Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits is weird and his music doesn't always hit for me, definitely an acquired taste. It's kind of goofy and obnoxious but still cool in some ways, sometimes he has these really low and seductive vocals and other times they're just loud and burly and it almost reminds me of oi vocals. It's an album with a ton of personality. At its best it's incredibly good and full of so much mood and texture and charm, at its worst its "zany" in a way Primus or Mr Bungle is, and I really don't like that. But there's a stripped down bluesy rock & roll vibe to it that is endearing. Hmm. Lots of mixed feelings. It's really cool at times. I'm gonna give it a second listen, and if it grew on me it will get a 5. Otherwise, a 4.

If I could give this negative stars I would

Wow, great storytelling. Such odd details and strange characters that you feel. Really liked it, first Tom Waist album since I’ve been kinda intimidated to check out his discography, but I see what I’m missing.

OK, two Tom Waits in a row! Same comments as the other one.

Odd but interesting. Definitely appreciate him as a storyteller, a bit less as a musician and singer.

The Tom waits I was expecting. Kind of bizarre but I really enjoyed it

Love it, still the goat. This is such a great album

Can’t really get past his voice, feels like a bad mix of Leonard Cohen and sea shanties

I didn’t really care for this.

should have done a tom waits deep dive years ago, amazing lyrics and super interesting arrangements

Why so much tom waits? This one was survivable. But I get the idea now he's different for the sake of different.

There are parts of this album that I'd score 5, and some that would be 1, which leaves me with a 3 in the end. There is some true beauty here, and some jarring dissonance. I think the dissonance makes the beauty all the more intense. What I love here I love deeply. And you never know when you might need a bagpipe break until one comes along.

I do like me some Tom Waits in the morning

I liked it better than the other Tom waits album on this list but still not my type of music that I would come back to.

A challenging listen, by an artist who probably purposely make his music annoying. I don't think I like this all that much, but I respect it and his artistry. I am happy of the cherry picked songs, but there is very little finesse to it, and therefore it really isn't for me.

3/5 tom waits album alright first listen typical album

Tremendous. Can't believe I've never listened to it before. Think I prefer it to Rain Dogs.

Gotta say I've actually never listened to this guy before. I have to say, not only is this the worst album I've heard so far from this list, it's also some of the worst music I've ever heard. What a massive piece of shit. Had to look up some of his bigger hits and they're nowhere near as bad, so what's going on here? I don't even want to know.

I like Tom Waits. I even like his voice. And this is a good album. It perhaps deserves even more attention than some of his others because this is the one where he changed his singing style. But I can't quite put this in the 4-star category. I see some sites (RYM) where this album is rated very highly, but I wonder how much of that is because it's eclectic and a sign of being a hipster? Again, it's quite good, but not 4-stars, IMO.

um. Interesting

Couple of these I didn’t mind. More of them, however, that I minded a great deal.

Tom Waits is wholly unique. I can imagine some people must practically seeth with rage at his voice. On the other hand it is hard for some to not be weirdly mesmerized by it. He is truly a storyteller and can be deep and funny at different times. You could say it is bluesy or jazzy or kind of lounge... but it is wholly unique and is not really a genre outside itself. That is why I feel some people probably will hate his music, while others, like me, are not sure what it is that draws us in, it is so... (I find it weird!) but I like it. I think it is about the experience and nothing I say can emulate that. It is something one must listen to and judge for themselves.

Really interesting and unique sounding. More hooks than the other albums we had from him.

bitch im solemn and unamused

Odd album, but kinda funny. Not bad.

I love that all the reviews of this album are either 1 or 5, kind of reminds me of a certain record with a fish on the cover... I love pretty much everything I've heard from Tom Waits but he was never someone I really tried to seek out so I don't think I've ever heard this one before. And a new album by someone you really like is always a fun adventure. It is weird, as expected. But it's a different kind of weird that I really like. I got this album on a rainy day right before Halloween (not sure why that date makes a difference but it kind of does?) and it seemed to fit the vibe of the day perfectly. I mean, throw on Tom Waits any time it rains and you basically have a soundtrack to the day. This album is a little different from his prior stuff but it's still unmistakably Tom Waits. It's kind of hard to put your finger on it, obviously his voice is very unique but that's not really it. There's something about the music and the way he delivers the lyrics that is sort of a signature sound and it's just fantastic. I really enjoyed this album and would recommend it to anyone maybe looking to find something a little different than what they normally listen to. 5/5

I think it's safe to say that Tom Waits isn't for me. Hobo beatnik clown music. I'm sure that's good to some folks. 🤷

Impossible not to love the genius that is Tom Waits.

The writer of this book sure had a thing for Tom Waits (fourth album). So its "stylistically" different...no its just him again depending on his weird gravely voice and some strange sarcastic sense of humor that nobody else gets. This album might not have piano, but it has the same thing as all of his other albums, his voice and a weird concept, where he just goes on some weird strain of though lyrics. This is not the worst Tom album but lets hope this is where my exposure to him ends.

Not his best album. I'm sure it fits in the evolution of his sound. The elements are there but doesn't really click into some great song writing yet that will happen a couple years later with Rain Dogs. I liked In The Neighbourhood, Swordfishtrombone, and Down Down Down. The rest were sorta meh.

If you’ve ever need a refreshing palettte cleanser from the stale music in your life, Tom Waits, starting with Swordfishtrombones, is it. You will always get the unexpected and weird, but sometimes you also get the sincere and surprisingly timeless. Listening to Tom is like getting lost in the funhouse at a carnival.

Is there too much Tom Waits in this project? I guess that's subjective, and the authors of the book certainly don't seem to think so, but the first thought that passed through my personal head this morning was, "ANOTHER Tom Waits?" Getting quite an education on the guy. I hadn't even heard of him before I started this project! Anyway, it is what it is. I guess I could write my own book. That aside, the album at hand is really why we're here, and I thought it had a vintage vibe that pulled me into a past that felt mostly strange, but sometimes nostalgic, particularly with In The Neighborhood. That song gave me the feels. Down, Down, Down was pretty great too. I found this intriguing overall, and he creates music that really doesn't sound like anything else. His unique voice and quirky style of storytelling are kind of in their own category. It's not something I'd put on for a random listen though. It feels more like a piece of art to enjoy for a bit of time, and then move on from, with two or three songs to bring along into the future.

Sorry, Tom. You're just not my cup of tea.

# Album Name: Swordfishtrombones # Artist: Tom Waits # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Honestly, fuck tom waits up the ass. This guy fucking sucks man. # Top Tunes: Gin soaked boy # Would I listen to it again? No

Un crack total Tom. Base e inspiración de muchos hoy. Y gran álbum. 8/10

Tom Waits is awesome. But not my favorite.

