Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/ The Lyre of Orpheus

Cave’s 13th studio album is actually a two-disc set, recorded with his usual Bad Seed suspects, except guitarist Blixa Bargeld. It’s an ambitious undertaking. The aptly titled Abattoir Blues is the darker of the two recordings, full of harrowing rock numbers like “Hiding All Away” and the ecological warning “There She Goes, My Beautiful World.” The theatrical Lyre of Orpheus is a soothing antidote, with fine spoken verse, gorgeous gospel voices and uplifting songs like “Carry Me” and the flute-filled “Breathless.”