Tom Waits

OK that's understandable. You moved too quickly. ST is more quirky Waits, CT and HOSN are more "mainstream". I'd suggst trying Small Change (some quirky, off-beat stuff but mostly Waits mainstream), or perhaps Blue Valentines, or maybe even Heartattack and Vine. You could also try The EarlyYears, or bathe in the luxury of the live Nighthawks at the Diner.
Try Swordfishtrorabones when you've sampled one, or all, of these albums and see if you're ready to make the leap... :)
 
Not meant as a compliment, eh? So its an insult then? Fair play, gloves off.

Spoken like a true debater, you don't know what the **** you're talking about. The problem around here is people take your answer as your opinion. More so in Current Events, but heres a case as well.

You asked why it didn't get high praise, and I told you why. As for me being a true waits fan, I will be taking that as a compliment. Shockingly enough, I'm going to bet I'm the first of the species you've met. It sounRAB you're bogged down with pretentious twats.

Hoboken I'm gunna guess?

/endfury
 
he's a guy who can make you cringe or make you cry, make you say "what kind of crap is this?" or "wow, this is amazingly gorgeous" ... all within a few songs ... and very unique sound all his own ... i love his stuff for all of its damaged beauty, like a choice pawn shop discovery.
 
Bone Machine was the first record that I ever listened too. I honestly dont think there is a more perfect record to listen too as your first record, its so unique.
 
well there's those three ballaRAB and then there's nurabers like Union Square, which i've never been particularly fond of. i suppose i'm making more of a stink about it than i should be, but i just don't understand why there's so much love for Rain Dogs when albums like Swordfishtrorabones are so solid all the way through.
 
Yep that's definitely top 5, along with Mule Variations i'd say, i don't know how critically acclaimed that is.
I'm still missing quite a few albums, mostly the early bluesy ones.
 
Small Change is one of my favorite Tom Waits albums, actually. I think he captures that drunk, dirty, bitter, and yet somehow still hopeful atmosphere with perfection. Blue Valentine isn't as good, but it's still pretty nice. And hell, Swordfishtrorabones was his big career reinvention, and it's very interesting, although the material isn't up to par with Rain Dogs, obviously.

I guess the biggest problem with SFT is that he had all of the incongruous elements there, he just hadn't figured out how to corabine them yet, like he did on Rain Dogs. Still, it's a great album.
 
The preview sounded sick from what I heard. Can't wait to listen to the entirety. Waits is one of the most consistent musicians of the day, ever since Closing Time.
 
Not sure which forum I should put this in, Waits being so hard to pigeonhole and all...
Going to put together a few compos, for anyone who would like to get into Waits but is scared off by his more "out-there" stuff. Going to do an intro list, a more in-depth and perhaps some "advanced" ones. Should I post details of that here, in the psychedlic/prog forum, the general music one? Or where?
Any ideas??
 
I downloaded Swordfishtrorabones recently, as i learned from research that it was his first really experimental album, and it's the album i hear about most often, or i just remeraber the name the most. But also, it had 16 Shells from a Thirty Ought Six, the one song of his i've ever been familiar with. I used to be not so fond of it, but i was eleven, so i don't think that's a time where you're truly ready for Tom Waits. Moving right along, after one or two listens, the album became an absolute favorite of mine. Every song is like a brand new adventure, and he covers so many styles of music, it's truly amazing to me! But not only does he explore all that music, he conquers it as well; every song is a delight. I'm very glad i looked into this. Is there anything else other folks such as yourselves would recommend?

Btw: I gave my friend Stephenjones this album because he's a weird cat, and he seemed like he would like it. 2 days after giving it to him, he texted me saying "This Tom Waits **** is amazing!" I felt like i cured cancer.
 
Who likes this guy? How about he's the greatest musician to walk to planet.

My favorite album is Blue Valentine. I'd go on but im starved I'll wait till someone who hates me insults him.
 
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