Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Very cool bourbonesque voice. I liked and saved the bluesy tracks, but disliked the orchestral ballads. 3.5 / 5
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this album. I don't particularly like Tom Wait's vibe in general, respect his artistry but never in the mood to listen to his music. This bluesy soulful album is quite lovely, glad to find it in this list.
The album cover is giving me the creeps but it's so charming besides that
I just love his voice so much man
god tier but there is better waits. 4.
somewhat weaker, transition-period tom waits that realistically shouldn’t be on this list (i’d go for small change or even closing time) still some of the best shit ever. if you cant handle tom waits’ voice you don’t deserve art. also who the hell drinks a pint of green chartreuse? terribly aged lyric thatd be a 100 dollar drink now
This would be so much better if you removed his singing completely from the album. The music is actually really decent with lots of range, but you have some warbling, gruff drunkard slurring over the top of it. On some songs it works well, actually, but the rest of the album is not great. It follows a similar pattern to other albums of his, where there’s much to admire, but it’s only in pockets, and the rest is just weird and a bit irritating. 2.5 rounded down.
A 5/10. Honestly, this just isn’t really my style. I can respect the character, the roughness, and the whole smoky bar kind of vibe… but it doesn’t fully connect with me.
Wow! Just wow! That voice! I didn’t know a human throat could sound like that without filing a workers’ comp claim. On the bright side, it did give me confidence because if that counts as singing, my shower concerts are officially Grammy-worthy.
oh brother, not this guy again. "I paid fifteen dollars for a prostitute with too much makeup and a broken shoe" sorry to tell you Drunken Tom but that was probably a dude. Better instrumentals than the last album from him but I'm gonna credit literally anyone else than Tom and his shitty voice. Clear your throat one single time
A mix of bourbon drenched bluesy numbers with touchingly moving piano ballads, with the latter really driving the high points of the album (“On The Nickel”, “Ruby’s Arms”). And who knew “Jersey Girl” wasn’t a Springsteen original? Tom Waits would make much better albums, and this is perhaps a curious selection for this list, but its a solid outing.
first 5 minutes hell yea last however long hell no
Waits > Dylan
An excellent album, but does fall a little short of Tom's best albums. He was pushing the boundaries of the traditional music and album forms, and you really can hear it here. Well worth a listen.
A very unique blues album. His voice is so different from what you’re used to that it makes the lyrics stand out even more. It took me a couple of listens to really appreciate how well it’s arranged, but once it clicked, it became a fun and solid listen.
El fin de su época son Asylum, luego vendrían nada menos que Swordfishtrombones y Rain Dogs. Aquí hay blues ponzoñoso y su voz rasposa. La titular es su gran tema, uno de mis favoritos, fuertemente influida por Mancini ( no solo en el saxo, sino en el bajo e incluso en la melodía). Saving all My Love for You, balada de outsiders. Jersey girl es famosa, como muchas otras de Waits, por la versión en este caso de Bruce. Ya la quisiera para sí Van Morrison. On the Nickel es un tema sobrecogedor. Mr. Siegal, es un versión más limpia y de piano bar, con la melodía y ritmo de Heartattack and Vine. Imprescindible
Good ol' Tom Waits, the guy who sounded ancient way before he was 30. It's gnarly and cozy.
Wanted to like it, but his voice. 2.5
8.0/10 Really liked this one.. the piano and organ arrangements are just perfect.. I know his vocals are sometimes hard to get through but it works for me.
2.5/5
Super soulful blues! Glad ive finally listened to a Watts album! Mr. Siegal
As always Tom Waits is interesting, I am glad I gave it a shot. This one is listenable, has beautiful songs, but it is also incredibly self indulgent. I think he can help but make 70 times the same annoying song and waste my time. That said, the good parts shine though incredibly
not my thing.
I always think I don't like Tom Waits. then I get a great album and I love him. He is an album guy not a song guy.
3.5 Interesting voice haha, I preferred the more upbeat songs to the slower ballads but still pretty solid throughout
No lo recomiendo mientras manejas.
I need to revist this might be a 4
I'm always down for Tom Waits, and this is just classic him. Nostalgia, heatbreak, sorrow, dark nights, rainy skies, and an ode to LA unlike few others. You've got to listen to the whole thing from the start because it just captures you from the first lines and doesn't relent the whole time. I love his style, his voice, the music, and everything about this one.
My fourth album by Tom Waits in this challenge, and I was hoping this might be the one that finally clicked. So far, though, I’ve really struggled with his music. I find it hard to listen to, lacking in melody, and difficult to connect with. Going into Heartattack and Vine, I was open to it changing my mind, but unfortunately it didn’t. It’s another tough listen for me, and one I just didn’t enjoy. There’s no denying his style is distinctive, and I can see why people rate him so highly, but it just doesn’t land for me at all. Favourite track: Jersey Girl, although I’d still rather hear Bruce Springsteen’s version Least favourite tracks: Most of the album didn’t work for me Album artwork: Great cover, easily the standout for me
Notas graves, porque su voz es sumamente particular Baladas muy bonitas Otras rolas son más para tirar relajo o contando una que otra Historia ahí No es mi estilo directamente, pero el artista es súper talentoso
His voice just cannot be real
Some nice melodies, and good lyrics, but his voice truly is a lot.
i hate this
This was fresh all get out!
i feel like this guy liked cigarettes
Viel Blues. Viel Whiskey.
Parodie? aeinige Lieder waren cool, aber dieser Gesangstyle ...
Nice.
Heading towards his really funky period, but not there yet.
I normally dislike everything Tom Waits does, but for some reason I found this one passable.
Me gustó mucho la vo,
fuck this schmuck
An album that certainly has it's moments, but is quite full of itself. It gets a bit much.
Gritty
3/10
nice relaxing album. would listen again. 4
sehr schön. gefällt mir sehr gut. auch dass es immer ruhiger wird gegen ende. echt toll!!
