"Love Letter" is a song by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from their 2001 album, ''
No More Shall We Part
''No More Shall We Part'' is the eleventh studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 2 April 2001 in the UK (and 10 April in the US). The record, which was well received critically, came after a 4-year gap from recording, following ...
''. A ballad written by Cave, it features him on vocals and piano with backing vocals by
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Kate McGarrigle (February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010) and Anna McGarrigle (born December 4, 1944) were a duo of Canadian singer-songwriters (and sisters) from Quebec, who performed until Kate McGarrigle's death on January 18, 2010.
Music ...
.
"Love Letter" was first released as one of the songs on Nick Cave's 2000
spoken word album A spoken word album is a recording of spoken material, a predecessor of the contemporary audiobook genre. Rather than featuring music or songs, the content of spoken word albums include political speeches, dramatic readings of historical documents ...
, ''
The Secret Life of the Love Song''.
Since its release by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 2001 album, ''
No More Shall We Part
''No More Shall We Part'' is the eleventh studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 2 April 2001 in the UK (and 10 April in the US). The record, which was well received critically, came after a 4-year gap from recording, following ...
'', ''
Uncut
Uncut may refer to:
* ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship
* ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997
* '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...
'' magazine has placed "Love Letter" at number 14 in its list of Nick Cave's greatest songs.
The song was singled out for praise by author
Jonathan Lethem, who says the "shattering simplicity" of its lyrics is "worthy of Shakespeare".
In
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
's review of ''No More Shall We Part'', "Love Letter" is described as a "tenderly daunting, haunted house". Author
Robert Mighall described it as "a staggeringly beautiful song of forlorn love and a broken heart." Musician
Victor Krummenacher described “Love Letter” as “extraordinary.”
References
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Songs about letters (message)
Nick Cave songs
2002 singles
Rock ballads
Songs written by Nick Cave
2000 songs
Mute Records singles