Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

For the novel, see Abattoir Blues (novel).

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus is the thirteenth studio album by the Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 20 September 2004 on Mute Records. It is a double album of seventeen songs.

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Released	September 20, 2004 (2004-09-20)
Recorded	March–April 2004
Studio	Studio Ferber in Paris, France
Genre	Gothic rock blues rock gospel rock
Length	82:30
Label	Mute
Producer	Nick Launay, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds chronology
Nocturama (2003) Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004) B-Sides & Rarities (2005)
Singles from Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
"Nature Boy" Released: 6 September 2004 "Breathless / There She Goes, My Beautiful World" Released: 15 November 2004 "Get Ready for Love" Released: 14 March 2005

History

The album was produced by Nick Launay at Studio Ferber in Paris in March–April 2004 and Nick Cave used The Bad Seeds line up of Mick Harvey, Thomas Wydler, Martyn Casey, Conway Savage, Jim Sclavunos, Warren Ellis, and James Johnston. It was the first album by the group for which Blixa Bargeld did not perform – English guitarist and organist Johnston, of the group Gallon Drunk, replaced Bargeld. Cave decided to split drumming duties for the two parts, with Sclavunos on Abattoir Blues and Wydler on The Lyre of Orpheus. According to Launay, the whole album was completed in twelve days.^[1]

The album's release was supported by the Abattoir Blues Tour, which travelled through Europe from 2 November to 5 December. In January 2007 a double live album and DVD was issued as The Abattoir Blues Tour. Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus's last track, "O Children", was featured in the 2010 film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, and the song is referenced as an achievement in Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7. In March 2005, to complement the success of the double album, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released B-Sides & Rarities, a three-disc, 56-track collection of B-sides, rarities, and tracks that had appeared on film soundtracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	88/100^[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Blender	^[4]
Entertainment Weekly	A−^[5]
The Guardian	^[6]
Mojo	^[7]
NME	9/10^[8]
Pitchfork	7.8/10 (1) (2004)^[9] 7.4/10 (2) (2004)^[9] 9.0/10 (2012)^[10]
Q	^[11]
Rolling Stone	^[12]
Spin	B^[13]

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus holds a score of 88 out of 100 from Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".^[2] Susan Carpenter of the Los Angeles Times described the album as "a bounty of gothic rock" and noted that "the more driving, menacing numbers have been separated from the slow and scurrilous in a double album that is not two-halves of a whole so much as two distinct records released simultaneously and in one package."^[14] Thom Jurek of AllMusic described Abattoir Blues as "a rock & roll record... a pathos-drenched, volume-cranked rocker, full of crunch, punishment – and taste" and The Lyre of Orpheus as "a much quieter, more elegant affair... more consciously restrained, its attention to craft and theatrical flair more prevalent.".^[3] Greg Simpson of Punknews.org said that Abattoir Blues "is very bluesy indeed, a rock and roll album with many angry songs and booming bass lines," while The Lyre of Orpheus "insists on being a separate album, due to its completely different more gentle feel."^[15] Dan Lawrence of Stereogum ranked the album at fifth in their list of best albums in Cave's discography, and described it musically as "riotous gospel rock".^[16]

In a rave review, Tiny Mix Tapes critic Grigsby wrote that while Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus "may not be the best beginner's guide" to the band, for "anyone who is a fan of the duration of his career, this album rewards the listener with a bit of the best of everything he has to offer."^[17] Paste said: "Aside from the power of the music and lyrics, the set draws on Cave’s compelling persona: part priest, part sideshow barker--crooning one moment and eviscerating the next. While this has always been the core of his talent, on Abattoir/Lyre it is particularly rich and rewarding."^[18] In a more mixed assessment, Douglas Wolk, writing in Spin, was complimentary of Abattoir Blues but felt that The Lyre of Orpheus was "effectively Abattoir spillover: more mellow, less grand in conception, but—somehow—more pretentious in execution."^[13] In his Consumer Guide for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau designated three songs from the album ("The Lyre of Orpheus", "There She Goes, My Beautiful World", and "Hiding All Away") as "choice cuts",^[19] indicating good songs "on an album that isn't worth your time or money".^[20]

Pitchfork named Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus the 180th best album of the 2000s.^[21] It was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[22]

Charts

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus reached No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart, its chart success in Europe includes No. 1 in Norway, No. 2 in Austria and Denmark, and top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden.^[23] The album reached No. 1 on the Foreign Albums Chart in Greece where it also received a gold certification.^[24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nick Cave unless otherwise noted

