Tom Waits

S

Summer Rain

New member
OK, Waits fans, just listened to "Wrong side of the road", and there's a very UN-seasonal line in it that I just had to share with yaz!

"Strangle all the Christmas carollers
Scratch out all their prayers
Tie 'em up with barbed wire
And push 'em down the stairs."

Ha ha! Bah hurabug indeed! :D
 
I'm into Small Change. Listen to that album, and then something like Bone Machine and it becomes clear just how intense the departure that started with SwordFishTrorabones really is. But I like like the class and the noirish qualities of his early work. The grit is there in a more direct way because it's not sharing space with the Junkyard and the Carnival.

Like Bob Dylan, Waits first few albums don't get the attention they should.
 
I must admit that while I've really gotten into a fair share of his repertoire, I can't really say that he has an album where I find myself loving every single song. The closest ones I've found so far are Nighthawks at the Diner and Real Gone. I know that Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrorabones seem to be his most acclaimed works, or at least most well-known. But there's certain tracks that tend to get on my nerves, or bore me.
I'm not dogging on Waits. I consider myself a big fan, and I definitely have a lot of respect for the guy. He's a true artist.
 
Just to give you the heaRAB up. theres no indication, given that you like his later material, that you'll enjoy his older stuff.

My suggestion would be this:

Universally, Small Change is adored, but its not for me.

Personally, Blue Valentine is unparalleled, but thats just me.

As a compromise, Get Heart of Saturday Night, thats everyone.
 
Big3. I've been desperately trying to avoid Tom Waits, but your obvious regard for him has finally piqued my interest.

Where do I start?
 
Well i've just finished listening to her album for the first time, sorry hipsters but it ain't all that bad.
Her voice isn't something i've warmed to, sadly. She's reflecting Waits in that its a smoky, low voice but her performances are far less passionate sadly. Think Cat Power with less range.
Her backing music for the most part is lovely though. Sparse keyboarRAB in the background are the main affair, and for the most part work well. Falling Down and the title track are my particular favourites, the latter especially has its own flavour to it and is moody yet beautiful. The only track i really took a dislike to was I Don't Wanna Grow Up, nowhere near as fun as past versions.
So yeah, i'm not writing her off yet.
 
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