles de l’album Push the Sky away reflètent bien la renaissance de l’auteur compositeur interprète Nick Cave. Son groupe the Bad Seed œuvre depuis 1983 ayant le talent comme unique alternative. Quinze albums plus tard, la musique de Cave est toujours teintée de son éternel fascination pour la chanson. Des textes qui sont revendicateurs, amoureux, déprimants, optimistes, religieux, rêveurs (…) Le culte que voue Nick Cave à la poésie ainsi qu’à l’arrangement textuel de ses pièces forment un album distinct et, dans le genre, particulièrement efficace. Les compositions de Cave sont authentiques et présentent plusieurs dérivés de sa vision excentrique. Somme toute, c’est un album folk-rock assez ambitieux. De grands arrangements de cordes agencés aux rythmes de guitares simplistes laissent un maximum de place pour la voix grave et monotone de Nick Cave. Alors que la plupart des groupes rock s’avèrent éphémères, Nick Cave et son groupe continuent de produire du matériel original ancré sur les mêmes bases artistiques. Il ne s’agit plus de prendre des risques. Il est ici question de la continuité d’une légende vivante.… Expand
  8. Borwaka
    Apr 26, 2015
    9
    While Push the Sky Away is a change of pace, it is a welcomed one. Nick Cave's lyrics are introspective and eloquent, with references to our modern world. The pace is slowed down; the sound is softer and cathartic. Jubilee Street is the crowning jewel of this album, simply because of its evocative riffs and illustrative lyrics that build up into tremendous intensity. All tracks hold aWhile Push the Sky Away is a change of pace, it is a welcomed one. Nick Cave's lyrics are introspective and eloquent, with references to our modern world. The pace is slowed down; the sound is softer and cathartic. Jubilee Street is the crowning jewel of this album, simply because of its evocative riffs and illustrative lyrics that build up into tremendous intensity. All tracks hold a soothing and sombre tone. Instrumentally, the album is superb; at times the lyrics do fall short and feel somewhat unrevised.

    All in all, this still remains one of my favorites mainly because of the mood it conveys.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 6, 2013
    90
    Not only have the Bad Seeds delivered another healthy baby, but perhaps the most gracefully beautiful of the whole brood. [Mar 2013, p.98]
  2. Record Collector
    Jun 4, 2013
    80
    Across the album as a whole he works towards a sort of mid-world territory, between air and water, dream and reality.
    Read full review
  3. 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]
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