Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Very Raspy Voice. A artist singing blues like tunes with raunchy overtones. I really like it.
No one has a voice like Tom waits. Solid album not as rough around the edges as bone machine. Favorite tracks: Downtown, Til the Money runs out
I have liked tom waits and this album was no different. Not my favorite album by the gravelly voiced crooner but good
Another Tom Waits record. This one a bit bluesier and balladier than others. Not as engaging as my favorites of his. “Jersey Girl” may be his worst song ever. Way too Springsteeny. All in all this is by far my least favorite record of his. Really kinda boring for the most part.
Decent.
Like whatever
Tom Waits... Why do you have the voice of a nail grater? And it somehow, kinda works.
Podrías haber puesto el “orphans” ❤️🩹
Tom’s growl is much easier to stomach when it’s not over circus music.
Honestly, fun time. Strong 3 i thing
I struggle with his vocalizations. Lyrically it's a weird mix of ugly and beautiful. The whole album was polarizing to me - I was ready to write it off at the beginning, but some of the songs really drew me in.
***An ok album
It all sounds good, just a tad repetitive. Not as good as some of his other output.
I love Tom Waits' music mostly from Swordfish Trombone onwards. This was right before. It's still very much in the realm of the lounge act thing. It's okay but it wouldn't be on my 'must listen'. It wouldn't be how I introduce people to Tom Waits. Honestly thought I don't know how I would do that anyway.
I genuinely like Tom Waits. This album is odd. It sounds like it could fit into the sound track of a toy story movie. This album was just ok. Not his best in my opinion.
As far as Tom Waits albums go, this one is "easy listening" - some blues/rock and some symphonic ballads, all with his signature growly voice. At times he seems like he's singing with his mouth full of food. But the tunes are legitimately melodic and sweet. Kind of a high 3 for me, I could see it becoming a 4 with more listens.
Probably the most conventional Waits album we've had, so also the one I've liked the least. Maybe a 4 star, but rounding down to give myself wiggle room.
Strange experience, but now I know what Tom Waits is at least at this point in his career. Some funny discourse on this album, and there is a Ruby song, but overall not the best. Jersey Girl is fun as the hit single, just belting it out
Really enjoy Heartattack and Vine, til the money runs out Did not enjoy Saving All My Love For You, On The Nickel His whole voice is cool at times but when he's over-exaggerating it, it just feels inauthentic and takes me out of it.
Great
Not as experimental nor as interesting as Rain Dogs or Bone Machine, but an okay listen. None of the songs beside the closing track stood out. Vocals too much like a drunk and unkempt Bruce Springsteen
There is something incredibly romantic about the ugly, gravelly and worn down male voice when sung with honesty and truth about things important to man.
Treads a fine line between a 'proper' album and a comedy record. I'm never sure whether he's exaggerating the voice for comic effect. On The Nickel, for example, is ludicrous. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Denna er ikke edru
"Who doesn't love some Tom Waits?" / "About half the users of this site!" "Yes. Yes. But which half seems to change with each album." It's another Tom Waits record. I like it but it's not his most ambitious, outlandish, or even his most tame and relatable. It's a kind of middle ground for Tom, but that means there are *only* 2 or 3 gems. The editors can give up one of his slots these days and I think he'll be alright.
I get the novelty of Tom Waits. But I'll take the jazzy-blues Tom Waits over the full symphony orchestra Tom Waits.
Coool.
Good album
Now if this was his first album, Closing Time, it’d get 5 stars. His voice is jarring on his later albums. I can’t help but hear Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. I’ll give it a generous 3 as I like his vibe. Always feel like I’m drowning my sorrowing, necking whiskey in a dingy, smoke filled bar whilst an old man fiddles the piano in the corner.
What a deep voice, dive bar vibes
3/5. Would have been a 4 but I HATED Saving All My Love For You. Literal 0/10 song.
Wow, that's quite a voice. I'm not exactly sure what to think. I definitely found this interesting to listen to. I like the jazz pop feel and even though his voice is intense there's soul and warmth to it a lot of the time. It's weird because I find him kind of off-putting (not sure if that's from the way he looks on the album cover with his weird rubbery burnt looking hand), but I'm also very intrigued by him. I may have to listen to this again. Seems like a bit of an acquired taste.
50 - 50
This is the 5th Tom Waits album I've encountered on this list which is absolutely baffling. I don't know a single person that listens to Tom Waits with any regularity. With as many albums on here as The Rolling Stones, you would think he would be more ubiquitous among casual music listeners. This one sounds the same as the other five. Its not awful but you can't convince me there shouldn't be another artist worthy of at least one of the five slots he takes up on this project.
Not his best but still authentic Tom Waits.
My previous limited experience with Tom Waits music was that it was, well, odd. But I really dig the bluesy jazzy vibe in this album. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Some good songs, but not one of the best 1001 albums of all tine
rock raro, voz grave, tirando casi a rosendo pero sin tanto punk de fondo, estaba bien, no es mi estilo pero se deja escuchar bastante bien
Tom Waits Heart Attack and Vine - 3/5 - Timeless classic with Tom Waits very much lurking in his element, What feels like a great benchmark moment before the widely acclaimed projects that followed, Prime example of a blues rock album crossed with orchestral ballads (Which is something we don’t see very much in his later projects), Witty lyricism placed on display showcases Waits’ incredible ability as songwriter and poet, Another interesting thing of note is how the drums interact with the guitar creating a raw rhythm & blues element that a lot of his earlier projects were known for before moving into more of an experimental cabaret fusion Verdict 72-74/100. It’s cool to be able to pinpoint when Tom Waits transitions from the jazz style that he was mainly dabbling in and going absolutely off the rails (in a good way) and proving to society that Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs wasn’t out of the blue at all but a neat transformation process. A good album but I do believe that not every song most likely needed to be in here (Such as In Shades as it felt like filler) I am however a fan of the cynical lyricism and storytelling. It’s a cool album and though I don’t think it’s necessarily strong I look forward to adding it to the collection alongside my Rain Dogs vinyl (And swordfishtrombones eventually) Favourite Songs: Heart Attack and Vine Downtown Jersey Girl On the Nickel
Probably the best I’ve heard thus far from someone I generally don’t like
Young boy's just never done it for me. The voice is too much, the schtick is too much and the music and lyrics are mostly just ok. Couple good lines on this, I liked the no devil but God on a drunk bit.
meh
I liked the songs with beats on this album: Heart Attack & Vine, Downtown, Till the Money Runs out, Mr Siegel... the slower ones were pretty ho hum.
Very cool bourbonesque voice. I liked and saved the bluesy tracks, but disliked the orchestral ballads. 3.5 / 5
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.
2.5/5
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
I need to revist this might be a 4
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
i feel like this guy liked cigarettes
Viel Blues. Viel Whiskey.
I normally dislike everything Tom Waits does, but for some reason I found this one passable.
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
The instrumentation doesn't grab me at all but his vocals are unique at least. Hope his other albums are more interesting.
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.
Relaxing listen
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
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
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.
Bueno, es Tom Waits
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
3,5
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.
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
Not as wild as expected, but still, a unique voice. Really good record, but not quite four stars for me. 3.5?
Dirty bar blues get me anytime. I enjoyed this record way more than expected.
Not Waits best. Has it's moments but lacks some of the variety that make me love his other LPs.
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
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.
це прікол
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
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.
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.
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.
Mellow blues deep voice
I feel the same about all this guy's albums. The vocals are not for me, and he's a good actor. 3
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!!!
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.
Light 3,5
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.
One of the most listenable album from Tom Waits?
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.
Interesting voice, well composed album with strong lyrics. A lot of the songs sound similar.
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.
Solid aber au nöd
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
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
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 just don’t get it
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
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.
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 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.
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.
Average
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.
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)
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
Enjoyed.
Tom Waits really should've hired a better singer to deliver his songs. It's like if the son of Randy Newman and Louis Armstrong had a particularly bad throat infection. The production is solid and pretty different from most well-known musicians from the same period, so nobody can accuse Waits of following cutting-edge trends, falling into the synth-trap or production gutter that captured so many others' hearts at the time. No – this is really solid. Really clean, stripped back, groovy sound, almost on par with something like Gaucho (Steely Dan). The record excels the most when it's entirely instrumental. In Shades is a great track, excluding the little end-fakeout with the fake applause near the end. Downtown also partially gets away with the bad vocals by being catchy as heck. The worst tracks here are ones that lack any groove. Songs like On The Nickel, Saving All My Love For You, and Jersey Girl are just not particularly enjoyable because there isn't anything to nod along to. And with a better vocalist, that would be a passable – even great – thing. Here, it isn't. It's impossible to take On The Nickel seriously, with its soft, beautiful string section, delicate piano... and grotesque, sickly "singing". Also, the words can often be difficult to make out. As another reviewer wrote, "it has a certain kitsch but geeze. I found myself struggling to understand what the hell he was saying." Good vocals are void without comprehension. 3/5 Key tracks: In Shades, Downtown
Tom Waits both looks and sounds like an alcoholic homeless man. I would put money down that he probably smells like one too. This album is the same gravelly voice and bluesy tone with a bit more of a conventional and melodic composition than the 2(?) Tom Waits albums I’ve listened to. Unfortunately, that’s not a good thing. Where I’ve enjoyed music from this fellas it’s been because it’s odd or experimental. Nothing to write home about here.
Quite easy to listen to compared with a few of the others. That made it less interesting though. Might grow if I find some subtleties in there
I really expected to hate this, actually it’s not bad
I like Tom Waits but none of my favourite albums seem to have made it into this list… 3.5
Gruffiest record in here.