I was not at all expecting to start my morning with a flashbang memory of the Robots movie. Banger album. Love the dark alt-rock and theatrical vibes.

Tom Waits is a hit or miss with me. I enjoyed this one more than Bone Machine.

Better than I thought and worth another listen. Gritty, interesting and always fun.

I love Tom Waits. This is great stuff, but it's not his finest work.

6/1001 First listen. I’ve heard Tom Waits somewhere before and I guess it was enough to keep me away this long. Right away I recognize the song from the movie Robots. This one isn’t bad. The rest of the album isn’t as bad as I expected it to be either. At times it has an Over the garden wall feel. A quick Google says the soundtrack was in fact inspired by Waits. One song has a Somewhere down the crazy river style. More inspiration? Sounds like Jim Morrison on another track. I did give this about eight plays. It’s not bad but I’ve done my time on this one. I understand there are 4 more Tom Waits albums to go on this project. Seems excessive given what didn’t make the list.

FUCK Tom Waits.

Absolutely essential. Any music lover needs to be at least aware of Tom Waits, and this pretty much sums up what there is to love about him. Not only is he on point, but the band behind him complements everything perfectly. I'm not sure there's a mistep anywhere here, which is surprising given the pretty broad range of performances and compositions.

I think I'm slowly starting to get Tom Waits. I used to think that listening to the entire of one of his albums was the same as Chinese water torture, to actually finding something to appreciate about his kind of style. There's still some sort of block, I feel like I still have a long way to go, but he is slowly growing on me, and there were even a handful of moments on this particular album that I even really enjoyed.

Ännu en favorit, inte riktigt som Rain Dogs, men nära nog. Groovy!

he kinda sounds like if a zombie's vocal chords still worked enough to sing but truthfully i don't care for tom waits at all maybe if you gave me a pack of cigs and told me to live out a angry 3 rats in a trenchcoat vibe 2/5

Better than Coldplay

Len Houmous once tried to get an actual swordfish to play the trombone. He lost the end of one of his fingers. He had to stop playing the trumpet because of it. 2.9 5/15 16 Shells From A 30.6

My first album by Tom Waits as part of this challenge, and it’s not a great start. No matter what he’s doing musically, I just can’t get past his voice. It completely takes me out of the album. I know it’s distinctive and part of his appeal, but for me it’s really grating, which made this a tough listen from start to finish. There may be good songwriting in here, but it’s hard to appreciate it when the vocal style just doesn’t land at all. Favourite tracks: None that stood out Least favourite tracks: The whole album didn’t click for me Album artwork: The cover pretty much sums up the mood of the album

Why they chose this one instead of Rain Dogs is baffling. This is a lump of clay by comparison. But I still love it.

I listened to a couple of these songs yesterday, didn't make it through the whole album yet though. Gonna continue listening today. I've actually saved a couple of his songs. I do think hes a talented musician. 16 Shells from a 30.6 is pretty cool. I'll give this one 3 stars.

Unique voice. Fitting for Halloween.

Tom Waits isn't for me. When this album came up I felt dread at the thought of having to listen to a second album from him in this 1001 album thing. I gave it a go, and it's like April Ludgate wrote it. It's like a crypt keeper listened to mice run across the piano and had an idea. It's like an edge lord grew up to 45 and never changed his mindset but suddenly believed he could play several instruments. Reader, I'll be honest, I'm not sure I'll listen to another Tom Waits album. If my happiness is truly in my control, I'll choose to remain happy instead of listen to more of this.

I didnt hate this one as much as the other one mostly because I could get into the more Halloween-townesque songs. He's just not for me. 2/5

Nope

Tom Waits fucking blows!

sendo

I can say, with little deliberation and much confidence, that this is the worst album I have got on this list yet (yes, somehow worse than Kid Rock) and one of the worst albums I've ever listened to.

Wow the difference in quality between this and the other album is staggering.

I just cannot get into the carnival barker thing, and that's most of this. DNF.

I dunno man. Sometimes it's really good. Sometimes I'm wondering when it will end.

My first album from Tom Waits in his Tom Waits phase and I am drawn to love this bizarre, bizarre man Ready and hoping to be drawn even further into the madness

robots

No just not for me, sounds like the local drunk in the pub on Friday night karaoke

wasnt too bad, not much memorability

I felt like I was being chased down by a killer clown T-T

This was a fun album to revisit, some classic songs on here. Kinda drags at points, so not as beloved to me as his other works, but still pretty solid. 3.5.

Je ne comprends la place de cet album ici. Voix rocailleuse et sombre, son dissonant, j'ai l'impression d'être dans le corridor de la mort suivis par des ombres froides menaçante.

I hate Tom waits.

First time listening to a Waits album in full. Demands to be paid attention to, way too distracting to be work background music. Respect it, don’t love it.

Today I learned I love Tom Waits

What.

Some circus clown shit. But I didn’t NOT enjoy it?

2.5

The album that started the more experimental, absurdist Tom Waits is definitely one of his best. Some ideas work better, others do not.

Is this where Modest Mouse got their idea for their sound

Please dear lord, even beheaded this music is too much.

Pues me encanta su primer disco. Pero luego realmente me parece que intenta sonar desagradable a propósito. No entiendo bien ese enfoque de la música. Con todo, este no está mal y es relativamente disfrutable.

Well, I did get a useful suggestion for having my wife help with a minor home decor challenge. Thanks to Frank. Not my preferred Waits album, but the uniqueness of Waits deserves at least a 3.

🦎

The best thing about Tom Waits is that he'll either take you to grotesque places to meet strange characters in full theatrics mode, or serve a wonderfully heartfelt ballad. It's lovely when an artist puts their weirdness on full display. It doesn't necessarily mean I'll like it, but... As per usual, I'm fully on board with Tom. He's my kind of weird.

Overall: 8/10 A real toughie to get into. On the one hand, I love Tom's storytelling, his gravelly voice and the weird experimentation. On the other hand, it can get a little TOO experimental and a lot of it feels sort of "stream of conciousness". I think it's a grower. I also think it's a borderline masterpiece but I won't give it a perfect rating cause it's just too tough for me to fully embrace at this point. Fav Song: 16 Shells from a 30.6

Another dark and mystifying album from Tom Waits. It left we wanting a bit more than Rain Dogs, but was still very impressed. 4/5

One of the most unique voices in music.

Reminds me of a night on the playa at burning man. A voice for all seasons.

I feel like I could reasonably give this anywhere between two and five stars.