Det börjar lite trögt med de två första spåren. Öppningsspåret får han inte ordning på och den där instrumentalen har jag aldrig förstått mig på. Men sen varvar han upp och när Tom är bra är han inte bara bra utan ofta bäst, en alldeles egen liten subgenre faktiskt. Försiktigt med klockspel och stråkar som fin kontrast till sitt skrovel smyger han igång i "Saving all my love for you". Innan det ena lilla mästerstycket efter det andra tar vid, "Downtown", “Jersey girl", " Til the money run out", "On the nickel" är en superb fyrklöver. "Mr. Siegal" är inte lika bra men fullt godkänd. För att avsluta i en gåshudsframkallande stråkbeklädd "Ruby's arm", finfint maestro. Jag har svårt att rangordna Waits album, men det här hör absolut till de bästa, kanske är också det jag spelar oftast. Med en bättre inledning hade det nog varit en femma, nu får Tom nöja sig med fyran.
Det här är egentligen en rätt tråkig bluesskiva. Tack vare två patenterade Waits-ballader blir det ändå okej nog för en tvåa. Övrigt konstaterande: Waits har fem album i boken, men inget av dem är Closing time. Hur är det möjligt?
Waits är alltså nyss fyllda 30. Ändå låter han redan som om pensionsdagen ligger långt bakom honom. Jag är lite tudelad inför skrovligheten. Den tillför definitivt något till stämning, samtidigt kan det bli för mycket av det goda. Här håller sig Waits emellertid på rätt sida strecket. Waits iakttar ljusskygga själar på samhällets skuggsida. Eller kanske snarare bygger upp sin egen lilla värld. För Waits känns mer som manusförfattare än självutlämnande (Jersey girl undantaget) och detta har jag inga som helst problem med. Texterna är den stora behållningen. Musikaliskt är det helt okej, men inte så mycket mer.
Waits är en ypperlig textförfattare och framförare av sånger. Det är få förutom Waits som kan komma undan med en sha la la-refräng. Utan Waits röst i den instrumentella In shades blir det rätt menlöst. Här finns flera bra låtar men Disney-stråkarna gör att det mer låter Randy Newman än Tom Waits. Inte Toms bästa skiva, gissar att den kom med på listan på grund av Jersey girl.
Прокуренный мужик-куряга Артур Морган после пару стаканов джина поет о насущном в захолустном баре в полночь под аккомпанемент затерявшегося блюз-бэнда
"Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk" would earn a 5 even if the rest of the album weren't great. I don't much like Tom's voice, but this album is the exception for me.
Try as I might I can’t really handle Tom Waits 90% of the time. RYM: N Saved a song: N
The album that transitioned Tom Waits out of the drunk piano jazz blues of his early years and brought him into the middle period of his career. Heartattack and Vine definitely has one foot on either side of the border, as the blown out guitars that appear in the opener are sat right next to the boozy piano ballads that made Tom Waits a name to watch a decade prior. "Saving All My Love for You" is the absolute saddest Christmas song I've ever heard someone write, regardless of whether it's about Christmas or not. "Downtown" has a spy movie feel that later Waits never revisited, and "Jersey Girl" - probably the best-known song from this album, has the most bitter la-la-las ever committed to tape. Waits is enraged, overjoyed and despondent all at once. This album feels like the last time Waits was ever fully put together, with all screws in place, as his later 80s output only got more unhinged before going completely off the rails in the 90s. Definitely a highlight of his catalogue and an excellent transition album that works equally well as a standalone release. Key Tracks: Saving All My Love for You, Jersey Girl, Mr. Siegal
The slower, more crooning songs kind of bounced off me during my first listen, but the more straightforward blues rock numbers made a good enough impression I can see myself warming up more to those slower songs if in the right mood. Really love the piano and electric organ whenever present. I just hope the whopping 4 other albums by Waits on this list don't disappoint. 8/10.
The instrumentation doesn't grab me at all but his vocals are unique at least. Hope his other albums are more interesting.
7.5/10 The vocals are very hit or miss for me but overall I enjoyed it
Sonically I like this a lot, and there's some nice turns of phrase and clever lyrics, as you'd expect. But then he mentions spending $15 on a prostitute in what is ostensibly a love song, and the growing sense of silliness and hilarity boils over. Also find a little lacking in dynamics, where songs don't have a lot of progression. But that doesn't matter too much, the music, as great as it is, just exists to serve Waits' musings, which is fine as his vocals are pretty undeniable and the lyrics generally good, and pretty funny (presumably intentionally so). Which makes it all the more jarring when he tries to be emotionally sincere, with hilarious results (Jersey Girl and On the Nickel are a weird kinda of cringe). Overall decent but just a little too "one-note" for me to strongly want to return to.
Why is Austin Butler on the cover? He sounds like Sylvester the cat with his lisp I liked the parts where he wasn't singing
Excellent dirty ruined
Mumbling, grumbling, drunken, rock-bottom, barfly blues. What's not to like?
прекрасный пьяный альбом для нуарного кабака
Relaxing listen
Not great for me to listen too.
This was actually terrible. And I don’t say that lightly. His voice sounds like the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes trying to sing (and failing). I had to skip every song because I CANNOT with his voice. Can’t even speak to the rest of the band because his voice distracted from anything good.
Garten, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Mh, naja - not my cup of tea.
I don’t enjoy his voice as much as other people, but this album is nice.
oooooh not bad at all
Heartattack and Vine - 3.5/5 In Shades - 3/5 Saving All My Love for You - 3/5 Downtown - 3.5/5 Jersey Girl - 4/5 'Til the Money Runs Out - 3.5/5 On the Nickel - 3.5/5 Mr. Siegal - 3.5/5 Ruby's Arms - 3/5 I can just imagine this voice being projected across the room in a seedy jazz bar. It takes some time getting used to but I think it eventually works out in the end. Not my style of music but I can see the influence on some artists. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Jersey Girl
This man's voice is awful, but the album was somewhat enjoyable, well recorded and produced. I had only heard Tom Waits before in some compilation / tribute / covers album, I believe the "We're a Happy Family" tribute to the Ramones.
His vocal style will take some time to grow on me, but I found this album to be very interesting and unique. I think this is one that requires a few more listens to fully grasp. Edit: I was correct, bumping this to a 4 haha
I don't hate his voice, but this was my first time paying attention to everything else on this album, musically it's purdy good.
