7 (out of 10) - "...all the gothic blues that endear him to those who seldom smile, but...with what non-Cave devotees refer to as `tunes'...", "THE FIRST BORN IS DEAD feels like less of a genre exercise and more a distillation of the philosophy Cave would pursue for years to come..", Rated #41 in AP's list of the `Top 99 Of '85-'95' - "...along with extensive liner notes and a stark retro album design, this work boasts some of Nick Cave's most evocative music and lyrics..."