Not awful-awful, but pretty-awful; at least it made me feel better about my singing ability

Blew my mind. What did I listen to?

This is my 3rd or 4th Tom Waits album on this list, best one in my opinion yet.

This has to be satire, right? an eclectic version of try hard if not.

Has Tom Waits tricked every critic? Am I the only one that hears this with clear ears?! I need answers, people!

Experimental is one thing. Abysmal is another.

The problem is, I hate his voice. I think there was probably some interesting stuff here musically but unfortunately, I hated listening to it due to his voice.

Two songs in and I already hate it. I just don't have the patience for this kind of auditory nonsense at 2pm on a workday. It's not helping that this is my second Tom Waits album this week. The first one was much better, which isn't saying much considering the low bar set by this one. The last track was a quiet instrumental and that was rather nice. Not enough for this album to get an additional star though.

After the first song I thought I would hate this. But I didn't in the end.

Although i'm not a huge fan of the blues, I can really appreciate what Tom Waits is doing here. "Contemporary" blues that still has that "everything sucks" feel and he's a great storyteller for these downtrodden scenes. In the Neighborhood is so upbeat as he sings about how much everything sucks in the neighborhood. There is a bit of dark humor in a lot of the songs and the way-too-much-detail poetic style is part of that. It's also in Shore Leave and Frank's Wild Years. Such a good voice for this style of music as well. I can't imagine him doing any other style of music really. His voice is just THE blues voice.

Had to listen to it twice this time around, it’s all over the place; what moods and crazy imagery Tom Waits creates! The album is just strange enough and good enough to make the 1001 Must Hear List. Shore Leave and Frank’s Wild Years just kill it. (3.6*s)

Tom Waits for no one. This guy crawled out from the "Underground" and put together some wild albums. He's like some boogey-man, telling greasy, old tales of the wanderer. I bet he hung out with Charles Bukowski a lot. I was hoping for a little Swordfishtrombone play, curious what it would sound like. Not as strong as his follow up album "Rain Dogs" but I do enjoy the weird carney tunes from this barnacle...3.10 stasr.

I'm not sure what it is about Tom Waits that makes his music so endearing to me. On paper, Swordfishtrombones is all over the place and messy, but somehow Tom Waits is able to wrangle this into something mildly successful. It's got a lot of his typical charm, wit and craziness as we romp between various musical stylings. Somehow this all boils down into something that I found pretty enjoyable, even with some misses sprinkled in. While it doesn't stand up to prior entry Rain Dogs, it's another example of why an artist like Tom Waits deserves his flowers as everything about his act is unique. Only a character like Tom Waits has what it takes to lean into the unusual and pull it off to moderate success. He's a perfectly executed musical fiasco that somehow works. Tom Waits is quickly climbing my list of artists I would most like to get a beer with. He's got a special kind of weird/crazy and I imagine it would be a blast to pick his brain for a couple of hours. 3.24 stars

I didn't enjoy this. Not sure I understand what makes this popular.

★3.9 劇・映画を聴いているような感覚になるアルバム。 歌詞の内容が面白いんだろうけど、一聴しただけではその魅力はわからない。トムウェイツの評価が上がりはじめた頃のアルバムとのことなので、次作を聴くと評価が変わるかもしれないので期待。

1001 Albums Challenge (8/1001) 1. Underground (4/5) 2. Shore Leave (4/5) 3. Dave The Butcher (5/5) 4. Johnsburg, Illinois (5/5) 5. 16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought-Six (4/5) 6. Town With No Cheer (4/5) 7. In The Neighborhood (4/5) 8. Just Another Sucker On The Vine (5/5) 9. Frank's Wild Years (5/5) 10. Swordfishtrombone (5/5) 11. Down, Down, Down (4/5) 12. Soldier's Things (5/5) 13. Gin Soaked Boy (4/5) 14. Trouble's Braids (4/5) 15. Rainbirds (5/5) Total (4/5)

This was a bit of a ride - I started off wondering why I was listening to some fucked up Cooger and Dark carnival music, and ended up really rather enjoying it - although it’s not light and breezy by any means.

He's great. Every time I listen to Waits, I find it astonishing his work and the elements he brings to his songs. Some cool stuff.

I've listened to a handful of Tom Waits albums already so I knew what I was getting into, but when I turned this one on some random neuron fired and I said: "Oh my God, did he do that song in Robots", and then I realized IT WAS THAT SONG! So I was frantically looking up the soundtrack and it wasn't on there. I thought I was going insane, but I found the scene on YouTube and confirmed it. Anyways this may be my favorite Tom Waits album, it's really weird. Mid 4.

feeling like i am becoming a well seasoned tom waits listener. i liked this one! i feel like it strikes a good balance between the really demented, zany tom waits and the more jazzy sultry tom waits. is it weird i kind of wish it was more off kilter?

I have no musical ability whatsoever. This sounds like I walked into a recording studio with instruments around and banged on them for a while. With the record button pushed, and some idiot actually released it. 1.0 Because there is no option for negative numbers.

Although not quite as good as Rain Dogs, still an easy 5 stars.

Очередное прослушивания Тома Уэйтса не дало мне ключа к пониманию его музыки. Однако, данный альбом очень-очень необычен и непривычен для моего слуха. Жаль плохо знаю английский, т.к. было бы очень любопытно понимать, о чём данный исполнитель поёт (тексты интуитивно кажутся весьма любопытными). Окончательный вердикт - хорошо подходит для определённого настроения и редкого прослушивания, как фон. 5,5 из 10.

NIce!

Aldri helt skjønt Waits. Men fint nok.

I honestly hate it

I can’t really imagine casually throwing on this album or any track from it, but I’m glad it exists. I guess someone had to make music by and for carnival barkers from Guillermo Del Toro movies.

Sounds like a shitty Randy Newman. Like he it a brake drum with a stick in the 80's and said, "I'm gonna make an album out of that". I'm sure at the time, it was an avant garde album that many hipsters couldn't espouse greatly enough, it's not one that jives with my tenderest complexities in any way that makes me want to listen to it again... Please some one, help me make it make sense....

Locos, genios,modernos incomprendidos,¡¡ que se yo!!

14/09/2025 I just don't get this guy and his music. It's definitely different though. Spotify listeners: 1.4 million

Kunnon sirkusmatskuu! Hieno levy joka on ollut meikälle aina niitä kovinpia Waits-levyjä. 5/5

Tom Waits kyllä paranee levy levyltä. Tää alkaa aika jyrkästi, mutta yllättäviä kauneudenkin hetkiä tulee myöhemmin. 4/5

минус-вайб

I've got the first three Waits albums on CD and enjoy them. This is messy and sounds like he's just making it up as he goes.