Upon seeing Tom Waits today my heart sank, only hearing the abysmal ‘Nighthawks’ album before, but this album was so much better than that. Still not a fan of the vocals, but at least this focused on the songs. Overall 2.5/5 rounding down, not super excited seeing I still have another 3 of his albums to go..
interesante album pero no mi tipo 2.4 estrellas
I like it.
*Some cool blue stuff but I find Waits' voice too abrasive and some of his slow stuff boring
Blind album, know the artist. Too slow, too raspy, too much.
I love getting to hear this mans gravely voice one every few months.
Bueno, es Tom Waits
Great album. I'm predisposed to enjoying Tom Waits, but there were a few discoveries for me on here, including the title track as well as On the Nickel, which might go into my Tom Waits shortlist of favorites. I'll be revisiting this again for sure, it was great start to end.
can't drink enough whiskey to listen to more than one song
Some good tracks. I expect he has better albums
I like the Tom Waits records I've listened to but admittedly it's only a couple Bone Machine and Closing Time. After listening and really enjoying Bone Machine I was surprised that Closing Time was so...friendly. Heartattack and Vine is kind of somewhere in the middle. It has some beautiful heart-wrenching moments and then some brutal "it is what it is" stretches. I would pick either Closing Time or Bone Machine over this record.
I'm not a Waits fan at my core but goddam this album is good.
I happened to be walking through Times Square as I listened to this album. It is a world away from the time Waits sings about but man does this album make you feel every lyric. It’s so vibrant, so sad, it wasn’t the way to walk to work but it was a work of art.
A bit less experimental than his later stuff, but still a pretty decent album regardless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Well, I’m somewhere above a 5. My goodness. I might be just a bit taken aback by how lovely “Ruby’s Arms” is as a closing track, but I just thought it was a fantastic closer to a really strong overall album. Tom Waits’ songwriting skills feel pretty damn vivid here, & even on this album’s more confusingly written tracks (i.e., ones that snapshot parts of urban life without a clear narrative throughline), those snapshots still feel very lived in, giving each track the kind of worldbuilding that feels like it could only come from a seasoned author. I’m just surprised at how seriously Tom Waits takes himself on this album; I’m used to him leaning into the absurd & prose-y at times, but this album is consistently grounded. I think it leads to the best songwriting we’ve gotten from a Tom Waits album – “Soldier’s Things” might still be a gold standard for me personally, but there’s some fantastic tracks here that evoke the same feelings; “Jersey Girl”, “On the Nickel”, & “Ruby’s Arms” among them. I think going track by track would be far less effective than actually listening to it, so I won’t even bother. I think this has some great instrumentation behind it – a few lull spots & some annoyingly abrupt endings (with “‘Til the Money Runs Out” being the worst offender here), but for the most part, the strings, guitar & percussion just glide along with Tom in a way that hits a really nice harmony. Of course, Tom Waits’ vocals are still the X factor here, and it might be hard to accept him sounding like Bruce Springsteen doing a Louis Armstrong impression on some of these tracks. This is the 4th time our group has gotten him, so I’m used to it by now, and I honestly find his delivery charming on the vast majority of this album. There’s a few times where he goes just a LITTLE too deep in a way that muddles & slurs his voice a bit, but that’s what the instrumentals & lyrics are there for. If you just can’t really get past his vocals, then I don’t think this will quite hit the same way. For my tastes, it’s very, very close to being a 10 – if “‘Til the Money Runs Out” had clicked a little more nicely for me, I’d definitely be there. No matter what, it’s certainly above a 5, and I think it’s the best Tom Waits album we’ve gotten so far. We’ve only got one more left after this, and it’s one quite literally recorded in a live jazz club. I’ve come to really enjoy the mental image of Tom Waits singing in a seedy little bar, so having that actually come to life will be fascinating. As far as this one goes, it’s a very, very easy 5, and someday, it will probably reach a 10. It’s worth listening to before you die, for sure.
okay, I let this guy groan and yell at me for the past 45 minutes. Now I can go on with my life and stop thinking about this fat jazz cat cartoonish voiced man.... until the next TW album. UGH
This reminds me that I need to listen to more Tom Waits. It’s not a perfect album by any means but he’s got such a unique musicality and it’s one I quite like.
Interesting getting this album queued up a few weeks after Nirvana’s Unplugged. If I heard this record in the 90s, I would have *hated* it compared to the Nirvana covers. But after a youth steeped in indie, it feels right at home, teeing up Wilco and Pavement. Doing something bold, raw and messy in the early 80s — punk-adjacent, but more loose and sad — feels rather brave in retrospective. I could listen to The History of Grunge playlist all day (but I might turn it down sometimes).
Tom Waits has a voice that has been mixed with oxy acetylene and honey. The album is a blues/jazz thing where he growls his stories. Need less to say I loved it. He is a brilliant storyteller and his voice matched the mood perfectly.
This. This is why I starter listening to 1001 albums. Shame it took me 44 years to discover this album
Fucking finally. 295 albums in and I finally get a Tom Waits record. I’ve already seen 6 Neil Young records and 5 of Bowie’s lesser known albums and just piles of other nonsense along the way, so this feels like it’s taken too long to get here. Tom Waits is an all-time favorite for me. I love that he tells stories, and I love that some of the songs are weepy and sad, some are funny, some sound like he’s shredding his vocal cords to scream them at you. Sometimes his voice is like a warm blanket, sometimes he’s a carnival barker. I know not everyone will appreciate him, but he’s been a real blessing in my life. Heartattack and Vine is not my absolute favorite of his records, but it’s still so good. At this point in his discography, it feels like he’s settled into his boozy troubadour rhythm; there aren’t really records of his that I don’t like, but I prefer about 1980 forward with Tom Waits (1973’s Closing Time being an exception). This record hits all the right notes for me. 10/10
The archetypal drunk growling storyteller. This album is what bars in American films and TV sounds like. You can almost see McNulty propping up the end of the bar.
