King Ink II

Rating:
Summary: Essential Cave, shows his growth
Review: A big improvement over his first King Ink collection, this book shows just how far Nick Cave has come as a songwriter. Collecting his lyrics from his masterpiece Tender Prey all the way through his masterpiece The Boatman's Call, this shows Cave tackling broader subjects with an ever-more-eloquent pen, but staying "chained to the same bowl of vomit" as he puts it, returning again and again to the recurring themes of love, loss, God, and death. He delves deep into these themes in all their revertebrations. This book also includes lyrics to songs that have thus far remained unpublished, or were written for other artists, as well as a short "movie treatment." Also included is a manuscript of his essay "The Flesh Made Word", long adorned by Cave afficiandos, which probably makes it worth the price of the book alone for them, just being able to have a printed copy of this masterful essay. Reading this - you can also hear him dictate it on his CD, "The Secret Life of The Love Song/The Flesh Made Word: Two Essays By Nick Cave" - you can see why he was chosen to write the forward for a version of The Gospel According To Mark. Cave is a true talent, and this proves it. Essential for all admirers.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Twisted
Review: Nick Cave has developed much since the publishing of King Ink volume I. A clearer style is developing, much different from the frenetic ravings in the previous book, a style more inspired by the recurring themes of loss and redemption. Some of Cave's beautifully crafted melancholy poems are simply perfect down to the last detail, though his fiery passionate bits are equally brilliant.

Bottom Line: If you like Cave and his newer style - go ahead. If you're into gloomy poetry, or just great use of language - go ahead.

Rating:
Summary: Even If You Have All His Albums...
Review: There is the beautiful book cover in purple, there are the lyrics printed in verse format...but mostly , there are the scrawling, handwritten notations of a [pick your adjective]

madman/poet/devout/philosopher/philanderer.

And the drawings Nick Cave makes...oh my, he seems to be at war with himself and that is Really interesting. You will enjoy seeing different lyric versions, and his writing in progress as things get crossed out and then re-written. This book is definitely a must have for the Nick Cave devotee.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This second collection of Cave's lyrics shows his developing command of the language and broadening subject matter.