Tom Waits

Deranged · #1 01-23-2005, 04:21 PM

I was suprised this artist didn't have his own topic yet, so here it goes.

What do you think of the phenomenon that is Tom Waits? I used to wonder why so many people liked him. Now i think he's great, he's unique. I'm hooked on the first half of his career. When he focused on Jazz more.

He's is also an amazing lyricist. With great lyrics about the lower forms of society. Such as addicts criminals and prostitutes etc. Later he went more experimental using pots and pans as instruments and such. I don't like that all that much. What do you think?

doctor_how · #2 01-23-2005, 04:48 PM

I like his heartbroken-drunk-in-a-bar at 2 in the morning kind of mood of some of his earlier albums. This later albums where he thrashes on the pots and pans are pretty cool, too, like Bone Machine. I can't help but think of Captain Beefheart whenever he sings though. Though Tom Waits's lyrics are a little more down to earth!

Fulghum · #3 01-23-2005, 09:07 PM

Nighthawks at the Diner has been one of my all time favorite albums for years..

His lyrics are to jazz and rock what Hemmingway was to literature. He paints vivid pictures and characters with words.. he's just amazing.

Big Joe and Phantom 309
Emotional Weather Report
Better off Without a Wife.....(Don't have to ask permission if I want to go out fishing).

Great stuff.

mad yannis · #4 01-24-2005, 03:38 AM

Another Tom Waits fan here. I love his albums from all eras, lots of them are masterpieces. Blue Valentine, Rain Dogs, Mule Variations, Alice are between my favourites album ever. I think he's one of the best lyricists, a true poet, and one of the most interesting musicians, an awesome artist overall. His concerts are an absolutely recommended experience.

One of my favourite quotes:
"I don't have a drinking problem 'Cept when I can't get a drink."

lunaticccc · #5 01-24-2005, 05:04 AM

that quote is one of my faves too!!! (or this one below)

i started listening to tom waits some 4-5 years ago when my friend gave me almost all of his albums, and i liked him at very first sight,

yes sometimes it's in those powerfull lyrics, sometimes it's just his voice and music...and i kinda like him even more because of few Jarmusch's movies (actually that's where i first saw him)

you should check few movies such as DOwn by Law, where Tom plays a DJ who has very funny shoes (cool though), and gets in prison with Joh Lury (also musician) and Roberto Benjini. Music (soundtrack) is good, there are two songs from Rain Dogs, my personal fave

i already spoke about this in some other thread, that when tom came here in Belgrade, i wasn't at home, and i missed that concert - which was awesome, as folks told me later
i hated myself for a while, but friend bought me another his cd, so...

anybody heard this new album, "Real Gum" or something like that??