Is Push the Sky Away a good place to start with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds?

Yes, Push the Sky Away is recommended as a starting point for new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds listeners. Ethereal melodies intertwine with haunting lyrics, creating a reflective soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. When 'Push the Sky Away' was released in 2013, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were well-established veterans of alternative rock, having formed in 1983. This album followed their critically acclaimed 'Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!' from 2008 and showcased a more subdued, introspective approach, marking a significant evolution in Cave's songwriting style.

Who is Push the Sky Away for?

Push the Sky Away works well if you're into steady progression to conclusion, meditative yet unsettling atmosphere and haunting narratives that linger.

How many songs are on Push the Sky Away?

Push the Sky Away has 11 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Push the Sky Away

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · 2013

50 min · 11 tracks · alternative rock

Ethereal melodies intertwine with haunting lyrics, creating a reflective soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Jubilee Street — This track features an evocative narrative about desire and transformation, blending dark storytelling with a hauntingly beautiful melody that encapsulates the album's themes.
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Higgs Boson Blues — A sprawling meditation on existentialism, this song combines complex imagery with a laid-back groove, illustrating Cave's ability to weave profound thoughts into compelling music.
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We No Who U R Start here — Opening the album, this track sets a reflective tone with its sparse arrangement and incisive lyrics, establishing the contemplative atmosphere that permeates the record.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

76 /100

Alpine

Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

The album's atmospheric build and lyrical depth create a cohesive and distinctive listening experience.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a slow, atmospheric build with minimal instrumentation, creating a meditative mood.
Several tracks feature spoken word sections interspersed with sung melodies, blurring the lines between poetry and song.
The album closes with a title track that gradually layers in instrumentation, culminating in a rich, expansive sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 9/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady progression to conclusion
meditative yet unsettling atmosphere
haunting narratives that linger
thoughtful moments for reflection
immersive listening in solitude

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat, fast-paced tracks
prefer standalone singles over albums

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Widely acclaimed and seen as an artistic high point in their discography.
Themes: Higgs Boson Blues· Jubilee Street narratives· meditative melancholy
Moods: Ethereal· Nocturnal
Career context: When 'Push the Sky Away' was released in 2013, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were well-established veterans of alternative rock, having formed in 1983. This album followed their critically acclaimed 'Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!' from 2008 and showcased a more subdued, introspective approach, marking a significant evolution in Cave's songwriting style.
Stylistic neighbors: The Birthday Party· Swans· Tom Waits