It's not for me. I get he's highly regarded, but maybe I just haven't heard the right combination yet.
Felt like smoking a cigarette to this, but I don’t care for cigarettes. Also heard the name a lot now I know where it came from. Dope.
After comparing yesterdays album to Tom Waits, today I'm given.... Tom Waits! A continuation of the blues from Blue Valentine but the is a grittier, dirtier, roadhouse version of it, In fact I’m getting a lot of The Doors circa Morrison Hotel/LA Woman era. Vocally, he certainly lets go here sometimes in the way Morrison used to. These bluesier tracks are intermingled with a handful of more traditional Waitsian piano lead ballads
First time listening to Tom Waits... Loved this.
Don't really know what to say about this one except that I definitely prefer Rain Dogs with it's far more interesting and experimental sound going on.
Karoke by a smoker horrible Favorite: downtown Least: jersey girl
loved the drunk mupped comparison hahahah
- Okay, so his voice... it was tough to get through on the first song, but it got better after that where that back of throat raspy singing happened less often. Maybe it hurt too much to keep singing like that, lol. - I find it hard to understand the lyrics when he's doing his affected vocals. - I like the variety of styles on here - some bluesy, some jazzy, some sentimental ballad (which were the standouts, imo). - Instrumentally, what stood out was that there was really nice guitar tone on the second song, some pretty strings, and the keyboard playing fit each song. - All that said, I didn't find the songs particularly memorable.
Musically great.
Man, I get it. Just not my jam
Huh, this was the first Waits album I can say that I genuinely enjoyed. I'd all but given up on him at this stage. Every other album here scored a 2-3 but this one hit me differently. The title track was gritty and bluesy and the rest of the album followed a similar suit. Would listen again.
3,5
I already liked Tom Waits from what I've heard, and so this did not disappoint - my favorite of his so far! Love the bluesy sound, and I thought the ballads were particularly interested and enjoyable. Jersey Girl is a highlight, such a great song. I really like this voice and the vibe he curates in his music. Great album! Top Songs: Heartattack and Vine, In Shades, Jersey Girl, Mr. Siegal, Ruby's Arms
It's 8:30am and this is a weird album to start your day off with. They say you either love Tom Waits or can't stand him, but I'd say I'm more conflicted. Like Nick Cave, I WANT to like him. He's cool, he's clever, he's got a little bit of danger to him. But something stops me from getting fully into his work. Also, everyone that I know that was a hardcore Tom Waits fan was an insufferable asshole. That's not his fault though, I don't think.
Better than I thought it was going to be. 2.7 for me
I really like his music but his voice grates on me and ruins it for me. 2
Výborný album. Waitsa mám rád.
This is an album I listen to when in the car on my own…. My family hate it but I am drawn to it… Jersey Girl is great
Really love the growling jazz tracks, some of the slow ballads I'm a bit less keen on but overall a great album
Not as wild as expected, but still, a unique voice. Really good record, but not quite four stars for me. 3.5?
A 2 star album
Dirty bar blues get me anytime. I enjoyed this record way more than expected.
I love Tom Waits and this was a new listening experience for me. I was hooked start to finish.
This is some gritty, grimy, kinda-blues, kinda-rock, kinda just ballads stuff. Waits's voice is crazy. I liked the music itself, but the vocals are definitely an acquired taste. Standout tracks on this listen were "Heartattack and Vine" "In Shades" "'Til the Money Runs Out" I think this is not for me. I wouldn't revisit any of it and my favorite track was the instrumental. 2/5 for me.
Sound of silver, more like sound of gold to me
It has some nice songs untill the vocals start.
I'm a huge Tom Waits fan, but his catalogue is massive and I have never gone in on this one. It was very good but by his own high standards this is not the absolute best - I prefer him going further into being an absolute freak on the next few records.
This sounds a little bluesy but trying to be offbeat for the sake of being an oddball. Its just really filthy and grungy sounding but it works against it. Yeah, the feedback and voices in the back are charming I'm sure, but its just flat annoying.
Tom Waits is hit or miss for me and this was mostly a miss. Sounded like a shitty Bruce Springsteen album mixed with the blues (BLEH)
His voice still kills it for me.
Fantastic album. Crunchy blues rock, zippy jazz influenced tracks, heartbreaking singer-songwriter piano ballads. All with Waits’ insane, booming voice and street-wise sense of humor.
The only people that like tom waits are the people who think they're cooler than you because they listen to tom waits
I hate his voice in all songs except two.
This is the 3rd Tom Waits album from this book that I have listened to. I find it interesting Waits has 5 albums in this book. His music varies from album-to-album, as is true for nearly every musician. Does it vary so much that five albums should be in this book? Eh, not so sure about that. Judging this album on its merits, I loved this one. When I think of what I WANT to hear from Tom Waits, I think of the sounds my ears hear on this album. The gin-soaked songs that are set at 4am are what I expect to hear and this album seems to deliver mostly on that expectation. Tom Waits and his voice are an acquired taste and it makes it more difficult for me to acquire that taste when the instrumentation is more experimental and not as straight-forward as I would like. Perhaps I'm a lazy listener. Being a fan of Springsteen, I know Jersey Girl very well. I do like his version of the song, but I really like the way Tom Waits approaches the song with the strings in the background. I found it interesting the second song on her was an instrumental. Just odd sequencing in my mind. The middle run of Saving All My Love for You, Downtown, Jersey Girl, and On the Nickel really sold the album for me. My favorite songs: Heartattack and Vine Saving All My Love for You (not the Whitney Houston version) Downtown Jersey Girl On the Nickel Mr. Siegal
> the Beatles
Not bad, interested to check out more of his music
Not Waits best. Has it's moments but lacks some of the variety that make me love his other LPs.
Loved this moody sexy bleak beautiful cool a real maelstrom
Havent played this for years. Good to hear again!
My Tom Waits is a 1990s Tom Waits, the scary cookie monster Tom Waits. When I need the bar fly Tom Waits I tend to listen to Small Change because we all know the piano has been drinking and who doesn't want to buy that perfect product that will make you a winner? I can't remember the last time I listened to Heart Attack and Vine but I missed out. I will be listening to this track much more again. It's a great Tom Waits album.
honestly fuck off mate
I can understand the appeal but his voice, for me, actually makes it unlistenable. I’m sorry Tom Waits…
fun album with raspy vocals and good instrumentals favorite track: jersey girl other picks: heartattack and vine, in shades, downtown
His voice is something of an acquired taste, but lyrically fantastic, and if you enjoy the vocals (which I do), a very enjoyable album.
Just completely devoid of anything listenable or even interesting?
As a huge Tom Waits fan, even I'm struggling to understand why this album is on the list. For starters, it was a throwaway recording just to complete his label obligations. But also, it's far from his best or most interesting. I would never use this to introduce someone to Tom. It's really a deep cut album for fans. I have no idea what the rationale is.
Couldn’t get past his voice
They just want me to love him don’t they
Too many contrived unnecessary grits. If he has too much phlegm in his lungs and throat, he should go see a doctor. Music wise I think it’s ok.
never listened to Tom Waits before. honestly, it was aight. probably more of a 2.5, but his voice is so unique that it kept the album interesting. i wouldn't mind hearing more of him, so i'll bump this to a 3
The review that said he sounds like a drunk muppet is spot on. Two years between Tom Waits albums was not long enough. Couldn’t turn on the ‘Do Not Play This Artist’ option back on fast enough.
I liked the song where he didn't sing.
You either love or hate the vocals. I've never really liked them. He sounds like if Bruce Springsteen made bad life choices, woke up hungover and recovered this. In this context, its tolerable and grew on me as I listened. Can't see myself becoming a big fan, but I can appreciate his uniqueness. 3/5.
As much as I liked the instrumentation, especially the keys, I could not stand Waits vocals. They had emotion but honestly it was too much and was really ruining the tracks in my opinion. But I still think it was a nicely composed album nonetheless. 2/10, Favorite Song: In Shades
Tom Waits, and I also wait for him to have good music that I can rate higher. I guess I can wait my whole life and that won't ever happen.
This is #day561 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… how about that raspy blues growl? I guess I don't mind some Tom Waits once in a blue moon. Face it, there are few like him. The title track, "In Shades," "Downtown," "Jersey Girl"… honestly, about half of this record makes for perfect Friday listening. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day562.
i like the stripped down style of young tom waits. kind of sultry and intimate;?you can hear the spit leave his lips. maybe the cockiness of youth let him make songs without the vaudeville spectacle. it could’ve been 15 minutes shorter though.
Felt like listening to raven who was ravening.
Sorry, but he sounds like SpongeBob singing while delivering Krusty Krab pizza and that's all I hear 😂
Crossover between Nick Cave and a drunk Santa Claus Music was okey… sometimes
це прікол
I liked it, solid album. I enjoyed the ballads more than the jazz/blues/rock songs. Jersey Girl is a fantastic song.
Damn! this was good. So much emotion, so much swagger, so much soul. One thing can never be overlooked, Tom Waits is an incredible songwriter. Would it be a cliché to say the Jersey Girl is the standout track? Otherwise "Ruby's Arms", what a sensational song. great album. 4 stars
That was a weird experience, definitely will not hear this one again, On the nickel was a hard one to get through, but I understand the idea and soul behind it, the instrumental and the lyrics was phenomenal, but the vocals and melody? not my style. But sure a pretty good album. Today´s bird: Shoebill Stork
I never knew there was an album of songs sung by Rowlf - nor that I needed it (which I don’t). What initially plays as grating slowly becomes endearing and by the time I reached the bottom of this album I found myself really liking it. It’s likely a 3 in my normal manner of ranking but I’m going to place as a 4 to encourage me to come back. 4/5
give this guy a drink
This is just gritty and bluesy, absolutely love it. Big fan of a Tom Waits generally, his gravelly vocal is just brilliant, and allows him to deliver songs with an exceptionally dark and sinister tone
heart attack on vine? this guy was ahead of his time
Love Tom Waits. This is a great album, as long as you like his voice. If you don't, you won't get far! There's nothing truly outstanding on this, though, so 4 is as high as I can go with it.
I initially thought I liked Tom Waits, then I realized I kind of hated him, and now I get this album and like him again. Except for the last song. That's the Tom I knew and hated.
So good. Love Tom Waits.
Enjoyed the listen
Never know if I really like Tom Waits or find him really annoying. Mixed between both listening to this.
Another low octane album that doesn't offer much in terms of thrills but nothing inherently off-putting about it.
Love Tom Waits, this one is underrated.
I have heard the name Tom Waits but never actually heard him, and I was not expecting that. I could see his voice being love it or hate it, and I rather liked it..the music less so, sadly.
Wow. Heard of tom waits, but not really any of his music. Part of this challenge to listen to the 1001 albums was actually hearing artists that influened artists I like. I really enjoyed this. The voice is no doubt unique, but it works with the simplicity of the music.and the lyrics are great. After this I'll definitely be listening to more waits. Looks like there's 4 in the list. Will be interesting to see if the 4 stand alone enough to be all included.
While his songs are not bad I have a really hard time listening to his voice. It makes it hard to understand what he is saying and kind of ruins the listening experience for me. Instrumental and production wise the album is quite nice though.
I don’t understand this lists obsession with Tom Waits. His voice is trash, which is a shame because the musicianship from the baking band is pretty good.
Mellow blues deep voice
I broke my own rule and read some reviews before voting. The quote from Rolling Stone that "Tom Waits finds more beauty in the gutter than most people would find in the Garden of Eden" (or words to that effect) captures it.
Thank you 1001. Gravelly, fresh and thoughtful
The bar room Bruce Springsteen. I love the sleezy, blues vibe and the lyrics always tell a great, and frequently moving, story. 4*
I tried to not give it five stars, cos it's not my favorite Waits album. But by the time I got through Jersey girl and on the nickel I have to put it down as an absolute classic.
meh 2/5
Niet voor mij
Every Waits album I’ve came across on this website has been really good. I just love his experimental and Americana he is a good songwriter.
