Why Tom Is Unique and the appreciation of his later,darker music (Tom Waits in general)

Member Name: DrGonzo

Product:	Tom Waits in general
Date:	12/04/02 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Diversity, the feel

Disadvantages: none

The most amazing thing about Tom Waits's music is his consistancy in quality. In the 80s, while other singer/songwriters lost their heads in offensive fashion and synthesisers, Good old tom was banging on real drums and marimbas, screaming his heart out like a lunatic and singing about pool shooting dwarfs!This can be heard on 'Raindogs' and 'Swordfish trombones' and when you think of all the appalling music being made in the 80s,Tom is a diamond in the dogpile.

But perhaps the most amazing thing about this artist is that unlike his peers, he has got better and more original with age.
How many artists can you really say that about? Think of Lou Reed and how he started out,the king of new wave definately, but now he is an ageing rocker who hasn't written an original song since the 70s.

In the 90s Tom brought us 'Bone Machine' which again was nothing like any music of it's time. It was dark ,but melodic and way ahead of it's time. When the 'Intro to Dirt' in the ground begins I feel that tingling on the back of my neck and never has a song about death felt so beautiful.
The song 'I don't wanna grow up' has become my life anthem and lifts me when the complications of life get too much.You see...he makes me write like a student!

And it's also thanks to this album that when I'm in a really good mood and I get out the shower and begin to dry myself with a towel, I can be found leaping naked around the room screaming the imortal line from 'Going out west', " I know karate,Voodoo too, I'm gonna make myself available to you!"
Also in the 90s he gave us 'The Black Rider',an absolutely insane album based on a stageplay.It's freak show concept can make it one of his hardest albums to get into and has to be approached with much humour. Go with it a second time, and you will love it.You have to know his personality in his other records ,to t
ruely appreciate it.
At the end of the 90's he left us with Mule Variations, a pure work of genius based on his own special brand of Twisted Blues.'Cold Water' will make you want to get drunk with people you don't know.
'Chocolate Jesus' is what Tom described on The David Letterman show around the time of the album(1999), as all about 'an immaculate confection'
I'm yet to see Tom live and I can't wait for the day, as his live shows are even more diverse than his albums.
Next month (may 2002) he releases the much anticipated 'Alice' and 'Blood money'. Make sure you go buy both.

Summary: