King Ink II

King Ink II is a compilation of writings from Australian musician and author Nick Cave, published in 1997 by Black Spring Press. The collection spans nearly a decade of Cave's work, featuring lyrics, poetry, and prose from 1988 to 1997. The book contains song lyrics from five Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds albums, starting with Tender Prey and concluding with The Boatman's Call. It also includes Cave's contributions to film soundtracks, such as his work for Wim Wenders' films Faraway, So Close! and Until the End of the World. The collection received international attention, with translations published in Italian, Czech, Japanese, Croatian, and Polish. The U.S. edition was released in 1993 by publisher 2.13.61. The writings in King Ink II demonstrate Cave's evolution as a writer during a pivotal period in his career, exploring themes of love, death, religion, and redemption. These pieces reveal the intersection between Cave's musical and literary pursuits.

Readers describe King Ink II as a raw, uncensored collection of Cave's writings that provides insight into his creative process and mindset. Many note it feels more personal and confessional than the first King Ink volume. Readers appreciated: - The mix of song lyrics, poems, and prose pieces - Cave's dark humor throughout - The included photographs and artwork - His unfiltered perspectives on creativity and art Common criticisms: - More scattered and disorganized than King Ink I - Some pieces feel unfinished or fragmentary - Limited availability makes it hard to find copies - High resale prices ($100+ for used copies) Ratings: Goodreads: 4.27/5 (147 ratings) Amazon: No current listings/ratings LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) "Like reading Cave's private notebooks," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another described it as "Beautiful chaos - sometimes brilliant, sometimes just noise, but always authentically Nick."

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🖋️ Cave wrote many of the pieces in this collection during overnight sessions at the Chelsea Hotel in New York, following in the footsteps of literary icons like Leonard Cohen and Dylan Thomas. 📚 The book's title "King Ink II" follows its predecessor "King Ink" (1988), with the "Ink" referring to both writing and tattoos - two forms of permanent marking that fascinated Cave. 🎭 Several pieces in the collection were originally written for collaborative projects, including lyrics for Johnny Cash and songs for the soundtrack of Wim Wenders' film "Until the End of the World." 🌍 The book's translation into multiple languages required special attention to maintain Cave's complex wordplay and biblical references, particularly challenging in Japanese and Polish versions. 🎸 Between 1988-1997, the period covered by King Ink II, Cave and The Bad Seeds released six studio albums, including the critically acclaimed "Murder Ballads" and "Let Love In."