Tom Waits (lyrics, ballad, albums, beatles, discography)

TheBig3 · 06-01-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

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.

Just to give you the heads 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.

simplephysics · 06-01-2008, 07:27 PM

Forgive me for asking because it's probably somewhere in this thread and I'm too lazy to check but, Big3 how do you feel about Rain Dogs? It's one of the few Tom Wait's albums I own and I really enjoy it, but there seems to be a lacking of interest..?

~~Farfisa~~ · 06-01-2008, 07:29 PM

What album should I start with?

TheBig3 · 06-01-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComingUpRoses

Forgive me for asking because it's probably somewhere in this thread and I'm too lazy to check but, Big3 how do you feel about Rain Dogs? It's one of the few Tom Wait's albums I own and I really enjoy it, but there seems to be a lacking of interest..?

Uh well if you people only saw what I edited out of my casual posts, you probably wouldn't ask my opinion on anything Waits. I'm not sure what you mean by "I really enjoy it, but there seems to be a lacking of interest."

You mean you are lacking an interest, or you feel he's disenfranchised with some of the songs...like he's half-assing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loose_lips_sink_ships

What album should I start with?

Depends what type of music you're into. Ethan might know your taste better than I would, and he might be able to recommend something to you, but I'll help if you want to PM me what (and more importantly, why) you like.

I guess my responses without further knowledge would be:

@ Lips: Grab Mule Variations, its rootsy and eclectic. Theres some heavy experimentation at times and occasionally it could have come from 1895.

@ Roses: Rain Dog's is a disjointed masterpiece. I feel as if the first 6 trackers aren't the same as the last 6. And neither group is like the middle. I get the idea often enough to conclude its my opinion that this was written in three separate time periods.

The standout tracks, if you're really not getting hit by it, are likely Time, Tango till their Sore*, Downtown Train, and Anywhere I lay my head.

Nothing is bad, those are just better. But certainly tell me what you're into and I'll try and get you something you might like, even if its on another album.

*let that one marinate.

simplephysics · 06-01-2008, 08:55 PM

by that I ment that I personally liked it, but it doesn't seem to be of much interest on this forum..

..and thanks. A few of the songs you listed are some favorites, and I really like Clap Hands and Singapore.

TheBig3 · 06-01-2008, 09:07 PM

Oh HA. Well I'll try not to be incidiary here but its either an undisputed masterpiece or its completely not their flavor.

You know most times, when people are tripping over themselves to sing the praises of an album, its because other people are doing it. I'll hear more about Elvis and the Beatles than actually hearing either of them.

Put simply, people havn't heard why they should like a Tom Waits album, so they don't have much to say. I've seen one article published on the reasoning for liking the man, and since it wasn't album specific, no one can talk about Rain Dogs.

Even for critics, he's someone they know they ought to really love, but rarely is it the case that they ever say why they love him. When you love Waits, you have to understand he came to be a critical darling under the radar. One day he was a more accomplished James Taylor and the next you woke up and you couldn't even form words to describe him.And so, having no one to tell you anything in one direction or another, you have to come to your own conclusions. I've read less than 10 reviews by the man since I first discovered him in 2003, and I promise I've looked.

Waits is, and always will be a bond between two people. If you love him, then its an understood relationship. If you don't well you can't explain it, and for all I've chastised them for not writing, maybe its just that having listened to his works you don't want to. Maybe listening is enough, and one finds themselves contented with knowing that what they've heard is good.

Maybe after listening to someone confident enough in themselves to sing "dirt in the ground", we become a little more secure in ourselves, and in our own taste. Maybe we don't need to justify our love with Waits because we know from the outset that its real, and theres no infirmity or questions about it.

ProggyMan · 06-01-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

@ Roses: Rain Dog's is a disjointed masterpiece. I feel as if the first 6 trackers aren't the same as the last 6. And neither group is like the middle. I get the idea often enough to conclude its my opinion that this was written in three separate time periods.

The standout tracks, if you're really not getting hit by it, are likely Time, Tango till their Sore*, Downtown Train, and Anywhere I lay my head.

Nothing is bad, those are just better. But certainly tell me what you're into and I'll try and get you something you might like, even if its on another album.

