B-Sides & Rarities
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · 2005
219 min · 56 tracks · alternative rock
A haunting collection of raw emotion, blending alternative rock with gothic undertones and introspective storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Deanna Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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The Mercy Seat — This track exemplifies Cave's lyrical depth and emotional intensity, presenting a gripping narrative about life and death that resonates throughout his body of work.
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Where the Wild Roses Grow — Featuring a duet with Kylie Minogue, this song stands out for its haunting melody and intertwining narratives, highlighting Cave's ability to blend beauty with darkness.
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Red Right Hand — Known for its chilling atmosphere and menacing lyrics, this iconic track has transcended music to influence film and television, cementing its cultural significance.
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Jack the Ripper — This reimagined tale of London's infamous figure captures Cave's flair for storytelling, merging historical context with his signature gothic style.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- eclectic mix for varied moods
- deep lyrical exploration throughout
- reflective listening across sessions
- haunting themes for introspection
- dynamic pacing keeps engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer concise, straightforward albums
- seek constant high-energy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A collection of rarities that showcases the band's depth but is not a primary entry point.
- Themes
- mortality and redemption· dark romanticism
- Moods
- Nostalgic· Introspective
- Career context
- Released in 2005, B-Sides & Rarities marked a significant moment for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as a compilation of lesser-known tracks and alternate versions. This album followed their critically acclaimed studio album, Abbatoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004), showcasing the band's expansive creativity during a prolific period in their career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Birthday Party· Swans· Tom Waits
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Deanna Start here 2:53
- 2 The Mercy Seat 3:46
- 3 City of Refuge 2:44
- 4 The Moon Is in the Gutter 2:35
- 5 The Six Strings That Drew Blood 4:47
- 6 Rye Whiskey 3:29
- 7 Running Scared 2:07
- 8 Black Betty 2:33
- 9 Scum 2:54
- 10 The Girl at the Bottom of My Glass 4:50
- 11 The Train Song 3:28
- 12 Cocks ’n’ Asses 5:43
- 13 Blue Bird 2:47
- 14 Helpless 3:51
- 15 God’s Hotel 3:08
- 16 (I’ll Love You) Till the End of the World 3:59
- 17 Cassiel’s Song 3:37
- 18 Tower of Song 5:39
- 19 What Can I Give You? 3:41
Disc 2
- 1 What a Wonderful World 3:03
- 2 Rainy Night in Soho 3:57
- 3 Lucy (version #2) 2:23
- 4 Jack the Ripper 4:45
- 5 Sail Away 4:12
- 6 There’s No Night Out in the Jail 3:43
- 7 That’s What Jazz Is to Me 5:04
- 8 The Willow Garden 3:59
- 9 The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane 3:34
- 10 King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki-Mi-O 3:09
- 11 Knoxville Girl 3:36
- 12 Where the Wild Roses Grow 3:46
- 13 O’Malley’s Bar, Part 1 5:16
- 14 O’Malley’s Bar, Part 2 6:38
- 15 O’Malley’s Bar, Part 3 4:57
- 16 Time Jesum Transeuntum et Non Riverentum 6:22
- 17 O’Malley’s Bar (reprise) 1:03
- 18 Red Right Hand 6:01
Disc 3
- 1 Little Empty Boat 4:26
- 2 Right Now I’m A‐Roaming 4:21
- 3 Come Into My Sleep 3:48
- 4 Black Hair (band version) 4:14
- 5 Babe, I Got You Bad 3:50
- 6 Sheep May Safely Graze 4:14
- 7 Opium Tea 3:49
- 8 Grief Came Riding 5:05
- 9 Bless His Ever Loving Heart 4:02
- 10 Good Good Day 4:04
- 11 Little Janey’s Gone 2:58
- 12 I Feel So Good 1:46
- 13 Shoot Me Down 3:33
- 14 Swing Low 5:40
- 15 Little Ghost Song 3:45
- 16 Everything Must Converge 3:18
- 17 Nocturama 4:00
- 18 She’s Leaving You 4:00
- 19 Under This Moon 4:04
What to play next
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
2008
This album continues the eclectic sound and lyrical depth found in B-Sides & Rarities.
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
2004
This album sets a darker tone, leading into the varied styles of B-Sides & Rarities.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Boxer
The National
Shares a similar introspective lyricism with dark romantic themes and a brooding atmosphere.
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Explores themes of mortality and redemption with haunting melodies and sparse instrumentation.
Is This Desire?
PJ Harvey
Features experimental rock elements and deep emotional narratives, echoing the gothic undertones found in Cave's work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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