Great list! Personally, i'd put "Kicking against the pricks" and "your funeral my trial" a little bit higher (yes, kickins against the pricks is a "covers" record, but has some great songs like "muddy water"). Another thing that's interesting: i never cared much for "the boatman's call" - when it came out, i really hated it, i thought it was very mellow and boring. I've come to like it more, but i don't think is one of their best albums. In an interview, Mick Harvey told that Nick Cave wanted a certain mood for the record and insisted not to include the "rockier" songs recorded for the album sessions. That's a shame. If you drop some of the weaker songs (like "green eyes" or "there is a kingdom") and replace them with some great songs recorded on the same sessions ("come into my sleep" and "babe, i got you bad") you'd have a much more balanced record. Shame on you, Nick Cave :)
My ranking for what it's worth. I have a lot of history with Nick and have seen hime live more than any other artist. The first time I saw the Bad Seeds was around the release of Henry's Dream. That album used to be a lot higher on my list but has dropped quite a bit. It doesn't matter which order I put the albums rated 4 upwards, I can swap them around depending on the day. Seeing him for the Carnage tour lifted my opinion of Ghosteen quite a lot even if some of the synth pads can be a bit questionable on the album. the material is much better live. I think Murder Ballads is a bit overrated due to the limitations of the theme but still great. I'm probably the only person who doesn't like the song Henry Lee very much. No more shall we part is a bit long but there are so many great songs on it. Jangling Jack does kill the mood of LLI for me and doesn't belong on the record - a B side at best - hence it's lower than usual placing. I have a strong sentimental liking for The Good Son as it I came in aroung the release of Tender Prey and these were exiting times for me musically. The Good Son was a surprising softening of the Band's approach but welcome nonetheless. Nocturama (2003)(2.5) Kicking Against the Pricks (1986)(3) Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)(3.5) From Her to Eternity (1984)(4) Your Funeral... My Trial (1986)(4) Henry's Dream (1992)(4) Murder Ballads (1996)(4) The Firstborn Is Dead (1985)(4) Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)(4.5) The Good Son (1990)(4.5) Let Love In (1994)(4.5) Tender Prey (1988)(4.5) The Boatman's Call (1997)(4.5) Ghosteen (2019) (4.5) No More Shall We Part (2001) (4.5) Skeleton Tree (2016)(5) Push the Sky Away (2013)(5) Your ranking is well considered even though it is quite different to mine as it stands today.
@@riffreverence thanks. I enjoyed your Swans video too but have not heard one or two so could not make a list. I would probably put Leaving Meaning and The Beggar a lot higher but agree with your top 5 more or less.
@@johnwilliams4658 thanks, man. I got to appreciate those two albums a lot more now. I think I had leaving meaning at 3.5 and Beggar at 4, which is still great.
