Can’t believe how Nick could have released this album when it has such horrible sound quality. I was mighty disappointing to listen to this crap production.
It is heavily compressed but songs are good.
The album is fantastic otherwise but the sound is incredible harsh and fatiguing.
Mastered for the “modern” generation of dap and earbuds crowd.
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The original 80ies CD releases of Cave & the Bad Seeds are also nearly unlistenable, harsh, and compressed. 
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Yes, it is, but it’s not that’s unusual for the Bad Seeds. Maybe that’s what the artist wanted?
This morning, while I was getting ready, I was listening to it through a Bluesound speaker … not great. But on my main rig, I’m happy. Great songs!
The first few are worse for compression I thought but doesn’t really take much away. Songs are the most important part.
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I have to agree that the soundquality is very bad, the songs are great though!
It bafles me why great artists want this or allow this to happen to their art.
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Tbh with the reports of the terrible SQ I don’t think I can even force myself to give it a listen.
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I don’t blame you, I can’t listen to the album anymore. Unbelievable that nobody in Caves crew didn’t give him a heads up about the sound quality.
Coincidentally I’m listening as I read the thread. I found it hard to concentrate on the posts with the music playing. I know what you mean.
I’m on a train with wireless IEMs and it’s hard. Sounded okay today on my speakers.
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Compare it to the new Oasis release and it‘ll sound fantastically dynamic 
What a bloody mess 
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The SQ is fine to my ears. The production was handled by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis and Dave Fridmann was involved in the mixing. Dave Fridmann is not to everybody’s liking.
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Overall a good album; but the presence of auto-tune on the track “O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)” is even more terrifying.
Thanks for the new feature, going to BAN that track 
Brad Pitt is to blame for this.
What? It’s a beautiful song and tribute to a friend.
Listen to the music, not the recording!
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I’ve not heard this release as I don’t like nick cave, but I have to listen to poorly produced or overdriven albums in the car as background music, through my speaker setup or with headphones, IEMs, it’s too off putting. The tune may be there but the production ruins it for me.
A bit like looking at a beautiful view on a foggy day, you know the view is there but you can’t quite enjoy it.
No idea how this can happen to major artists when relatively obscure artists, producing music as a hobby aside their real jobs can produce something spectacular.
It didn’t happen “to” a major artist. Nick Cave produced this himself. He then signed off on the final mix. What you are hearing is the album (production included) that the artist wants you to hear. Whether you like the production (or not) is another matter entirely.
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Then, with due respect, your comments carry little weight. I do enjoy Nick Cave, and I have no problem listening to this album. I am sure it sounds just as he intended; we’re not talking about a poor reissue or remaster.
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Then with respect, my comment was about poorly produced releases generally, not nick cave or this release.
I’m tired of badly produced material, whether the artist intended or that way or not.
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