It’s sooooooooo boring oh my god
Another great one from Tom Waits.
The grasp in his voice… Amazing, felt i was in New Orleans! Plus a white guy with a black voice!!
I don't know who keeps adding this guy to the list but hope this album was the last one. His voice sounds like he's trying to imitate Louis Armstrong and blues musicians with the gravelly voice except he sucks. This album was more bearable than the last one of his but still ass
did not like it awful
I feel the same about all this guy's albums. The vocals are not for me, and he's a good actor. 3
Nope.
Tom Waits’ vocal performances on this record are just insane. I can’t get enough of his harsh and gravely voice. The songs also groove so hard—it’s 44 straight minutes of fire bluesy jazz rock. Fantastic stuff
RUBYS ARMS
just really didn’t like this one, i can’t even really put into words why, guess i just don’t like tom waits’ voice here that much… although i did like the sheer anguish you can hear come through at times. also feel the need to highlight that a few hours after i listened to this, a friend of mine messaged me to ask if i was alright because he was “bedazzled” to see me listening to this. sorry tom waits i’m sure your other stuff is good.
not my favorite but also not bad. tom waits' voice makes me laugh
don’t interact with me tom waits unenjoyers
I am confused by why this is on here. Even Mr. Tom himself is like "yeah this didn't all work but I needed to do it to get to where I was going." It starting with the title track which is really weird and fades out like in the middle of a chorus into a 4 minute instrumental that is very loose and shaggy is so funny. It's fine but surely we could have put something else here, there's already like 5 other Tom Waits albums in here, WHY!!! AND I LOVE HIM!!!
My god, the phlegm. It's so horrible to listen, I actively wished it to stop. The non-phlegmy stuff is pretty good though.
Nooooo
I've liked the Tom Waits so far on this list, but this one that comes and goes without much of anything interesting. "Nighthawks at the Diner" had a fun live boozey club setting, "Bone Machine" had cool production and percussion. This one doesn't have much going for it. The vocals can get comedic here, which is a given for any Waits album, but it happened quite often. The songs weren't all that strong.
its awful. i only listend to two songs and i hated both. im definitly not giving this a chance.
I really want to like Tom Waits, because it seems cool to enjoy his music, and I think his lyrics are sharp and often funny, but man so far I have had a hard time with each of his projects. This one was the most enjoyable so far (there are discernible melodies and song structures, which I inanely like in the music I listen to), but I can’t say that I’ll revisit. Felt longer than its 44 minutes. Fun to hear the original version of “Jersey Girl”, although I did throw on the Springsteen version as a palate cleanser after the album ended.
it’s time to put the cigarettes DOWN tom
Light 3,5
2/5
I don't know how I feel about Tom Waits, and that's been true for about a decade. I definitely appreciate and respect his music, and it can hit me when I'm in the right mood, but I'm rarely in the right mood. Today, this one worked. Looking back on my previous reviews, I'm surprised at how highly I rated Rain Dogs. I think I liked this more than Rain Dogs, but it's been a while. Maybe I'm just loosening up to different music, which is honestly the whole reason I started doing this.
This is so weird. I’m not sure what to think about it. But arts are really good. Raw vocals. Bluesy, jazzy, singer-songwriter, and storyteller.
Kinda sad. Not my vibe.
Awful. Very nearly a one star
One of the most listenable album from Tom Waits?
Feels like an opera.
was alright. not really my thing though
Well, to be honest, I wasn't really feeling it. Some of it was a "drunken ballad" and some of it was pretty decent. Jersey Girl was pretty good.
I struggled to get into this honestly. The vibe and sound was just... nope.
Deep voice
A good eclectic selection of atom Waits œuvre
Interesting voice, well composed album with strong lyrics. A lot of the songs sound similar.
honestly I think I expected more going into it. I saw some things that said it was similar to nick cave and bob Dylan, so I got excited thinking it was finally something more my speed. however, its quite disappointing.... I get what they were saying with it being similar to nick cave and bob Dylan, but it's nowhere near the same level. he has nowhere near the power of nick cave, he mainly just shouts over soft songs that could do with someone singing a bit quieter. he has a unique voice, I'll give him that. but it's not unique in a good way. bob Dylan's nasal, croaky voice has a sort of charm to it that fits quite well with the songs he writes. but this guy, he writes bob Dylan esque songs but screams like a drunkard over them - it doesn't work! None of the songs are really that original either, I feel like I've heard everything on here before.
Bättre än förra skivan. Bitvis bra till och med. Men lite för ojämn, plus jag är inte helt ombord på Waitståget.
Kul, här fick man mycket mer av den braiga Tom Waits och mindre av den jobbiga. Heartattack and vine, Downtown och Mr Siegal är höjdpunkterna och i övrigt är det hyfsat bra också. Stark trea som möjligtvis skulle kunna bli mer om jag hade tid för fler lyssningar.
i literally burst out laughing when he started singing
what the actual fuck............
The folk songs "Jersey Girl" and "On the Nickel" are painfully bad (not surprisingly, the king of bad music, Bruce Springsteen, covered "Jersey Girl"). However, the remainder of the album is gritty, bluesy, jazz and really fits his voice and lyrics. Overall, without the folk numbers this is an excellent album. As it is, I'll say it's still very good. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
Very interesting album, his voice is so cool
I thought this was the weakest of the Waits albums I’ve heard on here so far. Not that many compelling stories. And then Jersey Girl hit me on the side of the head as one of his best songs. Him being so in love with a woman that he isn’t even considering a whore is peak Tom Waits. Beauty and ruin.
вайбовый блюююз
Solid aber au nöd
I love the journeys and visions I get with Tom Waits. He paints a picture in his music better than most. Is the voice sometimes too much at its gravely-gargliest? Yes, of course. But there are moments of sweeter sounding tracks for when it's right too.
No getting around the fact this is just weird
Was alright l, I like Tom
I like a lot of the music but Tom Waits's voice is just not for me. I would never listen to this again on purpose.
I think if you're an alt GenXer such as myself, either you're on team Nick (Cave) or team Tom. I'm on team Nick. Regardless, it had it's fun parts. I actually think I preferred the ballads.