Disc one: Abattoir Blues

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Get Ready for Love"	Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey, Jim Sclavunos	5:05
2.	"Cannibal's Hymn"		4:54
3.	"Hiding All Away"		6:31
4.	"Messiah Ward"		5:14
5.	"There She Goes, My Beautiful World"		5:17
6.	"Nature Boy"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	4:54
7.	"Abattoir Blues"	Cave, Ellis	3:58
8.	"Let the Bells Ring"	Cave, Ellis	4:26
9.	"Fable of the Brown Ape"		2:45
Total length:			43:05

Disc two: The Lyre of Orpheus

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Lyre of Orpheus"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	5:36
2.	"Breathless"		3:13
3.	"Babe, You Turn Me On"		4:21
4.	"Easy Money"		6:43
5.	"Supernaturally"		4:37
6.	"Spell"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	4:25
7.	"Carry Me"		3:37
8.	"O Children"		6:51
Total length:			39:25

Personnel

All personnel credits adapted from Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus's liner notes.^[25]

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave – vocals, piano, production, mixing Mick Harvey – guitar, production, mixing Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, bouzouki, flute, production, mixing Martyn P. Casey – bass, production Conway Savage – piano, production James Johnston – organ, production Jim Sclavunos – drums on Abattoir Blues, percussion, production Thomas Wydler – drums on The Lyre of Orpheus, percussion, production Guest musicians Åse Bergstrøm – backing vocals Donovan Lawrence – backing vocals Geo Onayomake – backing vocals

Guest musicians (continued) Lena Palmer – backing vocals Stephanie Meade – backing vocals Wendy Rose – backing vocals Technical personnel Nick Launay – producer, engineer, mixing Lars Fox – digital audio editor Ian Cooper – mastering Design personnel Tom Hingston – design, artwork David Hughes – photography Delphine Ciampi – photography

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[26]	5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[27]	2
Belgian Albums Chart (Vl)^[28]	4
Belgian Albums Chart (Wa)^[29]	14
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[30]	2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[31]	7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[32]	6
French Albums (SNEP)^[33]	19
German Albums Chart^[34]	7
Greek Albums Chart^[35]	1
Irish Albums Chart^[36]	4
Italian FIMI Albums Chart^[37]	3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[38]	11
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[39]	1
Portuguese AFP Albums Chart^[40]	4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[41]	3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[42]	12
UK Albums Chart^[43]	11
US Billboard 200^[44]	126
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums^[44]	2
US Billboard Independent Albums^[44]	10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[45]	Gold	35,000^^
Greece (IFPI Greece)^[35]	Gold	10,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[46]	Gold	100,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Interview With Nick Launay" 29 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, HitQuarters, 16 November 2009.
2. . Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
3. Jurek, Thom. "Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus – Nick Cave / Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
4. Lysnkey, Dorian (November 2004). . Blender (31): 131. Archived from the original on 4 December 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
5. Browne, David (29 October 2004). "The latest by Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
6. Petridis, Alexis (16 September 2004). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
7. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Mojo (131): 94. October 2004.
8. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". NME: 64. 25 September 2004.
9. Murphy, Matthew (5 October 2004). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
10. Berman, Stuart (7 April 2012). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Reissues". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
11. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Q (219): 115. October 2004.
12. Blashill, Pat (25 November 2004). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
13. Wolk, Douglas (December 2004). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus". Spin. 20 (12): 118. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
14. Carpenter, Susan (28 October 2004). "A fertile mind for dark tales". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
15. Simpson, Greg (29 October 2004). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Punknews.org. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
16. Lawrence, Dan (8 January 2014). "Nick Cave Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
17. Grigsby. "Nick Cave – Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (& The Bad Seeds)". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
18. Sheridan, Tim (1 October 2004). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus". Paste. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
19. Christgau, Robert (8 February 2005). "Consumer Guide: Harmonies and Abysses". The Village Voice. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
20. Christgau, Robert. "Key to Icons". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
21. . Pitchfork. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
22. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
23. "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
24. . 4 February 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
25. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (2004). Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (CD). Mute Records. 0724386467003.
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32. "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
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41. "Swedishcharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
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44. Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Awards at AllMusic. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
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46. "British album certifications – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree". British Phonographic Industry.

Further reading

Masters, Mark. . Pitchfork. 29 September 2008.

Orloff, Brian. "Nick Cave Sings The Blues" Rolling Stone. 22 October 2004.

External links

• Official Website
• Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus at Metacritic