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Push the Sky Away Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: The 15th release for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was produced by Nick Launay and is its first without Mick Harvey, who left in 2009.

Top Track

Jubilee Street
On Jubilee street there was a girl named Bee She had a history, but she had no past When they shut her down the Russians moved in And I am too... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 46
  2. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Feb 20, 2013
    100
    The peak of Cave's 15th album with the Bad Seeds is a multidimensional walkabout through sonic shadows and fog. [22 Feb 2013, p.74]
  2. Feb 14, 2013
    90
    Even with all of this depth, Push The Sky Away finds Cave doing more with less lyrically.
  3. 90
    The absurdity and terror that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have so often courted aren’t absent on Push The Sky Away. They’re just muted, and rendered all the more seductive via lush arrangements and Cave’s crooning baritone.
  4. Feb 14, 2013
    80
    There aren't the guitar storms of a Mercy Seat or Do You Love Me? but Jubilee Street--a beguiling tale of brothels and hypocrisy--could quietly become another Seeds classic.
  5. Feb 19, 2013
    80
    This is a very good record indeed, just not the record the more hidebound Cave lifer would instantly press to their breast.
  6. Feb 19, 2013
    75
    Lovely strings, flute and backing vocals occasionally shed some light, but mostly this is Cave playing it slow, hushed and haunted.
  7. Q Magazine
    Feb 11, 2013
    60
    Words are what sustain Push The Sky Away. [Mar 2013, p.97]

See all 46 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Feb 25, 2013
    10
    Tension driven, Endlessly evocative, and ultimately transcendent. Cave has delivered what could very well be his crowning achievment. TheTension 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. Collapse
  2. 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 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
  3. 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 ourWhile 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
  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 onNick 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. Expand
  5. 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“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
  6. 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 achieveBy 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
  7. 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. MostThis 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

See all 8 User Reviews