Tom Waits

[epilogue]

Bowie and Waits both irrevocably altered my life.

Waits, however, had the bigger impact and the later date. I was in my 30's when I got into Tom Waits. And I'd long given up on the idea that an artist could affect me like that anymore. I thought I was done with all that. Surely, no artist could gut me the way Pearl Jam and Nirvana and David Bowie did when I was in my teens. Or the way the Beatles did when I was in my 20s. How many of those experiences can one have as they age?

Tom Waits blew the barn doors right off. He changed everything. I thought I'd seen/heard too much. I was too old, too cynical maybe, too set in my ways for sure, to have that experience again. Fuck all that, said Tom Waits.

For that reason, because he literally changed my life and my heart, altered my perception and gave me faith, revoked my cynicism and inspired me in brand new ways... when he goes... guys, it's gonna be bad when Tom Waits goes.

We can run off together.

I would like that.

We'll find our own private broken barn in the woods and howl into the wind.

[epilogue]

When Tom Waits passes, he will be easy to invoke. Just push your hands into the soil, or smell the rusting things that outlast their owners.

No lie.

I cried just now.

You're a modern man, Joey. Never change.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Bowie and Waits both irrevocably altered my life.

Waits, however, had the bigger impact and the later date. I was in my 30's when I got into Tom Waits. And I'd long given up on the idea that an artist could affect me like that anymore. I thought I was done with all that. Surely, no artist could gut me the way Pearl Jam and Nirvana and David Bowie did when I was in my teens. Or the way the Beatles did when I was in my 20s. How many of those experiences can one have as they age?

Tom Waits blew the barn doors right off. He changed everything. I thought I'd seen/heard too much. I was too old, too cynical maybe, too set in my ways for sure, to have that experience again. Fuck all that, said Tom Waits.

For that reason, because he literally changed my life and my heart, altered my perception and gave me faith, revoked my cynicism and inspired me in brand new ways... when he goes... guys, it's gonna be bad when Tom Waits goes.

We can run off together.

I would like that.

We'll find our own private broken barn in the woods and howl into the wind.

wait a minute

[epilogue]

Bowie and Waits both irrevocably altered my life.

Waits, however, had the bigger impact and the later date. I was in my 30's when I got into Tom Waits. And I'd long given up on the idea that an artist could affect me like that anymore. I thought I was done with all that. Surely, no artist could gut me the way Pearl Jam and Nirvana and David Bowie did when I was in my teens. Or the way the Beatles did when I was in my 20s. How many of those experiences can one have as they age?

Tom Waits blew the barn doors right off. He changed everything. I thought I'd seen/heard too much. I was too old, too cynical maybe, too set in my ways for sure, to have that experience again. Fuck all that, said Tom Waits.

For that reason, because he literally changed my life and my heart, altered my perception and gave me faith, revoked my cynicism and inspired me in brand new ways... when he goes... guys, it's gonna be bad when Tom Waits goes.

We can run off together.

I would like that.

We'll find our own private broken barn in the woods and howl into the wind.

wait a minute

You can come with!

[Strat]

Bowie and Waits both irrevocably altered my life.

Waits, however, had the bigger impact and the later date. I was in my 30's when I got into Tom Waits. And I'd long given up on the idea that an artist could affect me like that anymore. I thought I was done with all that. Surely, no artist could gut me the way Pearl Jam and Nirvana and David Bowie did when I was in my teens. Or the way the Beatles did when I was in my 20s. How many of those experiences can one have as they age?

Tom Waits blew the barn doors right off. He changed everything. I thought I'd seen/heard too much. I was too old, too cynical maybe, too set in my ways for sure, to have that experience again. Fuck all that, said Tom Waits.

For that reason, because he literally changed my life and my heart, altered my perception and gave me faith, revoked my cynicism and inspired me in brand new ways... when he goes... guys, it's gonna be bad when Tom Waits goes.

We can run off together.

I would like that.

We'll find our own private broken barn in the woods and howl into the wind.

wait a minute

Ill build a couple buildings on the property. For my different RM loves.

[epilogue]

Bowie and Waits both irrevocably altered my life.

Waits, however, had the bigger impact and the later date. I was in my 30's when I got into Tom Waits. And I'd long given up on the idea that an artist could affect me like that anymore. I thought I was done with all that. Surely, no artist could gut me the way Pearl Jam and Nirvana and David Bowie did when I was in my teens. Or the way the Beatles did when I was in my 20s. How many of those experiences can one have as they age?

Tom Waits blew the barn doors right off. He changed everything. I thought I'd seen/heard too much. I was too old, too cynical maybe, too set in my ways for sure, to have that experience again. Fuck all that, said Tom Waits.

