Review of "Tom Waits"

Tom Waits

Blues

http://www.tomwaits.com

Bluesy/folk

beat eclectic singer/songwriter R&B maniac - brilliant

not only did he pen 'jockey full of bourbon', but also wrote 'time', which tory cassis covered at westbeth - they are also both on the album 'rain dogs' - part 2 of a musical trilogy which starts with 'swordfishtrombones' and ends with 'frank's wild years'.... started career as piano based/jazz/folk singer/songwriter and released a bunch of albums on asylum records - really translated the 'beat' aesthetic to music - then switched over to island records as his music got increasingly progressive and weird... has written hits such as 'jersey girl', originally on the album 'heart attack and vine' (made famous by bruce springsteen) and 'downtown train' from 'dogs' (made famous by rod stewart) - what to buy first you ask? if a singer/songwriter fan: closing time, is an experimental type 'swordfishtrombones' - good luck :)

Brilliant Songwriter and Master of Performance

Tom Waits has been a success for longer than I've been alive. And he keeps getting better. His show is hands-down the best I've ever seen. His CDs and performances never disappoint.

A musician's musician.

One of my favorites. Tom is a genius songwriter, arranger, performer, producer, etc. His albums are masterpieces of chaos and beauty. Take a beautiful song, and play an out-of-tune and out-of-time banjo on it in the middle of a rooster farm? Sure. As Peter Mulvey elegantly puts it, "it sounds like he's banging on the corpses of roadkill for percussion". But it works. And it sounds like nothing else you've ever imagined. Get Rain Dogs today. It's the best purchase you'll ever make. :-)

I'm not sure how you live without Tom Waits

Seriously, I'm not. He makes scenes come alive when he sings about them. You may not have been there, but you know where they are. Some of his songs are already standards, and deservedly so. He can break your heart in about five seconds, and I think that's a good thing.

Twisted and catchy

He sounds like he could be the poster child for anti-smoking, yet his raspy voice and soulfull (sometimes humorous) music has a soothing quality. Sometimes more entertaining than the music- and pictures- is his spoken tracks. What the hell is he building in there?

another one for rain dogs

yeah, rain dogs. or small change. or blue valentine. or nighthawks at the diner. or, yeah, you get the idea. i saw him live the day after i first saw fruvous. i could have died that week fully satisfied.

My favourite!

There is just something about him. "Temptation" is one of the sexiest sings i've ever heard. He's also a great actor.

Weill + Screamin' Jay = some harsh shit

There is music and then there is Tom Waits. I've never been drunk on the moon, fallen in love with a Jersey Girl (or anything from New Jersey), shot billiards with a midget until the rain stopped, or blown a hole in the hood of a yellow Corvette. Tom Waits has done it all for me. His is the most beautiful and personal music I have ever heard. Tom Waits is one of the most progressive, intelligent, iconoclastic and entertaining musicians still playing today. Moxy Fruvous knows it. You should too.

I wake up in the morning with Tom Waits in my head.

Tom Waits is truly one of a kind. "Rain Dogs" is my bible.

Bluesy/folk

Man, is this guy an amazing songwriter! I've been gradually becoming a fan of his over the past few years and now I can't say enough good things about him. Go buy "Rain Dogs" right now!

They're not songs, they're stories

Tom Waits is one of those great "story tellers", and not just 'cause VH1 says so. I'd say he rivals Dylan in songwriting ability. Incidentally, tomwaits.com redirects you to a porno site. One of those annoying ones that pops up 50 windows when you try to close it.

Telling REAL stories...

Tom Waits is on of my favourites for decades. His music is not comparable, his lyrics are a kind of gospel... that shouldn't be any kind of blaphemy, it is REALITY. Without his music, I would have less explainations... so listen to it, feel it, and believe him!

Tom Waits is one of a kind. You will never confuse his voice with anyone elses. Some people hate it, I love it. A brilliant songwriter, I became a big fan when I found out he wrote my favorite Springsteen song Jersey Girl He always sounds like the weight of the world is on his shoulders, maybe it is.

If I drank I would drink to Tom Waites

This man is probably one of the most talented and gifted musicians alive.
He writes some absolutely beautiful songs, but also has the ability to consistantly think "outside the box" (I hate that phrase) when it comes to recording and instrumentation.

Some people find his voice a bit grating.... but it really fits his music, and if you want to hear it at a younger stage, pick up earlier stuff. :)