Might be a 3 on another day but it hit today. Pretty intense stuff. Not for everyday consumption.

Ooh, this is tough to review! I really like Tom Waits, and I really like how interesting this album is. It's certainly not an everyday listen, but it was an exciting listen today, and one of those albums that completely should be on this list. I think I'd rate it a 3.5, but I'm going to bump it up to a 4 because it's just so dang cool.

Nope nope nope. Whats with this guy. Why is he on here so much

Meh, art-asshole music

omg the first song is in robots. i was gonna say it sounds like the chop song from robots, but it literally is the chop song from robots lmao i'd be lying if said understood it, or that I loved it. I like that this list has really challenging music on it though. There's really cool shit on this album, most of it is kind of awful, but still interesting. Its a shame how fast people will write off strange ass music like this. give it a chance, its kind of cool i guess. 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six is so fucking good, I really hated for this first couple minutes and then my ears adjusted to it and its so fucking good omg. you can really hear the captain beefheart influence and to some that's the worst thing ever, but to me its exciting

Still don't understand him, but I love listening to him.

An acquired vocal for sure!

Following on from the mad genius of Mark E Smith as the prior album to the mad genius Tom Waits.

The music/instrumentals on this were alright and I even liked some of it, but I just couldn’t deal with the vocals. It was tolerable when they were soft spoken, but otherwise it was giving Cookie Monster and Scuttle from the Little Mermaid. Unsurprisingly, my two favorite tracks from this album were the instrumentals.

Not as grating as some of his stuff, but still no.

Pure brilliance

Listen to it. Dismiss it, but secretly crave more. Listen to it again. Have a good cry; get drunk; scream at the wind; stare at a goat. Listen to it again.

Its like Brecht meets Disney meets van Vliet. Its mad that he was touring with Zappa in the 70s and hadn't heard of Captain Beefheart until just before he wrote this. Starts very diverse, Waits has a lot of things going on in this. Underground is a messy marimba-laden stomping thing. Shore Leave is a blues-noir mandolin thing. Dave the Butcher is a The Residents thing. Johnsburg, Illinois is a Disney thing. 16 Shells From a Thiry-Ought Six is a Tom Waits thing. Town With No Cheer is a sombre bagpipe thing. In the Neighbourhood is a sad Disney thing? Just Another Sucker on the Vine is a sad circus sideshow Disney thing I guess. Frank's Wild Years is a psychopath lounge thing. Down Down Down is an upbeat R+B gospel soul thing. Wild organ performance. Gin Soaked Boy is a Howlin Wolf via Beefheart thing. Rainbirds is the last thing. Really struggling on whether this is a three or a four. The skid-row/cabaret thing hasn't aged well but its so well executed and there's so much great use of percussion. The other stuff is legitimately great. And its just so weird and unexpected and not really what I think anyone would have expected from Waits eight albums deep yet it still works. Nonetheless its a bit long. A few songs could have got this one onto my playlist but oh well...

I'll dare to say it, "The emperor has no clothes!" I wasn't able to sit through this.

Love Tom waits not quite as good as rain dogs but still amazing

Rather goofy but an interesting listen for sure

I loved some songs and I hated others. very polarizing.

Der mit der rauen Stimme. Interessante Instrumentierung

What a shit show of an album! My ears bleed from the start of the first track to when I turned it off halfway thru! Hopefully no more Tom Waits albums.

The success of artists like Tom Waits is proof to me that the patriarchy is alive and well.

Didn't love. Sounded like some guy putting on a bad one-man-show with a dash of fever dream. I will not be searching more out from him

Never understood people's fascination with Tom Waits. I'd heard some songs here and there ("I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is my favorite and "Downtown Train" is good as well), but his gravelly voice and super-weird lyrics were off-putting. This album had a chance to change my mind, with flashes of melodies among the weird, bluesy stuff, but ultimately didn't win me over.

I think I would like this more if I was high. That said, I didn’t hate it… it was just… weird then normal then weird again. Vibes are scattered.

I like the earlier albums better, but there's really something special about Tom Waits and hearing his voice develop over the albums.

Tom Waits... man... this guy always puts out unique music. You may not like it, but it's different. This one opens up with "Underground", which I would guess more than a few people have heard outside this album. It's all good music if you know what Tom Waits sounds like. If you don't, it's rough. My Rating: 4/5

I liked some of the tracks, but as a whole it felt confused.

Constipated man growls while someone bangs on a pot in the background. 1.

Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

Weird but liked it

Weird and fun. Probably ground breaking at the time but it sounds like a movie soundtrack at this point.

Okay, side two is better than side one, and I managed to get over his voice but the jazz elements and the tin pot tinkerings put me over the edge. I did like the Howlin’ Wolf style Gin Soaked Boy. On the plus side, the cover art is cool, and it’s better than Trout Mask Replica.

Borderline unlistenable but not outright offensive to the ears either.

Album is full of these smokey, raspy songs with jazz and blues undertones that I think make it very unique, but not necessarily full of hits. But I do like 16 Shells.

it's a fall listen. but a great one. my fav waits so far

Don’t think he’s my thing

Rough and classy at the same time. I love it.

Different

Ah, the sounds of my childhood ❤️

I wish I understood this guy better, always liked Ricki Lee so much more - this album unfortunately did not resonate w me and I ditched it 3 songs in

That’s a ride! I love the avant-garde, whiplash album. It kept me guessing.

The begining of Tom Waits phase 2. No songs here are being covered by the Eagles. But his finding - if not his voice then a new voice. more Beefheart than Bukowski. The subject matter still centers on barflies and forgotten souls but the music is odder. The sounds on the periphery are pulled closer to the center. Especially solid for toms shift into the 80s avantgarde. Sounds event better all these years later. Impossible to place. It just is.

Great album.

My third album by this pretentious dude. Can’t believe there are FIVE Tom Waits albums on this list! They truly haven’t been that different from each other, which is ironic given how impressed he seems to be with his own “uniqueness”. Johnson Illinois is playing as I write this review. Ouch on some of those attempts at the high notes there Tom. Maybe stick to the talking-singing.

If the muppets created a horror flick this would be the soundtrack.

Grandpa got drunk and is doing Spooky Scary Skeletons on Karaoke again...

I liked this album. It was, perhaps, a bit longer than it should have been. However, there are some good songs here. A big point out the gate for Underground (loved it in Robots, and I had it on repeat all day after listening to this album). I've once heard Tom Wait's voice be compared to a "human cigarette", and I think that's a fairly accurate description. The band is also great in this album. Some songs are better than others, but I would say it was overall in the "okay" area for album ratings.

