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Rating: Well, yes, this discreet little disc released in 1979 represents the LP debut of Nick Cave, one of the most famous Australian musicians ever, but don't expect anything similar to what he did with the Birthday Party or later as a solo artist.
It seems that despite their ironically reassuring name, the five from Melbourne were rather mischievous: drugs, alcohol, brawls with the audience at concerts, and various run-ins with the law. The unruly life they led was reflected in the music they offered live, a graceless and violent post-punk, but as often happens, when it came time to record (due to the producer assigned to them or inexperience), a practically pop record came out. Many, for better or worse, are the analogies between "Door, Door" and the contemporaneous debut of the Cure "Three Imaginary Boys," both lively yet not very incisive, spontaneous but also naive, both with a sound still lacking a personal touch and with a promising but still unripe voice.
Like the English group, the Boys Next Door would do much better the following year, but what they leave us with in this effort is an energetic and catchy pop-punk that seems a bit too "normal" to arouse real interest, despite attempts to enrich the sound with sax and synth. What pass by without leaving much of a mark on memory are the urgent and melodic "The Nightwatchman," "Roman Roman," "Brave Exhibitions," "The Voice" and the more romantic and slow "Friends Of My World," while "Somebody's Watching" manages to stand out from the others thanks to a particularly expressive and successful vocal performance and good guitar inserts (even if the sixties-style background vocals could have been spared).
Fortunately, in the second part, we witness slightly more "over the top" episodes like "After A Fashion" which features a good interplay between a pulsating bass and brief rhythm section riffs, "Dive Position" built on a drunken piano loop with Cave finally using his voice in a less conventional way, and "I Mistake Myself" benefiting from a "classically" wave guitar. However, in closing, the ballad "Shivers" unfortunately turns out to be a tad sappy.
In the end, a narrow passing grade for a record that is pleasant to listen to but certainly not essential. Nevertheless, a few months later the band would change their name to Birthday Party, and from there it would be a whole different story.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
07 After a Fashion (04:36)
After a fashion which is
Purely the mood that takes me
I’ll set my mouth on fire and kiss ya ‘till ya blister
The tears I cry
Out her
spell out a word
all for you
Watch the thin boy in dark clothes
Falling over pianos
Trips on the moving carpet
Play like he’s deaf and dumb and blind
The answer is
Quite obvious
Oblivious to all but you
After a fashion
She’s the answer
After a fashion
I’m the question
After a fashion
She’s the answer
After a fashion
I’m the question
Watch the thin boy in dark clothes
Falling over pianos
Trips on the moving carpet
Plays likes he’s deaf and dumb and blind
The answer is
Quite obvious
Oblivious to all but you
CHORUS
08 Dive Position (02:47)
Does a rain dance in my room and then assumes a dive position
Had a vision it’s looking grim, all damp with grief in her water wings
I…sigh…to…you
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Hear the taps fill the bath, it’s almost dark in a dive position
My disposition I shouldn’t have thought at all
Draped in shame she runs the gauntlet
I…sigh…to…you
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Oh, let’s all start again
We can still be friends
We can just stop…
…And I sigh
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Does a rain dance in my room and then assumes a dive position
Had a vision it’s looking grim
All draped in pain, oh, such a big splash
I…sigh…to…you
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
Touch me
10 Shivers (04:34)
I've been contemplating suicide,
But it really doesn't suit my style,
So I think I'll just act bored instead,
Who can take (alt: and contain) the blood i would've shed?
She makes me feel so ugly (alt: so weary),
My heart is really on it's knees,
But i keep a poker face so well,
That even mother couldn't tell.
But my baby's so vain,
She is almost a mirror,
And the sound of her name,
Sends a permanent shiver down my spine.
I keep her photograph against my heart,
For in my life she plays a starring part,
All alcohol and cigarettes,
There is no room for cheap regrets.
She makes me feel so ugly (alt: so weary),
My heart is really on it's knees,
But i keep a poker face so well,
That even mother couldn't tell.
But my baby's so vain,
She is almost a mirror,
And the sound of her name,
Sends a permanent shiver down my...
spiii-yi-yiiii-yi-yiiii-yi-yiyiyi-ine
She makes me feel so ugly
My heart is really on it's
kneesBut i keep a poker face so wellThat even mother
couldn't tellBut my baby's so vainShe
is almost a mirrorAnd the sound of her nameSends a
perennial shiver down
myspiii-yi-yiiii-yi-yiiii-yi-yiyiyi-ine
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