For that reason, because he literally changed my life and my heart, altered my perception and gave me faith, revoked my cynicism and inspired me in brand new ways... when he goes... guys, it's gonna be bad when Tom Waits goes.

We can run off together.

I would like that.

We'll find our own private broken barn in the woods and howl into the wind.

wait a minute

Ill build a couple buildings on the property. For my different RM loves.

But we'll all gather daily to feast on some box spring hog.

[Strat]

baste it with a sweeping broom!

[epilogue]

Fucking Tom Waits. GOTdamn.

[Simple Torture]

STOP EULOGIZING HIM HE'S NOT DEAD

[stip]

i opened this thread to some eulogy posts and my heart sank.

[stip]

wonderful image though, McP.

[LikeLukin]

I am very unfamiliar with Tom Waits' music but would like to dig a little into his stuff considering all of the praise he receives. I tried listening to Rain Dogs but boy, I didn't make it very far into that one. But then Hold On came on the radio one morning and my girlfriend loved it and shazammed it to see what it was. I then checked out Mule Variations on YouTube to see if it is an album she would enjoy thoroughly and that I could get her as a gift. I briefly skimmed it but really liked most of what I heard.

I plan on picking up Mule Variations soon, but what other albums would you guys recommend? I really wasn't feeling Rain Dogs a few years ago when I tried to listen to it, but maybe I should give that another whirl?

[Kevin Davis]

I like "Rain Dogs" but don't really consider it the pinnacle of his work the same way a lot of people do. In addition to "Mule Variations" (quite possibly his best album), I would recommend "Alice" and "Bone Machine," and "Small Change" if you are interested in something from his early years.

[Gods' Die]

I like "Rain Dogs" but don't really consider it the pinnacle of his work the same way a lot of people do. In addition to "Mule Variations" (quite possibly his best album), I would recommend "Alice" and "Bone Machine," and "Small Change" if you are interested in something from his early years.

Try his first two records as well. Closing Time and Heart of a Saturday Night...they're the records before his voice became the distinctive growl. They're very different from each other, but both very good. My other pathways in would be Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, and Mule Variations.

[stip]

Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, and Mule Variations are all great places to begin for his modern period.

Blood Money is probably my favorite record of his, but that's a bit out there.

This may help, though

[ABNorman]

Bone Machine is the business.

[stip]

My introduction to tom waits was actually through his GH. He's got so many styles that if you're not fully committed it's sometimes easier to just pick a few songs that feel similar that cut across different records.

[epilogue]

I am very unfamiliar with Tom Waits' music but would like to dig a little into his stuff considering all of the praise he receives. I tried listening to Rain Dogs but boy, I didn't make it very far into that one. But then Hold On came on the radio one morning and my girlfriend loved it and shazammed it to see what it was. I then checked out Mule Variations on YouTube to see if it is an album she would enjoy thoroughly and that I could get her as a gift. I briefly skimmed it but really liked most of what I heard.

I plan on picking up Mule Variations soon, but what other albums would you guys recommend? I really wasn't feeling Rain Dogs a few years ago when I tried to listen to it, but maybe I should give that another whirl?

My first exposure to Tom Waits was Rain Dogs. And, like you, I really didn't care for it (that was then, now I adore it!). I spun it once and put it away for a few years. Then my grandfather burned me Mule Variations. I liked that one more but still wasn't in love with the entire thing.

So, flash forward about twelve years: A lot of people on this board who I respect and love are huge Tom Waits fans and I feel left out and find it's high time I got on the band wagon. So I started at the beginning.

Since you and I have been on a similar path, I'd strongly suggest the same for you. Start at the beginning. The Heart of Saturday Night (his second record) is amazing and probably the thing that really hooked me for good. Everything else made sense to me after that record.

But as far as my best/favorites go:

Bone Machine is my favorite album of all time. By anyone.

Blood Money is my second favorite Tom Waits album and also a top ten of all time, for me.

Then Mule Variations, Real Gone, Swordfishtrombone and the aforementioned Heart of Saturday Night.

[nyquillyn]

I'm probably not as big of a Waits fan as many here. But I general reach for "Bone Machine" or "Rain Dogs". Then probably "Closing Time" or the "Night on Earth" soundtrack, which hasn't been talked about a lot here. But I'm also a huge fan of the movie.

[stip]

i tried playing bone machine for a friend- he listened to earth died screaming and was convinced i was fucking with him

either you get it or you dont. there is not much middle ground with Mr. Waits



i dont really know the night on earth soundtrack, come to think of it.