I almost quit this one early. Even quit in the middle of a song. But I kept going, and I'm glad I did. The last half of this is wonderful. I may even listen to it again and mark one as a favorite.

this could not be less my thing. didn’t enjoy a second

Tom Waits is one of those artists that I feel like I should know more of their work just don’t. After listening to this I’m just going to continue on thinking that I should definitely listen to more of his work one day. In the future.

I was never a fan of Tom Waits before this challenge and this is the third of his albums that has come up so far and they've all been great. There are always unexpected moments of genuine beauty waiting around the corner and this album like the others by Tom Waits that I've listened to so far really draw you in to a world of his construction.

I can't with this mans carnival music

Swordfishtrombones – Tom Waits (1983) | Experimental Rock / Avant-Blues | Avg: 3.77 | Favorite Song: “Frank’s Wild Years” (by default)* Swordfishtrombones is a deep dive into Tom Waits’ most bizarre, theatrical tendencies—and I believe it wasn’t exactly a pleasant swim. With most tracks falling in the 2 to 5 range, it’s clear the off-kilter instrumentation, gruff vocals, and abstract songwriting didn’t land for you. “Frank’s Wild Years” stands out slightly above the rest, mostly for its storytelling charm, but even that doesn’t seem to redeem an album that you found more alienating than engaging. There’s no doubt this record is intentionally strange, and in the right context, that strangeness can feel like boundary-pushing artistry. But based on my scores, the relentless weirdness came across more as exhausting than adventurous. The album sacrifices melody for mood, coherence for character, and risks leaving the listener behind in the process. For fans of jagged carnival sounds and whiskey-soaked monologues, Swordfishtrombones is a cult classic—for you, it sounds like a misfire.

This felt like sitting through a long inside joke that you don’t understand. It’s weird enough to be off putting, and not quite so bad that it’s good. I really don’t get this

Is this what a bad acid trip sounds like?!? I don’t know what Tom was trying for but whatever it was, it missed the mark for me. Almost a 1 star but there were a few brief moments of a normal-ish sound so split the difference.

Man, I really don't like Tom Waits

Whoa, it's like listening to a circus. Super, super funky.

It want as bad as people I talked to made it sound.

I didn’t think i was gonna enjoy this album as never like Tom Wait’s growling vocals. For the first couple of tracks that view appeared to confirmed, musically and lyrically great but man how can anyone get past them vocals. I cant quite place it but at some point it just clicked for me and i realised the vocals just fitted the overall performance. This feels very much like it would suit being some form of visual album, as the storytelling of the songs is so strong.

I don’t know who I pissed off to have Tom Waits so soon after Captain Beefheart and Bob Dylan, but I’m sorry.

I'm not going to lie, I was expecting to hate this. Underground, weird as it is, I actually liked a lot. The second track, Shore Leave, was a bit too discordant for me, though the whispery delivery of some of the lyrics coupled with the instrumentation put me in mind of a classic era Disney cartoon bad guy. Think the snake from The Jungle Book. 16 Shells From A 30.6 had a lovely groove to it (though Tom sounded a bit like he'd been smoking 50 a day, or had a sore throat like sandpaper). Town With No Cheer cruelly introduced bagpipes, a decision that has no defense, but then balanced it with some lovely accordion work. I loved In The Neighborhood (ahhhh, brass instruments). I liked Swordfishtrombone despite (or maybe because of) it having more Disney villain vibes. Down, Down, Down was extreme toe-tapping time. Gin Soaked Boy was no Gin Soaked Boy by Divine Comedy, but was still enjoyable. As to the instrumentals - the first was circusy but dark, second more accordion (lovely), last atmospheric but a bit of a letdown for the last track on the album. I feared after the horror of Captain Beefheart earlier this week, I would despise this too, but this is very solid - mostly the right side of weird, rhythmic, loads of interesting instrumentation. It made me want to listen to more Tom Waits and that must be a good sign. 3.5 if I had half stars, but as I don't: 3/5

This is going to sound more flippant than intended, but it was my first impression: Oof, vaudeville circus music. Soundtrack for PG-13 puppet theatre. HOWEVER! I *should* hate this but I would imagine that theatre show to be a really beautiful piece of art, you know? I'm having a decent time here, is what I'm saying. I'm only vaguely familiar with Tom Waits' oeuvre but he somehow & kinda always gets a pass from me; it's like this, his thing, gives me the idea of a genuine soulful and explorative expression rather than channeling some outsider art gimmick for its own sake. A good album. Nice. Solid 4 stars, why not.

Aight

Some hate Tom Waits, some love him. I just get a kick out of this music and his totally unique creations.

This is Tom Waits' 4th album in this project. I like Tom Waits' smoky, dirty voice. The sound and the arrangements are unusual, scratchy and yet very fascinating. I always listen carefully to Tom Waits. There's something about his music that speaks to me. Even if this album is supposed to be a caesura in Waits' music career, it is unmistakably Waits. Not suitable for all days but again and again magnificiant. 4/5

Una voz muy peculiar, con una instrumental muy diferente a lo que puedes oír en cualquier otro artista. Parece casi un audiolibro con música detrás. 4/10

I just don’t know who Tom Waits’ audience is, still waiting on an album that demonstrates his appeal.

It took me several songs to warm up to the album, but by the end I was enjoying it

I like it

It doesn't completely suck - I just don't get who listens to this stuff. Its intentionally weird to me.

I try not to give up on albums but this one is basically unlistenable. Update: I did infact make it through, and hated every second!

Tom Waits is just not my cup of tea. I'm guessing Tom Waits' favorite writer is Hunter S. Thompson. I just don't get all the circus organ music in these experimental albums, it's not a popular instrument for a reason. The old hobo music act wears thin pretty quickly. The spoken word Frank's Wild Years is the best song so far. The album gets better as it goes on but not by much.

* Really don't like this guy - goes into the garbage bin

I listened to this just like that viral video of the woman drinking kombucha

If I ever start drag, I'll only perform to Tom Waits.

Ok hear me out: You walk into the circus during off-hours and venture back into the place where the workers live. The strong man is on vocals, clowns on percussion, lion/elephant trainers on brass, acrobats on wind instruments. You’re not supposed to be here, this isn’t for you to hear. This is the personal project of the circus workers.

I don't think this is his best.

Åpner sterkt med Kiddy Kong: the musical

I like this better than rain dogs, while being on the same sorta sounds and themes. This just feels more like a carnival. The voice affectations are still a bit much, but less bothersome on this.

