http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1504&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rssNo band fully embodied the word "cacophony" more than the Birthday Party. Much like the Harold Pinter play from which they took their name, their music was dark, comical and grotesque. The Australian-born band blew apart London in the early '80s with their discordant, difficult blend of punk rock and theatrics. Though existing only from the years 1980 to 1983, their live sonic assaults were extremely influential, as was Nick Cave's singing, which was more akin to the shrieks of a demented nineteenth century inmate on his way to the asylum. The banging percussion of "Sometimes Pleasureheads Must Burn" and the stop/start confrontational screams of "Release the Bats" or "Big Jesus Trash Can" were actually capable of instigating fear. The Birthday Party opened music up like a fresh wound, showing something ugly, frightening and beautiful that is still hard to look at. - Jon PruettGothen720Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:10:23 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1504&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss No band fully embodied the word "cacophony" more than the Birthday Party. Much like the Harold Pinter play from which they took their name, their music was dark, comical and grotesque. The Australian-born band blew apart London in the early '80s with their discordant, difficult blend of punk rock and theatrics. Though existing only from the years 1980 to 1983, their live sonic assaults were extremely influential, as was Nick Cave's singing, which was more akin to the shrieks of a demented nineteenth century inmate on his way to the asylum. The banging percussion of "Sometimes Pleasureheads Must Burn" and the stop/start confrontational screams of "Release the Bats" or "Big Jesus Trash Can" were actually capable of instigating fear. The Birthday Party opened music up like a fresh wound, showing something ugly, frightening and beautiful that is still hard to look at. - Jon Pruett http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.279251&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 17 Jul 2001 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.279251 alb.279251 The Birthday Party art.1504 0.0 John Peel Sessions alb.279251 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/2/3/4/434324_170x170.jpg 2001-07-17 00:00:00.0 2001-07-17 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.279251&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.279251&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.102202&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 10 Aug 1999 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.102202 alb.102202 The Birthday Party art.1504 8.99 Live 1981-82 alb.102202 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/2/4/7/427429_170x170.jpg 1999-08-10 00:00:00.0 1999-04-20 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.102202&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.102202&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.239060&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 25 Mar 1997 00:00:00 -0800 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.239060 alb.239060 The Birthday Party art.1504 8.99 Hits alb.239060 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/9/1/1/391193_170x170.jpg 1997-03-25 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.239060&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.239060&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138815&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 16 May 2000 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.138815 alb.138815 The Birthday Party art.1504 9.99 Mutiny/The Bad Seed alb.138815 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/9/2/242921_170x170.jpg 2000-05-16 00:00:00.0 1989-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138815&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138815&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138730&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 16 May 2000 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.138730 alb.138730 The Birthday Party art.1504 9.99 Hee-Haw alb.138730 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/1/9/2/242919_170x170.jpg 2000-05-16 00:00:00.0 1988-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138730&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.138730&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169606&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 16 May 2000 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.169606 alb.169606 The Birthday Party art.1504 9.99 Junkyard alb.169606 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/6/9/409634_170x170.jpg 2000-05-16 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169606&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169606&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.143710&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth Tue, 16 May 2000 00:00:00 -0700 The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.143710 alb.143710 The Birthday Party art.1504 0.0 Prayers On Fire alb.143710 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/2/9/2/242922_170x170.jpg 2000-05-16 00:00:00.0 1981-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.143710&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.143710&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6058676&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.6058676 alb.6058676 The Birthday Party art.1504 0.0 Prayers on Fire alb.6058676 null 1981-01-01 00:00:00.0 false true main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6058676&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6058676&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.187100&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss Goth The Birthday Party Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.187100 alb.187100 The Birthday Party art.1504 0.0 Prayers on Fire alb.187100 null null false true single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.187100&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.187100&variant=data&rws=%2Fthe-birthday-party%2Fdiscography.rss