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Dirty, Sexy, Dangerous. Those three words best describe Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!, the new album from rock's resident literary scholar, Nick Cave. Ably backed by The Bad Seeds and pushing fifty, Cave has released his second masterpiece in a row.

The title track is a brilliant amalgam of dirty blues, spoken word and biblical imagery. Cave states “he don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs.” Cave may be talking about God or his own head. It seems quite apparent through the eclectic nature of the album that something profound is definitely going on in Cave's mind. The video for the title track, also the first single, features Cave decked out as a suave, flashy seventies porn star foretelling his own demise. Who knows who is in charge of his image, almost certainly Cave himself, but that sleazy mustache has got to go.

Today's Lesson, and its unconventional song structure assault your ears with loads of aural goodness. Janie, the main character in this Cave concoction, wants to give you the best time of your life. This song doesn't let up and leaves you breathless.

Albert Goes West is an R.E.M. Song from hell. Of course the narrative story that is told is more elaborate and extensive than any story ever told by Michael Stipe and co. Then again, Stipe is no Nick Cave.

Cave goes up into space, as if he wasn't already there, with Moonland and Jesus of the Moon, bound to piss off a lot of people. Exactly the people who would not listen to Nick Cave in a million years.

The only borderline misfire on the album is The Night of the Lotus Eaters where Cave dabbles in Tom Waits territory and comes up a little short. The dirty, slow tempo swamp jam just doesn't fit in as well as it should with the rest of the album.

Nick Cave's musical and lyrical genius fortunately has not diminished with age. Great album, even if you have no idea what he's talking about half the time