I came expecting pretension and sadness… I got chaos, dog murder, and uncomfortable horniness. Yet? I kept listening. Minus one star for dogocide and unsettling “Daddy” moans. Would recommend… but only to people with strong stomachs and no pets.

I’ve never heard anything that sounds like this album, odd mix of beat poetry with non-traditional instruments and insane vocal delivery.

An incredibly specific brand of quirky melancholy and darkness. I totally get how this might not be everyone's thing, but I dig it.

I really respect and admire the artistry but it's not the most accessible album. Not as weird as rain dogs but somehow less accessible. Still enjoy it a lot

One of the albums of all time

Why? Why?

neighrborhed

Tom Waits manages to sound horrible and amazing in ways I’ll never comprehend.

His voice will never not be goofy and it is a detriment to the music. Although it wasn’t too grating and I didn’t mind this album (2.5/5)

Tom Waits is just cool. Every time I listen to him I can imagine myself at a a table in a small club with a drink in my hand digging his vibe.

Das ist gute Musik!

I couldn't get into this at all. I've listened to previous albums of his via this site and been pleasantly surprised. Not this time though. I made it all the way through. It's 2 stars for me.

“cookiemonster, the musical“ meets “Randy Newman‘s least greatest hits“ meets the deranged lounge singer-esque rantings of an extremely sad clown. It’s so unserious it’s almost genius. At least I hope he wasn’t serious. I know Tom Waits from movies, but is he famous for this??

I'm pretty sure the first time I ever heard Tom Waits was as the voice of Tommy the Cat. He's an acquired taste, sort of like Captain Beefheart, and I will sometimes skip his songs when they come up on shuffle because I have to be in the right mood for him. Or I have to be ready for him to change my mood. I used to love seeing him show up as a guest on Letterman and his acting work is fantastic. He's a true American original. That being said, this is not one of my favorite Waits albums. When I saw him on the "Glitter & Doom" Tour in 2008 I don't think he played a single song from this. It does have some songs I love, though, like "16 Shells from a 30-06," "In the Neighborhood," and "Gin Soaked Boy." According to the Wikipedia article, in 1989 SPIN named this the second-best album of all time. That seems a bit high.

Different but that's okay. Not perfect but that's okay. I still prefer Nighthawks at the Diner but overall, I can live with this.

***A good, easy listening album

This is so difficult to rate cause it's so unique. His voice is very strange but the music was fun most of the time and I enjoyed it

3.0

A bit of strange one. Very interesting.

Weird album; hard to get through. I think since it's apparently part of a trilogy album set, the other two would make it make more sense? 1.5 Tom Waits has much better music.

3/10

Tom Waits has an unusual voice and uses instruments in unconventional, avant- garde ways but makes them work wonderfully for him at least in this album. At least to my ears. Close your eyes and you are in Berlin in the 1920s. Some singers like Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Geddy Lee, etc. have voices that are so polarizing that many people will hear them singing once, nod no & will never willingly bother hearing them again & I get that, I don't ever try pushing Tom Waits & co. on anyone who I know dislikes difficult singing voices because it pointless and I get that. It all boils down to the voice. So, while I like this album by no means am I suggesting that you will like it but you might then again you might really hate it, so don't blame me. Everyone is someone's Captain Beefheart. You'll know pretty quickly!

Tää on Tom Waitsin paras albumi siksi, koska eri musiikkityyppien kokeilu välissä herättää mielenkiinnon eikä levyllä ole liikaa mittaa vaan jopa yllättävän vähän (hitaat biisit ovat nopeasti ohi). Ja mä kyllä pidän tän tunnelmasta.

Kuvastaako Waitsin kielellisen ilmaisun kliseisyys elämän itsensä absurdia ennalta-arvattavuutta, vai onko se vain kliseistä? Onko hänen tyytymisensä traditionaalisten muotojen modifiointiin vain musiikillisen mielikuvituksen puutetta? Oli miten oli, en voi olla pitämättä lopputuloksesta.

Fave songs Frank's Wild years and In the Neighbourhood .Such an original sound, although I am not a big fan of his voice,I appreciate the overall 'fairground' vibe and percussion throughout.

J'ai bien aime

It's like goofy cabaret punk. Wouldn't surprise if this was one of the influences behind the Tiger Lilies. Great album for weeding out the cool and the uncool.

Initially thought “oh god, another Tom Waits album”, but actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. Very different to spme of his earlier stuff

I read a comment that one of the people in the album cover looks like Ryan Giggs, and now I can't unsee it. The start of shore leave sounds like the introduction of the Radio 2 allotment with Terry Walton. The actual music isn't good, but thankfully, it wasn't as long as some of his other efforts on this list.

Man I just really like Tom Waits. I could completely understand if someone hated him but this just does it for me. Kinda weird, super talented and unapologetically himself.

Man, I forgot how terrible this guy's voice is. It could hypothetically work, but definitely not with this weird faux-happy-mysterious-stomp mood that he insists on replicating in all of his music. And half the songs are musically unapproachable (see: the monstrosity Dave The Butcher). There are also a few songs that are technically fine but a bit empty of musical ideas (Frank's Wild Years, Rainbirds, Trouble's Braids). But many of the remaining songs have some interesting hooks to keep them afloat. In The Neighbourhood reminds me of a sort of slow Irish tune – not so different, melodically, from the Pogues album I listened to yesterday. Soldier's Things, while texturally not interesting at all, kind of makes Waits's voice work with the light, airy piano playing. The earlier song Johnsburg Illinois kind of does the same thing but as a sorrowful ballad. The trombone appears as early as the opening track, Underground (which is a dwarf-chant-type song reminiscent of Diggy Diggy Hole). I couldn't find any fish or swords, even in the title track. Maybe the fish are the friends we made along the way. All in all, the album's only cohesive factor is Waits's bad voice, which is not something to boast about. The music isn't terrible, but nor is it good – certainly not in album form. At least he kept it down to 40 minutes. 2/5 Key tracks: Underground, Johnsburg Illinois, In The Neighbourhood

Why does everybody like this guy?

Tom Waits is what I imagine the Hat Man sounds like.

Underground alone is worth the album

What is this crap? Made it to the last two songs and had to turn it off, what a weird album, not at all for me!

A friend introduced me to Tom Waits in the 90s. I believe we started with “pasties and a g-string” and then “diamonds on my windshield”. Because of that I’m already digging this album and the grooves. I absolutely love “shore leave”. This album has such a great jazz feel but also incorporates the best things I like about John Cage. “In the neighborhood” just grabs me. Like we should be singing it as a group at a bar toasting each other at closing time. This album is amazing.

