By the release of Henry's Dream in 1992, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds were just beginning to find a global audience. Henry's Dream reached #29 on the UK charts while six of the next seven Bad Seeds releases cracked the UK's top 20 list, three went to #1 in Norway, and all seven reached the top 5 in Cave's native Australia. Cave's lyrics had been steadily evolving from vague subject matter to detailed narratives and a quasi-concept album seemed like a good idea, at the time. Apparently Cave really disliked the production on this record and ultimately re-mixed it himself. It didn't detract from the quality of the record, "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" became a concert staple for years to come while "Straight To You" was one of the prettiest ballads the group ever released. Henry's Dream really encapsulated the Bad Seeds distinctive ambience: timeless tales of drunken louts, lost souls, and unrepentant marauders traipsing through the Outback with bible in pocket and gun in hand, like an Australian version of the classic American Western.
Buy this record if the cops are busting in and you need to get out the back door.
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