Nick Cave and Sean O' Hagan Book Review "Faith,Hope, and Carnage""

Having recently seen Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds live in Manchester, I thought it would be worth reading "Faith, Hope, and Carnage", a book co-written by Nick Cave and journalist Sean O’Hagan, and I'm glad I did. This book is an absolute blueprint of what all future rock journalism should look like. This isn't just a Rock n Roll interview book, it's a profound exploration of life, faith, grief, and creativity. The book takes the form of an extended conversation between Cave and O’Hagan, touching on topics as diverse as the nature of art, the role of faith, and the emotional impact of personal loss. As a result, the book feels less like a conventional memoir and more like a deeply personal meditation, as Nick Cave ( I discovered his genius via the Peaky Blinders soundtrack) opens up about his struggles and transformations in a cathartic and lucid way. 

Although it is a book about songwriting and Cave's immense work ethic, the motif that runs throughout is the touching taboo of grief. Cave has suffered tragic personal loss, including the death of his son Arthur in 2015. This experience has fundamentally changed his approach to life, art, and spirituality, and much of Faith, Hope, and Carnage centres on how Cave has attempted to process and live with his grief. Through his conversations with O’Hagan, Cave rarely tries to rationalize his suffering or provide a path to healing; he speaks honestly about the raw, often painful journey of grief and the moments of unexpected grace that can emerge along the way. This openness and vulnerability make the book incredibly moving and relatable for anyone who has faced similar struggles. For a staunch atheist like me, Cave's devout faith is humbling - his questionable (at times) agnostic attitude is also refreshing. 

Nick Cave in Manchester Nov 5th 2024 Image by @rybazoxo

Another striking element of the book is Cave’s evolving relationship with faith. Despite being known for his often dark and provocative music, Cave has grown increasingly interested in questions of spirituality and the search for meaning. He speaks candidly about his complex relationship with Christianity, describing faith not as a solution but as a way of grappling with religion and its often conflicting theology. Cave’s reflections on faith are nuanced and reflective, capturing the hope, doubt,  and naked faith that come with seeking a deeper purpose. For readers interested in spirituality, his reflections offer a fresh perspective free of dogma, grounded instead in lived experience and a willingness to embrace mystery. As a fan of his music, yet unapologetically unreligious, I found this part the most interesting. 

Nick Cave Image by @rybazoxo

The conversations also delve into Cave’s artistic process, shedding light on how his creative vision has shifted over his 40-year career. Known for his work with the band The Bad Seeds, Cave has long been lauded for his darkly poetic lyrics and evocative storytelling. But in Faith, Hope, and Carnage, he reflects on how his recent experiences have transformed his art, pushing him toward a more open, compassionate view of the world. He discusses his current creative practices, encompassing openness and vulnerability, and how he has come to see art as a way of connecting with others. Cave’s thoughts on creativity are insightful, illustrating how art can be a means of self-expression and healing.

WILD GOD is available now 

Ultimately, Faith, Hope, and Carnage is a powerful, thought-provoking book that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of a memoir, interview or rock biography. It’s a work of introspection and philosophical questioning that invites you to think about your own life, struggles, and their meaning. For fans of Nick Cave or anyone drawn to questions of faith, loss, and creativity, this book offers a resonant, transformative experience and is one of the best I've read in quite some time. 

Ryan's Read Rating - 8/10

I bought this from 'World Of Books'  a brilliant website for buying 2nd hand - helping to save the world, sustainability, and books!

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

‘WILD GOD’- Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds ***** Album Review

 

Words by Ryan Oxley      

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds released their latest album ‘Wild God’ at the end of last month and the reviews have been unanimous, in what has been described as a biblical return to form.

As an artist, Nick Cave has been around for decades, and so have I, yet I only recently discovered his music via the Peaky Blinders soundtrack. Heading to Spotify (a premium member), I devoured his back catalogue and became instantly enamoured. Nick Cave weaves indie music with biblical storytelling of loss, love, grief, resentment, and joy. Add a hint of gospel-tinged backing vocals and it's quite the spiritual awakening. Listening for the first time was like discovering the solo sounds of Morrissey. I have a new Wild God to worship, yet the congregation remains vaguely similar. Upon hearing that the band announced a world tour (to coincide with the release of WILD GOD) I got myself a ticket to Manchester this coming November and waited with ague for the album to be released. 

It's been a few weeks since release day and I’ve managed to come out of that ‘new album’ obsession (I’m autistic, it’s a literal obsession) and I decided to write a review of it! Here it is, track-by-track:

1. Song of the Lake - A characteristic intro synonymous with the bad seeds sound. There are no surprises here but with the gospel singing, and Cave’s ‘never mind’ lament - this is everything you’d expect it to be. This song reminds me of something from ‘Push The Sky Away’ which I discovered recently.

2. Wild God - the title track borrows from ‘Jubilee Street’ and tells a story of a ‘Wild God searching for a girl who died in 1993’ (or 2013?) the piano, gospel singing, and pounding drums are a driving force.  

3. Frogs - A slower song, released on Spotify first, as an album taster, and is my favourite from this latest Bad Seeds offering. The ‘Sunday Rain’ refrain and choral crescendo, juxtaposed with Nick Cave’s always powerful vocal, and frogmarching beat give this an extra-special feel   

4. Joy - Darkly beautiful. Some songs only need a two-word description and this is one of them. I’ll add ‘stunning’ as an extra superlative.  Some people would say this is a depressing sound, but I’d call it uplifting. ‘Have mercy on me, please’.

5. Final Rescue Attempt - an electro drone remains throughout the track (which reminds me of Jeff Wayne’s ‘War Of The Worlds’ for some bizarre reason) Imagery remains strong in Cave’s lyrics in this (now essential) Bad Seeds love song.  

6. Conversion - Atmospherically morose, Nick Cave preaches from his musical pulpit alongside gospel-esque backing vocals. If this song is ‘Touched by a Flame’ as the lyrics suggest, we’d all be on fire. It is a match-strike of a song that could have easily opened the album.

7. Cinnamon Horses - ‘ I told my friends that life was sweet’ but is it? Are the ‘Cinnamon Horses’ a metaphor for sadness, a lost love perhaps? Again, it's not an unexpected sound from Nick Cave, but those lyrics are beautiful, and that is something we should always expect from this master songwriter. 

8. Long Dark Night - Sometimes, you just need Nick Cave and a piano to deliver a song with moreish moroseness. 

9. Oh Wow, Oh Wow (How Wonderful She Is) - It's a Bad Seeds song with some electronica-type vocoder on it, which works. The audio sample is intriguing and worthy of further investigation. The lyrics don't need in-depth interpretation, and that's fine cos it’s Nick Cave - we don't need that when the music is as exquisite as this.

10.  As The Waters Cover The Sea -  is a slow and tender finish to the album. By this point, the ‘wild god’ has settled, but as a new convert to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, I’ll be worshipping this ‘Wild God’ for quite some time. 

Nick Cave is on tour for 2024 / 2025 and you can find out more on his website. 

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com