Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Kicking Against The Pricks

Kicking Against The Pricks is the third studio album by Australian rock band Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, originally released in August 1986 via Mute Records.

Kicking Against The Pricks is an astonishingly good all-covers album. The selection of songs is quite impressive, ranging from old standards like "Long Black Veil" to everything from John Lee Hooker's "I'm Gonna Kill That Woman" and Gene Pitney's pop aria "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart".

Matching the range of material, the Seeds are able to conjure up haunting, winsome atmospheres ("Sleeping Annaleah") as much as higher-volume takes (Roy Orbison's "Running Scared", the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties").

Often holding everything back is the key, as the creepout build of "Hey Joe" demonstrates. Even more striking is how Cave's own vocals rebut the charges that all he ever does is overdramatize everything he sings - consider the husky, purring delivery on Johnny Cash's "The Singer". Other winners include a masterful version of Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and the stately, album-closing "The Carnival Is Over", originally a mid-'60s hit for the Seekers.

In a sense what Cave attempted with Kicking Against The Pricks was to push themselves out of their comfort zone, have a good time while maintaining real conviction in delivery.

Check out the tracks: “The Singer”; “Muddy Water” and “Sleeping Annaleah”.

This LP was pressed in Europe with Remastered Audio on 180 Gram Heavyweight Vinyl, reproduced artwork and digital download.