Hmm, my standouts from Rain Dogs:
Singapore
Clap Hands
Rain Dogs
Tango 'Til They're Sore
Cemetery Polka
Time
Anywhere I Lay My Head

TheBig3 · 06-01-2008, 09:25 PM

Yours or the songs you think people are the most receptive to their first time out?

ProggyMan · 06-01-2008, 09:34 PM

Mine. At first listen I liked the following:
Clap Hands
Tango 'Til They're Sore
Time
Downtown Train
Anywhere I Lay My Head

Piss Me Off · 06-02-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Oh HA. Well I'll try not to be incidiary here but its either an undisputed masterpiece or its completely not their flavor.

You know most times, when people are tripping over themselves to sing the praises of an album, its because other people are doing it. I'll hear more about Elvis and the Beatles than actually hearing either of them.

Put simply, people havn't heard why they should like a Tom Waits album, so they don't have much to say. I've seen one article published on the reasoning for liking the man, and since it wasn't album specific, no one can talk about Rain Dogs.

Even for critics, he's someone they know they ought to really love, but rarely is it the case that they ever say why they love him. When you love Waits, you have to understand he came to be a critical darling under the radar. One day he was a more accomplished James Taylor and the next you woke up and you couldn't even form words to describe him.And so, having no one to tell you anything in one direction or another, you have to come to your own conclusions. I've read less than 10 reviews by the man since I first discovered him in 2003, and I promise I've looked.

Waits is, and always will be a bond between two people. If you love him, then its an understood relationship. If you don't well you can't explain it, and for all I've chastised them for not writing, maybe its just that having listened to his works you don't want to. Maybe listening is enough, and one finds themselves contented with knowing that what they've heard is good.

Maybe after listening to someone confident enough in themselves to sing "dirt in the ground", we become a little more secure in ourselves, and in our own taste. Maybe we don't need to justify our love with Waits because we know from the outset that its real, and theres no infirmity or questions about it.

I don't think i could ever adequately describe why i like him. The words that always seem to come out of my mouth when i'm asked by friends is 'because he's different', which he most definitely is but doesn't exactly explain everything to them.
There's no point trying to force him on anyone, its an acquired taste, you either love him or you don't.

06-01-2008, 09:07 PM	#216 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Oh HA. Well I'll try not to be incidiary here but its either an undisputed masterpiece or its completely not their flavor. You know most times, when people are tripping over themselves to sing the praises of an album, its because other people are doing it. I'll hear more about Elvis and the Beatles than actually hearing either of them. Put simply, people havn't heard why they should like a Tom Waits album, so they don't have much to say. I've seen one article published on the reasoning for liking the man, and since it wasn't album specific, no one can talk about Rain Dogs. Even for critics, he's someone they know they ought to really love, but rarely is it the case that they ever say why they love him. When you love Waits, you have to understand he came to be a critical darling under the radar. One day he was a more accomplished James Taylor and the next you woke up and you couldn't even form words to describe him.And so, having no one to tell you anything in one direction or another, you have to come to your own conclusions. I've read less than 10 reviews by the man since I first discovered him in 2003, and I promise I've looked. Waits is, and always will be a bond between two people. If you love him, then its an understood relationship. If you don't well you can't explain it, and for all I've chastised them for not writing, maybe its just that having listened to his works you don't want to. Maybe listening is enough, and one finds themselves contented with knowing that what they've heard is good. Maybe after listening to someone confident enough in themselves to sing "dirt in the ground", we become a little more secure in ourselves, and in our own taste. Maybe we don't need to justify our love with Waits because we know from the outset that its real, and theres no infirmity or questions about it. __________________ I've moved to a new address

06-01-2008, 09:25 PM	#218 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Yours or the songs you think people are the most receptive to their first time out? __________________ I've moved to a new address

06-01-2008, 07:29 PM	#213 (permalink)
~~Farfisa~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,773	What album should I start with?

06-01-2008, 09:34 PM	#219 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	Mine. At first listen I liked the following: Clap Hands Tango 'Til They're Sore Time Downtown Train Anywhere I Lay My Head