Suena muy bien, aunque no le he prestado mucha atención. No veo que haya ningún bombazo, pero es claramente un disco que suena a Tome Waits que es un estilo propio fácil de reconocer empezando por su voz.

Didn't really like it.

Not my jam. Unique voice tho

No thank you.

If I remember correctly, there's a lot of Tom Waits on this list. So after two of his albums, I know there's more to come, and I just need to find a way to be ok with that. I can say this about him - he does his very best to be different, to be interesting. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but he's almost the furthest thing from predictable or formulaic. And sure, some of his stuff is just downright weird. That's ok! I like weird! I can get down with stuff that's a little off kilter or maybe is a little challenging. But this was hard to listen to at times. When you're trying to be different, sometimes you just hit the weirdest notes because what else can you do? You just need to be different. It's also weird to me because I do think he can actually sing, but sometimes on this album he just decides not to do it well? Not really sure what that's about. Look, he's creative, he's smart, he's interesting. But I just didn't come close to loving this and it's gonna get three sad stars from me. Sad because man it could've been better. Standout Tracks: 16 Shells from A 30.6, Frank's Wild Years, Down, Down, Down, Gin Soaked Boy, Rainbirds

Odd album. Some songs were less odd than others but none of them stood out that much to me. I commend it for its oddness though

"He's got his piano in the kitchen, and he only uses the kitchen range to light his cigarettes, and then there's this refrigerator where he keeps his hammers and wrenches and nuts and bolts and stuff like that. He opened the fridge door and with an absolute poker face he said, 'I got some cool tools in here.'" - Bette Midler on Tom Waits There's no other artist out there that makes me want to hop a train in the middle of the night to join a circus, drink whiskey, and eat cigarettes for breakfast. Seriously, though, Swordfishtrombones is already one of my all-time favourite albums. This is the album that really shifted him towards his junkyard persona and I love everything about it from his gravelly, whiskey-soaked, smoke-filled voice to the experimental sounds and song structures.

This feels like something someone listens to so they can mention in casual conversation to an acquaintance or someone they've just met in an effort to be cool. Granted, some of the songs have appeal, but you're really ACTIVELY listening to this front to back repeatedly? Nice fucking fedora, goes well with your suspenders.

Tom Waits is what you would get if there was a being who needed to ingest good music to live. After passing through this beings GI tract and extracting all that was great from that music, Tom Waits would be the crap clinging to the boil just south of this being's anus. it's awful

just not my kind of music i think

De menos a más. Buen final. No es mi estilo.

Not sure at all what to say. Kinda cool, kinda not cool and hard to get a grip of.

I really don't know what to say about this. There was a lot of everything. Some of it was good, some of it wasn't.

Tom Waits is a totally hit 'n miss artist for me, ephasis on misses sadly. Some of his blues stuff is sort of on my radar and few collaborations, but this weird alt stuff is not even interesting to me. Too much emphasis on lyrics and the music is not really that interesting, almost none of it suits my tastes.

Not a favourite of mine. I’ve grown to appreciate Tom waits a bit more than I did. But I’m still not a massive fan.

Swordfishtrombones was the beginning of Tom Waits' evolution into the figure he is today. Kathleen Brennan, Waits' most important collaborator (and wife) egged him into produce his own recordings and lean fully into his demented carny persona. Swordfishtrombones is the transitional album between the bar-room balladry of his early albums, with elements of the creepy circus, rubbish-bin-crashing production of his 90s albums. She describes Waits' songs as being either "grim reapers" (Underground, Swordfishtrombones, 16 Shells from a 30.6, Down Down Down) or "grand weepers" (In the Neighborhood, Soldier's Things, Gin Soaked Boy). I really dig Tom Waits' 'late' career, which starts here. Later albums are stronger (Rain Dogs, Bone Machine), but it all starts here. Many people under-estimate Ms Brennan's profound influence on Waits' songwriting and production. She exposed him to a range of new influences and possibilities, encouraged him to take control of his own production, and later became a powerful songwriting partner. Without her, it is hard to imagine that we ever would have heard this distinctive oeuvre. I think we have to understand Tom Waits' later career as the career of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan in partnership. Credit where credit is due, Ms Brennan, I doff my hat to you.

If “fucked up circus music” was a genre, this album would be it. Overall very unpleasant. I’ve heard other Tom Waits stuff is better, but I’m not holding my breath after this. My 500th album and first Tom Waits so far, and I’ll pass.

Asså det är väl existensberättigat men fattar inte riktigt viben.

Nice.

Wonderfully weird album. I don't know it as well as Rain Dogs, but I want to know it better. The second half is especially good, from Frank's Wild Years On. Very interesting storytelling in the lyrics and the production and instrumentation are excellent.

Tom Waits will always get 5 stars from me. I realize he’s not for everyone, and for most folks there are too many of his albums on this list. I don’t know how many there are yet, but it’s all of them, that’s fine by me. Swordfishtrombones isn’t even my favorite of his albums, but it still has his quirky style of storytelling and some fantastic songs (I’m partial to Gin Soaked Boy and Soldier’s Things). And one thing that can definitely be said about this album that cannot be said of a great many others on this list, it’s not boring at any point. He mixes up styles almost as much as instruments. Classic album, and I’m glad people are getting exposed to this genius, even if they don’t see it.

This is my second Tom Waits album and I thankfully enjoyed it. Waits is obviously a great and unique vocalist, and just a funny guy all around, and the music itself, even at lower points, is great. There are a lot of songs on here that I do think are just really nothing, though. The execution of them is good but it feels like I'm listening to interlude after interlude. The other Tom Waits album I listened to (Nighthawks at the Diner) had a ton of those, yeah, but they felt like they worked with the other songs on the album. I could barely tell when a song moved from one to another. Sure, they could have been the same song, but on this album, it just kind of feels like completely random interludes that have nothing to do with everything else that don't flow well with the album. Still goated album though. Favs: 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six, Swordfishtrombone, Down, Down, Down Least fav: Johnsburg, Illinois

Bluesy Jazzy weird and awesome

hm… okay

Digan lo que digan los haters de Tom Waits, a mí me parece que hace muy buena música. Este álbum marca el comienzo de su transición hacia estilos más experimentales y el uso de una mayor variedad de instrumentos. No me voy a poner a listarlos aquí, porque son muchos. El resultado es una especie de circo de locos mezclado con cabaret, jazz, blues, country y poesía hablada; el camarote de los hermanos Marx hecho música. Las letras son historias de personajes particulares (como el hombre que prende fuego a su casa porque odia a su perro) o recuerdos de hogares, lugares y personas. Es un álbum exigente, que, como todos los de Waits, requiere ser escuchado activamente, pero resulta una experiencia muy gratificante.

