Wild God

Wild God
The album title embossed on a white background
Studio album by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Released30 August 2024 (2024-08-30)
Studio
  • Miraval (Correns)
  • Soundtree (London)
Length44:21
LabelPIAS
Producer
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds chronology
B-Sides & Rarities Part II
(2021) 		Wild God
(2024)
Singles from Wild God
  1. "Wild God"
    Released: 6 March 2024
  2. "Frogs"
    Released: 31 May 2024[1]
  3. "Long Dark Night"
    Released: 26 July 2024[2]

Wild God is the eighteenth studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 30 August 2024 on PIAS. Produced by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, the album was mixed by Dave Fridmann and preceded by the singles "Wild God", "Frogs" and "Long Dark Night".

Released five years after Ghosteen (2019), which was primarily a studio collaboration between Cave and Ellis, Wild God is the first studio album to feature the full participation of the Bad Seeds since Skeleton Tree (2016).

The album was a commercial success, topping the charts in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, while placing in the top ten across Europe.

Background

[edit]

Wild God… there's no fucking around with this record. When it hits, it hits. It lifts you. It moves you. I love that about it.

— Nick Cave on Wild God[3]

Cave began writing the album on New Year's Day 2023.[4] Recording took place at Miraval Studios, Provence and Soundtree in London.[5] Cave produced the album alongside Warren Ellis, while mixing was handled by David Fridmann. Additional performers include Colin Greenwood of Radiohead and Luis Almau.[6] Wild God sees the band exploring themes of "convention and experimentation" that are set to enhance "rich imagery and emotive narratives".[7] In a statement, Cave hopes the album has the "effect on listeners" that it had on him. He describes it as a "complicated record" but simultaneously "deeply and joyously infectious". As their records reflect the band's "emotional state", Cave shared the impression that they are "happy" this time around.[8]

Cave and Ellis decided upon the album title, Wild God, in November 2023 after finishing the mixing process at David Fridmann's studio in Cassadaga, New York. Cave had three potential title options, noting: "Warren asked me what we were going to call the record. I had three ideas, which were titles of songs on the album, 'Conversion', 'Joy' and 'Wild God'. We discussed the titles and thought Conversion was probably too overtly religious and may scare people off; we both liked Joy, but I was concerned that the word 'Joy' might be interpreted as 'Happy', which felt misleading. This left Wild God. We both agreed that this was a powerful and mysterious title for an album."[9]

Touring

[edit]

On 15 March 2024, alongside the album's announcement, Cave revealed dates for a European arena tour beginning on 24 September in Oberhausen's Rudolf Weber-Arena and ending on 17 November in Paris' Accor Arena. The opening acts in mainland Europe were Dry Cleaning or The Murder Capital, while Black Country, New Road was named support in the United Kingdom, Dublin and Paris.[10]

On 6 September 2024, Cave announced 2025 North American dates for "The Wild God Tour", beginning 15 April in Boston's Agganis Arena and ending on 14 May in San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. It is the band's first North American tour since 2018.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic89/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
The Daily Telegraph[14]
The Guardian[15]
The Independent[16]
NME[17]
Pitchfork8.0/10[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Uncut9/10[20]

Critical reaction to Wild God was overwhelmingly positive. Metacritic gave the album a score of 89/100, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim".[12] Alexis Petridis, writing in The Guardian, gave Wild God five stars, stating "this masterpiece will make you fall back in love with life." Highlighting the unusually joyous nature of a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album, he observed songs that "frequently surge into vast, ecstatic exhalations" with "Cave's extemporised vocal sounding increasingly rapturous over the top." He concluded, "Packed with remarkable songs, its mood of what you might call radical optimism is potent and contagious. You leave it feeling better than you did previously: an improving experience, in the best sense of the phrase."[15]

The Independent also gave the album five stars noting how Cave frequently "swings between doubt and faith." They observed that "Melodies flood through the music and then disappear like currents. Wild God can feel fathomless, but it leaves you buoyant."[16]

NME praised the record as the band's most upbeat offering in decades but still "coloured with the many shades of a life so challenging and weathered." They awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, reserving particular praise for the song "O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)", describing it as one of Cave's "most masterful love songs" and ranking it alongside "Into My Arms".[17]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Nick Cave; all music is composed by Cave and Warren Ellis.

Wild God track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Song of the Lake"3:36
2."Wild God"5:19
3."Frogs"4:34
4."Joy"6:13
5."Final Rescue Attempt"3:56
6."Conversion"5:17
7."Cinnamon Horses"5:16
8."Long Dark Night"3:33
9."O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)"4:33
10."As the Waters Cover the Sea"2:04
Total length:44:21

Personnel

[edit]

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds[6]

  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – synthesizer, piano, flute, violin, tenor guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • George Vjestica – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass
  • Thomas Wydler – drums
  • Jim Sclavunos – vibraphone, percussion, backing vocals

Guests[6]

  • Carly Paradis – whistling on "O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)"
  • Colin Greenwood – bass
  • Luis Almau – acoustic guitar
  • Anita Lane – voice on "O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)"
  • Double R Collective – backing vocals

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Wild God
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 1
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[25] 1
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[26] 50
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[27] 4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[30] 2
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 2
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[32] 7
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)[33] 9
Irish Albums (OCC)[34] 9
Italian Albums (FIMI)[35] 15
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[36] 4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[37] 5
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[38] 2
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[39] 2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[40] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[41] 6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[44] 5
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[45] 1
US Billboard 200[46] 66
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[47] 11
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[48] 15

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Listen to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' new single, 'Frogs', from their upcoming album, 'Wild God'". Nick Cave. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Long Dark Night Out Now". Nick Cave. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ Vito, Jo (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Announce New Album Wild God, Reveal Title Track: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  4. ^ Eede, Christian (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Detail New LP, Wild God". The Quietus. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  5. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds announce their eighteenth studio album, Wild God". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Monroe, Jazz (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Announce New Album Wild God, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  7. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce "deeply and joyously infectious" new album Wild God". NME. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  8. ^ Grow, Kory (6 March 2024). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Tease Wild God LP With Bright Title Track: 'It Seems We're Happy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  9. ^ Cave, Nick (August 2024). "Issue #298". The Red Hand Files. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  10. ^ Richards, Will (15 March 2024). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce 'Wild God' UK and European tour". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Are Going On 'The Wild God Tour' In 2025". UPROXX. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Wild God by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  13. ^ Deming, Mark. "Wild God - Nick Cave, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  14. ^ McCormick, Neil (30 August 2024). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Wild God: a technicolour epic of recovery from trauma". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (22 August 2024). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God review – this masterpiece will make you fall back in love with life". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b Brown, Helen (29 August 2024). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds review, Wild God: An album that will have you believing in the transformative power of love". The Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (29 August 2024). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 'Wild God' review: the once dark prince lets the light in". NME. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  18. ^ Berman, Stuart (4 September 2024). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  19. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (29 August 2024). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 'Wild God' Is All About Joy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  20. ^ McKay, Alastair (October 2024). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Uncut. pp. 26–28.
  21. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Lista prodaje 37. tjedan 2024" (in Croatian). HDU. 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 36.Týden 2024 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Lescharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 36. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 36 – 2024" [The Music – Albums – Week 36 – 2024] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Charts.nz – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  37. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  38. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 30.08.2024–05.09.2024 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  39. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  41. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  43. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Nick Cave the Bad Seeds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  47. ^ "Nick Cave the Bad Seeds Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  48. ^ "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
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