Nick Cave

Odds and ends indeed -- this excellent bootleg compilation, collecting both higher profile cuts long circulated among fans and obscurer items as well, is a great addition to any hardcore Cave lover's collection. Beginning with the absolutely hilarious "You Are Entering MTV Hell," a spoken-word piece parodying typical celebrity intros from that channel and detailing the nine circles of musical damnation, Murderous collects rarities from throughout Cave's solo career. Sound quality tends towards the good and sometimes great. The core selection is an oft-copied session done for Los Angeles' KCRW Radio in early 1989, featuring both a series of just ragged enough performances and more than a little intentional goofiness from the band as they deal with the show host. Great interview bit, as Cave talks about his novel -And The Ass Saw the Angel -- "It started out as an epic novel and now has turned into a large pamphlet." "The Mercy Seat" gets an acoustic guitar and piano-led runthrough, but no less chilling for that, Cave's relentless detailing of the protagonist's imminent doom still gripping as always. A cover of Neil Young's "Helpless" is also quite fine, rampant giggles and more from the band aside. Four songs in the middle feature Cave performing at various spots with the Dirty Three, including the first public airing of the Boatman's Call number "Into My Arms" and a version of the Boys Next Door nugget "Shivers." Outtakes from Cave's covers album Kicking Against the Pricks -- "500 Miles" and "Rye Whisky" -- crop up near the end, while the final cuts are a live Cave/Shane Macgowan take on Sinatra's "I've Been a Rover" and a John Peel session take of "I Put a Spell On You." ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide