Tom Waits
1983
Tracks
1. Underground
2. Shore Leave
3. Dave The Butcher
4. Johnsburg, Illinois
5. 16 Shells From A 30.6
6. Town With No Cheer
7. In The Neighbourhood
8. Just Another Sucker On The Vine
9. Frank's Wild Years
10. Swordfishtrombone
11. Down, Down, Down
12. Soldier's Things
13. Gin Soaked Boy
14. Trouble Braids
15. Rainbirds
Well that was a lot odder than I expected. Many moons ago I reviewed Heart Attack and Vine and, understandably, fell in love with it. By 1983, Waits had left Asylum for Island Records; perhaps the new label allowed him to do whatever he wanted for the first time. This album is a lot more experimental than his previous work; I almost didn't recognize him.
I can't say I was 100% behind all of his creative decisions. I wish he had stuck to more conventional instruments (even Waits can't make bagpipes work). However, I did like how eclectic this album was, while still remaining strangely coherent.
RATING: 3/5
His stuff was always weird and in the past I have loved his work. Not sure if I would now, but I really got a kick out of him years ago.
ReplyDelete