"The credits have Pierce playing guitar on some, nothing on others, but his stamp is loud and clear on the gutsy flair of From Death to Texas (performed by Steve Wynn) or the keening tug of The Breaking Hands (which is interpreted here twice, first by Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell and then by the dream pairing of Nick Cave and Deborah Harry, who are joined by Mick Harvey and Chris Stein). Cave also sings City in Pain, this album's opener, all restrained aggression and controlled desire".