Fine I guess

Not as iconic as Franks wild years and Rain dogs. Its the first self produced album. Stylistically different, more experimental, with an unusual instrumentation.

That voice is nightmare material.

Like a drunk burn victim busking under a bridge. No likey.

I know (and totally understand) that Tom Waits is an acquired taste. But it’s a taste that I’ve acquired! This isn’t my favourite album of his but the instrumental tracks are lovely, I could listen to him spin tales in the spoken word sections for hours, and this has some great songwriting. But I get it if you bounce off of his voice. 4/5

This one made me go Underground, Down, Down, Down.

I got my fourth Tom Waits album after nearly 550 albums with Nighthawks At The Diner in April 2023, and it was a weird one!!! I say this with affection because I absolutely love weird Tom Waits. And it was so weird--I mean, there were bagpipes! I unironically loved it all. Swordfishtrombones marks Waits' first self-produced album and I hear the differences and similarities. Waits is his usual self: strong lyricist, blues musician, and piano player. He displays his usual repertoire of bangers, soft songs, spoken word, instrumental blues, all backed with his gravelly voice. But he uses a variety instruments you don't typically hear in Western music, like ever, which allow for a more experimental, unpolished tone. "Trouble's Braids" uses an African talking drum and is full of tension. "Dave the Butcher" is so, so unnerving without lyrics: the muted and coarse tempo, the beat slowly increasing and destroying any semblance of normalcy. "Just Another Sucker On The Vine" uses a charming harmonium in Waits' blues standard. Since I know a good amount of Waits' musical career, I can hear exactly where Swordfishtrombones fits in his discography; its release in 1983 makes sense as he experimented more while still incorporating the blues. In fact, the only single for this album was a blues-filled song, "In The Neighborhood." Waits is political in subtle ways, and he spoke about soldiers multiple times on this album. "Soldier's Things" is simple yet powerful in a somber tone. A soldier fights a war for their country, only to be summed up by material items they own, all sold for a dollar. "And this one is for bravery." The title song metaphorically describes a soldier's PTSD: "he came home from the war with a party in his head." "Shore Leave" depicts the isolation felt by soldiers in a foreign port. With these three songs, I'm left wondering, what is it all for? If the album has one flaw, it would be that some songs are too short. I mean, "Rainbirds" breaks me inside, and I don't need that song lengthened, but the love letter to Waits' wife, "Johnsburg, Illinois", is beautiful and deserves to be longer. Then again, a song doesn't need to be long to be great. As with all Waits songs, less is more. Still, I loved "Underground" with the jarring, pounding beat and harsh vocals, and I wanted more than a two minute song. I must mention Waits' bangers. Though this album is the most experimental up to this point, he doesn't shirk his duty to create certifiable bangers. "16 Shells From A Thirty Ought Six" absolutely slaps and must be played at full volume. My online searching tells me this is often a favorite song of Waits listeners. The album contains several other bangers balanced between instrumentals and softer songs. Waits' tender songs affect me so much, but his bangers lift me up back again every time. Never could stand that dog.

This was maybe the most ridiculous Tom Waits album on this project to date. Yes, it has interesting instrumentation, and yes it has unique lyrics, but the overall experimental approach of this album is just more than I can handle when I'm already trying to wrap my mind around Tom Waits.

Tom Waits is an unusual artist. I like a few of his songs, and can appreciate him in small doses, but a full album is a bit much.

2.75

Tom Waits hater. Tom Waits hater. Tom Waits hater. 2/5

I’ll never understand why people think jazzy stuff like this is genius. Most of the first half was just gibberish and noise

4 out of 5. I liked this one more than I thought I would. Something clicked.

3 songs, that was my limit on this album. A little too artsy for me. I guess I can see why people might like it, but it's not really my thing.

I liked it more than I expected but that doesn't mean it's good. I found his voice very grating on me. I liked the music without the vocals though! Overall: 3/5, it's pretty average for me. Nothing too special, wouldn't listen again, but really don't hate it.

Tom Waits is an acquired taste … that I haven’t acquired …

It is quirky, and not exactly enjoyable, but unique and interesting at the same time. Overall a win.

3 Stars (8/15)

I love a concept album but this is just…weird.

It gets there, I struggled with it at first and I think it delights at that. After a while I really start to get it and enjoy it but maybe that's stockholm syndrome because I was desperate to stop listening in the first 3-4 tracks! Have always been intimidated by Tom Waits and so I procrastinated until 11pm to listen and that was probably the right call (for atmosphere purposes!!) thank you Tom :)

Good waits

I don't get it. He's got a great voice though.

Love the world-weary charisma of Waits here. It's an eclectic album, and not really for everyone. I put this on not expecting a flawless, perfect poppy album, but a human album that felt personal and beautiful.

Only the neighborhood and down down down can be considered cohesive. The rest is clownesque and so disjointed I could never see myself recommending this album to anyone. I am happy for those who see their niche filled by this but it's not for me.

Standout Songs: Johnaburg, Illinois Frank’s Wild Years Down, Down, Down

I like Tom Waits in small doses, but it's hard to take his weird-ass circus hobo music seriously.

Insuportável

This is now the FIFTH Tom Waits album I've had the misfortunate of listening to. Unbelievable one is on here, let alot FIVE. Just dogshit. The music they give to terrorists in Guantanamo to torture them. 0/10.

While not as good as my introduction to Waits (that would be Rain Dogs), this has become one of the fundamental albums of my life.

The only album by Tom Wais that I’ve been able to listen to (so far) So I will give 3 stars, lol

I like the idea of Tom Waits more than I like his music.

Love this album

Track one is from the movie Robots. Listen to one song, it's a vibe. two songs, it's a tragedy.

I love Tom Waits but I'd only ever dug into this record once or twice before. This is really an incredible work of art.

Ég er enginn aðdáandi, en ég sé alveg hvernig hann getur verið sjarmerandi. Þetta var fínt á meðan það var, en ég held samt áfram eftir eina hlustun.

Tom Waits is an acquired taste. Pray you never acquire it.

Oh god, another Tom Waits album. I hate this guy so much, what a chore.

Nice mix of moods. I particularly like: 16 Shells From A 30.6 Town With No Cheer Another Sucker On The Vine (sounds like Studio Ghibli music) Soldier's Things I tend to like the words of the jaunty ones but they're not great musically, so prefer his wistful stuff overall.

Love!

I felt at times like I was at a fairground. Not in a good way. A creepy one. And some other eclectic stuff. But not excited. 2.

What the hell is a swordfishtrombone?