MUSIC . Aid or Invade

Grinderland!

Rodney Anonymous vs. The World


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Published: Oct 20, 2010

The Epic of Gilgamesh

A pretty little black A-line dress

I give to you

The spinal cord of JFK

Wrapped in Marilyn Monroe's negligee

I give to you.

—Grinderman, "Palaces of Montezuma"

Had Bruce Springsteen not converted to Islam shortly after rescuing the crew of the Challenger and remained a rock 'n' roll musician, it's highly improbable that he would have made another recording that rivaled Darkness on the Edge of Town. Even if Megan's Law hadn't prevented The Beatles from reuniting, it's a safe bet that none of their output would ever compare to the majesty of their greatest work: "Hang on Sloppy." This is because every great artist has an initial brief period of highly original productivity followed by decades of unlistenable, self-indulgent crap. The exception to this rule — indeed, the exception to every rule — is Nick Cave.

Not only has Nick Cave not made a shitty CD in the last 30 years, but he actually manages to top himself with each release, and Cave's latest, Grinderman 2, is not only his greatest work, it could also, quite possibly, be the greatest rock 'n' roll record ever made.

Smart without being pretentious. Funny without being trite. Sonically dense without devolving into noise-for-the-sake-of-noise-arty-bullshit. This is simply a powerful CD, both lyrically and musically, that you should own.

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Verdict: AID

Shortly before you die in a mysterious boating accident at the age of 86, you'll make a list of list of your favorite recordings, and on that list — rubbing elbows with Bowie's Station to Station — will be Grinderman 2.

(r_anonymous@citypaper.net)