After a stint with the stylistically raucous and straight-forward project Grinderman, Nick Cave resumes his ever-changing and increasingly complex role with the Bad Seeds.
The evolution present on Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! manifests itself as a kind of warmth from Cave that has firmly outgrown the dominance of the dark and sorrowful themes which have defined his past. Those themes are by no means absent, but the delivery here is with less confrontation and more comfort. One needs look to no further than the first single for a perfect example. The hook-laden and infectively half-recited/half-sung parable “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” makes for an incredibly light-hearted and friendly song despite the literary lyrics.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is “Hold On To Yourself”, a more heady song that drifts along with dreamy despondence and harbors a claustrophobic and anguished tale that brings a familiar balance to the album.
The flawless delivery and perfect chemistry between Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is what makes Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! an impressive effort, but the elevation of creativity is what will mark this unique album as a solid classic in their catalog. Old fans will enthusiastically adore it and new fans will embrace it with open arms.
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