I’m sure it’s safe to say that’s it’s probably been 9 years since I last listened to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Murder Ballads, and man, I had forgotten just how morbid that thing is.

And graphic too. Each song on the album tells a distinct story, exploring the very dark aspects of violent death, from both the perpetrator’s perspective and that of the the victim.

In no way is this album easy listening and making it through all 59 minutes requires a fair amount of fortitude. In fact, it’s only made palatable by some smooth songwriting, such as the jazzy, downtempo groove on O’Malley’s Bar that lulls you into complacent head-bobbing while listening to descriptions of the most atrocious acts.