Has bro tried clearing his throat
Delightful, in the most Tom Waits way possible
I've now heard enough Tom Waits that the vocals aren't surprising...but even when I'm paying attention I can't make out the lyrics unless he goes with more of a crooner vibe (like on "Saving All My Love For You"), but that version of his vocals doesn't work that well for me. Tom Waits is not for me, and that's OK. 2.4
I was already familiar with some Tom Waits material but not this album. This is more of the same however. I can respect him as an artist, but I really don't care for this voice. This was hard for me to get through. I would not listen again.
I don't really know what context I would listen to this outside of sitting in a leather chair with a pipe and a fedora.
Not my thing
Raspy ass voice damn. Lyrics are interesting and make you think. Lots of religious undertones. Not really the album for me.
10/10
If AI ever turns out to be as cool as the hologram deck on the Enterprise, I wanna visit (and visit only) inside a Tom Waits record. Listened to this on a rainy drive into the city along the Bedford highway.
Oh man, I am so not in the head space for this Tom Waits. I just can't get past his voice. I get why he's for some, he's just not for me.
I have a hard time with Mr Waits' voice most of the time but I enjoyed this!
My affection for Tom Waits and pleasure that he exists outweighs the fact that I have never once enjoyed listening to a full album.
Tom Waits and that iconic voice of his. It can be grating at times, but it still has its quality of being so distinct. The music is grungy and moody rock, but possesses some really cool riffs and harmonies. This one is solid.
Not for me 1/5
I like the idea of Tom Waits more than I like his music. This was a chore to get through. Either be weirder or be less obvious, man.
The music is good. I appreciate the songwriting. I just really couldn’t get past the voice. It was painful to listen to most of the time. 3/5
I like Tom’s voice on a few other tracks from other albums where it’s darker and more sinister. Not really a fan of him actually singing ballad style it’s very grating.
Tom Waits is one of the most innovative and oddly successful raspy voiced musicians of our times. He is a poet and a true original and his work is to be celebrated.
My dad knows every Tom Wait song and it was dun to listen to! Will have to relisten on a day where I’m not on ice patrol through
definitely noise
This album cover throwing me all the way off. He look like edward scissorhands tryna look seductive But this the last time Im judging a book by its cover. I wasnt expecting blues, but Im highly impressed with the music. Every single song had me moving or bopping my head Im definitely coming back to this album in the future. I feel like it'll be perfect for when I want to get work done or want to relax Saved: Heartattack and Vine, In Shades, Jersey Girl, Mr. Siegal, Ruby's Arms
couldnt wait for it to end
Favourite Tracks: All
This is my 5th Tom Waits album here. This is, like Nighthawks, quite listenable and not as challenging as, say, Swordfishtrombones. Never realised that he wrote Jersey Girl that sounds so much like other Springsteen songs. There is some similarity betweeen Waits and Springsteen, I guess.
Previously rated: #448 - Nighthawks At The Diner (4/5) #575 - Bone Machine (3/5) #928 - Rain Dogs (4/5) ***************************************** Album #1,007 Bluesy, but not as memorable as his other stuff. His low growling vocals sometimes feel natural and sometimes feel like a put-on.
I'm never immediately sure what I think of Waits' music other than that it grabs my attention. He can sell both wry parody and heart-on-your-sleeve balladeering, and he's never boring. Something about his particular range resonates with my inner life, if not always my outer. I'm not sure I want to live in his world, but there are ways he makes me feel less alone in mine.
Some of these ballads were affecting, but his normal secret sauce largely felt missing here.
this album is a rare example of when listening to it i can’t tell if i like it or not. mr. waits has always had a unique vocal style, and the songs themselves (apart from the vocals) are pretty good. i am interested in seeing him live, as i’m sure him in a live setting would be fascinating. however, i’m not sure if he still tours (he is 76 years old).
That voice…….
Finally know what Tom Waits sound like. Really enjoyable album.
Blimey. "On the Nickle" is a heck of an audio sensation. For me the vocals on that track are off-putting as Waits sounds in pain but the rest of the album is thoroughly enjoyable. 4/5.
Ima par baš dobrih stvari na albumu i zbog toga će biti malo viša ocjena, ali generalno je malo zamarajuće. 3/5, 5.5/10
Tom Waits is such an unique artist and gifted songwriter. He's also the star actor in one of my favorite movies "Down by law". Such a talented and also otherwise cool guy, who walks his own path and don't give a s&#t what other people think.
Most of the Tom Waits I've heard is too folkey for me, while I do like his more rock oriented stuff. His voice is quite amazing and many a song carries on that alone.
Started off interesting but didn't evolve
Röökinhajua ja romantiikkaa. Eka on sellaista räkälän, viskin ja savunhajuista bluesia ja yhtäkkiä mennään suoraan pianoballadeihin. Ei mitään, kummatkin toimi ihan hyvin. Vähän jouluinen fiilis balladeissa ja taidettiin niissä joulumainitakkin. Parhaat: Heartattack And Vine, Ruby's Arms, In Shades
This was slightly more bearable than the first TW album I heard - the instrumentals were good, but his voice and how he uses it just doesn't fall on my ears well.
top 3: - mr siegal - downtown - heartattack and vine really loved the blues bar vibes of the album and the instrumentals were so so good. i’m not always 100% sold on waits’s voice, i think i enjoy it more in songs with more going on in the background like downtown and mr siegal rather than songs where the vocals are the main focus
I like this vibe, feels like I’ve just got divorced from my third wife and I’ve decided to go to a rusty old bar that somehow still allows people to smoke cigars inside. Very unique voice and I want to listen more.
I just don’t get it
Not a fan, the musical choices and the way he uses his voice really put me off the album, some of the ways he sung made me laugh. One I will probably be ok not having to hear again, the last 2 songs were actually interesting but the chore of having to go through such a chaotic album were not worth it.
OK to start with but grew significantly better as it went on and we began to enjoy it a lot more. Was a good backdrop to getting some work done. Waits' voice is quite emotive and pairs well with the music style.
