Tom Waits

simplephysics · 06-21-2009, 08:04 PM

I haven't found anything by him yet that tops Bone Machine.

LoathsomePete · 06-21-2009, 10:25 PM

"Bone Machine" is a very hard album to top, as far as his newer material is concerned "Mule Variations" comes close, but falls short.

Seltzer · 06-21-2009, 10:44 PM

I think I prefer Bone Machine to everything else including Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombones.

lucifer_sam · 06-21-2009, 10:59 PM

Bone Machine is definitely a top 5er but i wouldn't consider it his best work.

and there's something that's been bugging me for a while, guess i'll spit it out. i really don't like Rain Dogs in the context of his entire career. it's a nice pastiche of a number of styles he explored but it's piled together pell-mell, with almost no discretion given to the clarity or depth of the songs. i think that, while Anywhere I Lay My Head is easily my all-time favorite song of his, there are just a few too many numbers from that album that land on my shit list, from Downtown Train to Blind Love, etc.

it's almost like half the album continues in the same direction as Swordfishtrombones, but by side B it veers interminably into the cheesy, ballad-laden crap that made his first few albums just a nightmare to digest. and unlike that era, he can't pull off the crooning lament of his pure pop darlings like Martha anymore, it just sounds like he's attempting a perverse, horrific version of Springsteen.

if it wasn't for the closing number i'd say it's easily my number one most detested Waits album. i do not get the hype.

TheBig3 · 06-22-2009, 08:05 AM

Well what don't you like about them? Just that he's trying to croon and "can't" or is there something more?

With Downtown Train, and possibly Blind Love (I'd have to look), you've got some of his better writing lyrically. I think what dooms that song is that we've all heard the Rod Stewart version, and Wait's comes off like a flat version of Stewarts.

Still, and this may be an aestheic thing, Downtown Train is a story I've lived and so for me, the image of waiting on the trains for someone is such a depressing story I can't help but think its great. In the general scheme of things, that song has the Gatsby vibe I dig so much, that the city can be more ferocious and lonely than the woods ever were.

What else don't you like on the B side?

boo boo · 06-22-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

Bone Machine is definitely a top 5er but i wouldn't consider it his best work.

and there's something that's been bugging me for a while, guess i'll spit it out. i really don't like Rain Dogs in the context of his entire career. it's a nice pastiche of a number of styles he explored but it's piled together pell-mell, with almost no discretion given to the clarity or depth of the songs. i think that, while Anywhere I Lay My Head is easily my all-time favorite song of his, there are just a few too many numbers from that album that land on my shit list, from Downtown Train to Blind Love, etc.

it's almost like half the album continues in the same direction as Swordfishtrombones, but by side B it veers interminably into the cheesy, ballad-laden crap that made his first few albums just a nightmare to digest. and unlike that era, he can't pull off the crooning lament of his pure pop darlings like Martha anymore, it just sounds like he's attempting a perverse, horrific version of Springsteen.

That really only applies to Downtown Train, Hang Down Your Head and Blind Love. The rest of Rain Dogs is just fantastic.

But I do hate the Springsteen-ish songs very much.

lucifer_sam · 06-22-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Well what don't you like about them? Just that he's trying to croon and "can't" or is there something more?

With Downtown Train, and possibly Blind Love (I'd have to look), you've got some of his better writing lyrically. I think what dooms that song is that we've all heard the Rod Stewart version, and Wait's comes off like a flat version of Stewarts.

Still, and this may be an aestheic thing, Downtown Train is a story I've lived and so for me, the image of waiting on the trains for someone is such a depressing story I can't help but think its great. In the general scheme of things, that song has the Gatsby vibe I dig so much, that the city can be more ferocious and lonely than the woods ever were.

What else don't you like on the B side?

well there's those three ballads and then there's numbers 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 Swordfishtrombones are so solid all the way through.

SATCHMO · 06-29-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

well there's those three ballads and then there's numbers 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 Swordfishtrombones are so solid all the way through.

I agree with you. I love most of the songs on Rain Dogs, but it's just not as cohesive as most of his other albums. I, as well, prefer Swordfishtrombones for the same reason.

Meph1986 · 06-29-2009, 03:52 PM

Is he releasing an album anytime soon?

The Monkey · 08-29-2009, 03:56 PM

Has anyone seen this guy live? If so, what's he like? He doesn't seem to tour very often...

06-21-2009, 10:25 PM	#302 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	"Bone Machine" is a very hard album to top, as far as his newer material is concerned "Mule Variations" comes close, but falls short. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

06-21-2009, 10:44 PM	#303 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	I think I prefer Bone Machine to everything else including Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombones. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

06-21-2009, 10:59 PM	#304 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	Bone Machine is definitely a top 5er but i wouldn't consider it his best work. and there's something that's been bugging me for a while, guess i'll spit it out. i really don't like Rain Dogs in the context of his entire career. it's a nice pastiche of a number of styles he explored but it's piled together pell-mell, with almost no discretion given to the clarity or depth of the songs. i think that, while Anywhere I Lay My Head is easily my all-time favorite song of his, there are just a few too many numbers from that album that land on my shit list, from Downtown Train to Blind Love, etc. it's almost like half the album continues in the same direction as Swordfishtrombones, but by side B it veers interminably into the cheesy, ballad-laden crap that made his first few albums just a nightmare to digest. and unlike that era, he can't pull off the crooning lament of his pure pop darlings like Martha anymore, it just sounds like he's attempting a perverse, horrific version of Springsteen. if it wasn't for the closing number i'd say it's easily my number one most detested Waits album. i do not get the hype. __________________ first.am

06-22-2009, 08:05 AM	#305 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Well what don't you like about them? Just that he's trying to croon and "can't" or is there something more? With Downtown Train, and possibly Blind Love (I'd have to look), you've got some of his better writing lyrically. I think what dooms that song is that we've all heard the Rod Stewart version, and Wait's comes off like a flat version of Stewarts. Still, and this may be an aestheic thing, Downtown Train is a story I've lived and so for me, the image of waiting on the trains for someone is such a depressing story I can't help but think its great. In the general scheme of things, that song has the Gatsby vibe I dig so much, that the city can be more ferocious and lonely than the woods ever were. What else don't you like on the B side? __________________ I've moved to a new address

06-29-2009, 03:52 PM	#309 (permalink)
Meph1986 How High? Join Date: May 2008 Location: FL Posts: 684	Is he releasing an album anytime soon? __________________

08-29-2009, 03:56 PM	#310 (permalink)
The Monkey Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 803	Has anyone seen this guy live? If so, what's he like? He doesn't seem to tour very often...