Still don’t see the appeal of Waits. Just not for me, I guess. 2/5 Won’t listen again
Voice as smooth as gravel, guitar so bluesy. Strange trips to travel, New Jersey floosies. Cheap whiskey, cheaper motel rooms. Tom brings ya from low down to high noon. (3.4*s) Climb out of that buttonhole…
Some more bluesy, boozy, saloony tunes from the old scallywag. Heartattack and Vine is not as strong as the other Waits list entries but still pretty good. Been trending down as we progress and maybe that is due to a little oversaturation. A lot of tributes and covers generated from this album apparently. The cover shot of Tom pretty much sums up how he was feeling while writing this one...a scraggled mess of a drunk. "Downtown" and "Mr. Siegal" are top tracks. A shout out to all the Jersey girls at 2.78 stars.
Another great entry by Tom Waits. Opening title track hooked me with his signature unique wailing. I enjoyed the rest of the ride and added a couple of the other tunes to my like songs list for future listens. Lands in the same realm as his other work which I have enjoyed. As he racks up more albums I may find that I want to slide these ratings up as the more exposure I get the more I am enjoying them in hindsight. Keep bringing the Tom Waits. I need more of his musical weirdness in all ways. 3.29 stars
not the best phase of tom waits
Tom Waits is the US version of Shane MacGowan. He’s fine, but Doesn’t need this many albums on the list. 2.5.
First track, the title track, was good, and the penultimate one was ok. But other than that he has decided to become a second rate Springsteen. and as I consider him to be a third rate performer, this is a real disappointment to me. I much preferred his earlier missive. Now all I have to do is decide is the 2 decent tracks are enough to drag it into the realms of a 2, yes, but only just.
The 3rd Tom Waits album I’ve ever listened to, and all 3 with ‘thanks’ to this list. They are all very different. I managed a one word review for the last one (Abysmal). Therefore I thought “here we go again”. But wow. This was definitely not abysmal. I found it really captivating. The songs showcased his voice perfectly. Like a late night bar scene from a movie. Everyone smoking and drinking and listening. Standouts are ‘Downtown’ and ‘Jersey Girl’, The latter immediately made me think of Bruce Springsteen so I was not surprised to read he covered it. I might have to revisit the ‘abysmal’ album now. Did I do him an injustice, or is he really that variable?
A thoroughly enjoyable album. Due to Waites' exceptionally hravelly voice, an instrument in itself, I actually found myself listening to some of the lyrics. They seemed to be a little bit dark which is always a good thing. Much better than Bone Machine, which was just a tad too experimental even for me, this hit the spot.
Tom Waits - you either love him or hate him. I enjoy his lyrics and unique voice. One of his earlier, approachable albums,
173/1001 :: Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Listen before you die: Uhhh Yeah “Well this stuff will probably kill you, let's do another line.” When I compare this to other Tom Waits albums it doesn’t crack may Top 5. When I compare this to the 1000 albums on this list I realize how damn good it is. First of all it really starts off with a bang with the title track. There’s so much sway and swagger in this song. It’s filthy good. I never loved the instrumental in the 2 spot but once you come out on the other side of that it’s smooth sailing. Jersey Girl & Mr Siegal also perennial favorites. It’s time to add this wax to the Tom Waits collection.
Rumour has it that Toms famous husky and gravely voice only started after a legendary party session with Len Houmous. Ken Chutney said before they went out Tom sounded almost like a younger Aled Jones. After, well, he sounded like Tom Waits! 3.3 4/9 Downtown
Not one of Tom's best records, but still excellent; he's boozy, but still punchy, contrasts feelings of calm and bombast, and paints lovely pictures with his lyrics on each track.
The guy who wrote that Tom Waits sounds like the blue alien from Return of the Jedi increased my enjoyment 2x. To be clear, I don’t mind “bad” singing, it's just that Waits sounds so phony to me.
not every song on this album is a hit, but this does make me want to listen to more Tom Waits. i really like the vibe of his music and the contrast between these really beautiful instrumentals and his gravelly, guttural vocals. it’s a little jarring sometimes, but i liked it. just don’t know if i’ll find myself revisiting the album as a whole very often.
4/10 - a gravelly blues soundtrack, not my jazz but I'm sure others will like it
Wasn't my favorite Tom Waits album, but not bad by any means. Had a few stand-out tracks like Jersey Girl, but also a handful of forgettable ones.
Tom Waits is a boil on the taint of everything good, decent and redeeming about music. I wish with all my heart I could rate any dreck he's associated with a - 1000. I've created better music after eating too much fiber.
Average
This album has a very distinct feel. It features deep, gravelly vocals and instrumentals that create a dark, grimy atmosphere. The vocal style can be a bit grating at times, but it fits the lyrics and music very well. He may not be the best singer, but it's amazing how well this works. I found "Downtown" and "Jersey Girl" in particular to be excellent tracks that fit the album very well. I will argue that Waits is a better singer than many give him credit for; what he lacks in technical prowess is made up for in emotion and soul, something many otherwise excellent singers lack. An excellent and unique album that I genuinely enjoy.
I think I'd probably like it if someone else sang it. The instrumentals are good and all but I can't bear his voice
Jersey Girl is my fave on here. I like it all. The title track is also good, as is “On the Nickel”. A pretty decent LP overall.
Can't say I've heard this music before although the name rings a bell. I don't really like bluesy jazzy stuff though.
I'm not sure I'll ever been in the mood for Tom Waits. I get why people like this, and there's perhaps a time and a place, probably involving a bar in an unfamiliar city. I've tried and tried, but it's just not for me. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ❌️ in part Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
I just can't get on with the voice and its just not my cup of tea.
Not my favorite Tom Waits album, but he does so much here on Heart Attack and Vine. My favorite song is on this album and probably the only reason this album is on this list - but Jersey Girl is phenomenal and one of rare examples where a cover is better than the original. 4/5
The music is pretty good, but it's difficult to take any of it in when its drowned out by a guy who sounds like he's gargling gravel to the point that I couldn't tell if it was parody or not.
Interesting