Not terrible. Not great
I dont thinks it's as captivating as the Swordfish album. Still Tom Waits, just less umph for me. 2.5/5
"Tolerable" and "Tom Waits" are not normally things I'd utter in the same breath, but I think that's pretty accurate after listening here. Like him or not, you have to admit that Waits has a voice for the blues. Can't deny the songwriting talent too, almost as if the local drunkard is sharing some unexpected wisdom with you, right before he vomits and passes out for the evening. The arrangements throughout the album do Mr. Waits a bit of justice too, allowing him to ramble on with some sort of structure. This felt more polished than Nighthawks at the Diner (the only previous Tom Waits album I've listened to thus far) to me as a result.
My only real experience with Tom Waits is having heard the album 'Rain Dogs' which I think is fantastic, and my only point of comparison. What I really like about 'Rain Dogs' and that this album lacks is how macabre it feels. It is full of incredibly strange melodies the contributes a lot on the building of Tom Waits 'bad guy' character. In the case of 'Heartattack and Vine' the music relies in a way more standard blues sound, which is not a bad thing because it is really well done, but I think it doesn't make it as unique as Tom Waits music can get. However, the singing is as good as in 'Rain Dogs'. I found his gurgling and deep voice to be very pleasant to listen to. The lyrics are also very strong. This man really has a great ability to describe bizarre scenes. In summary, this is a great record, but not his strongest material, as it lacks a bit personality in the instrumentation end.
Good
i dont think i care about singer songwriters
This blues-inflected album staggers through dimly lit streets, its gritty instrumentation and ravaged vocals conjuring a world of cigarette-stained windows and worn-down souls. It’s vivid and visceral, though its rawness can feel abrasive. Like drinking whiskey poured from a chipped glass behind a flickering neon sign, it’s hauntingly authentic but far from comforting.
I can really only listen to this during the christmas holidays
Actually Closing Time 1973
Only a few songs I liked.was to raspy for me lyrics weren't lyricaling
Pretty good, but he does have better
Some good stuff but I think what came after this is better.
Good music. Enjoyable and mellow.
it lays as i sleep
There was a unique sound and I enjoyed quite a few tracks and the vibe
I quit drinking but Tom Waits voice made me want to start again. Would need a few bottles to drown out the gravel assault to my ears. The lyrics, back up instruments were worth a 5.
Frog mud farts
-not the strongest work i’ve heard from Tom Waits by a long shot- some parts were actively boring. that being said i thought it was really consistent and had some great vocals, so certainly not all bad -i find him to be a really interesting artist, i’ve enjoyed getting to listen to so many of his albums this past year -Favorites: Heartattack and Vine, Mr. Siegal
Drunk voicing, not so amusing. Great production and overall concept tho
A great voice and the album is great. Really like the felling of a story being a song
Bit of an acquired taste, its okay.
I have no experience with Tom Waits. Straight out of the gate, he sounds like the guy that stands up for karaoke after he's had a few too many beers and cigarettes. "In Shades" makes me immediately question the drunkenness, of course (even with the obvious sounds of a bar in the background of the track). The guitar is legit, as is some of the other instrumentation. His voice is incredibly grating, though.
Enjoyable and solid blues tunes, with the title track, Jersey Girl and Ruby's Arms standing out. Not as groundbreaking as some of the other Tom Waits albums, so gets a 3.
His voice sounds alright sometimes and his lyrics are very clever, but it’s not quite for me
Tom waits quality, will need a re-listen. Less immediate than other of his albums.
Really don't get this guy, why do we need so many of his albums on the list. This one was in many ways the most listenable, which also kinda makes it the least interesting and least 1001-y. 2.7/5
still not sure I'm gonna be listening to TW for fun, but if I decide to try again, I'll come back here.
Not bad, i liked a few songs, but i dont know how long they will stay in my playlist, the only memorable thing is vocal, my favourite song - jersey girl. 3/5
Not bad, but I really do not enjoy his voice on many songs.
75
Some nice B3 playing.
I didn't hate it. I wasn't super excited when it was over. If Tom could just tune the gravelly angle-bargle down about 40%, I might be able to listen hard enough to decipher some more of the lyrics. He's got some good ones, which I'm able to make out from time to time.
It was okay I don't really know if I like his voice or not
Weird thing this album
3.5
3.0
Having listened to swordfishtrombones and nighthawks at the diner I thought his drunken way of singing was a bit much for story times. And it turns out it lends itself much better to the blues based songs on this record. The ballads are the weak part, compared to those.
I've always liked the Idea of Tom Waits--I just don't think I'm cool enough to listen to him without feeling like a fraud.
Heartattack and Vine trades smoky cabaret moods for a grittier blues-rock edge. The record opens strong with its jagged title track and finds warmth in the unexpected sweetness of “Jersey Girl,” but the album doesn’t maintain that spark throughout—some cuts feel more like sketches than fully realized songs. Rough-edged and atmospheric, it’s intriguing but uneven.
Tom Waits really feels like one of those artists I should love and just... don't.
++: Heartattack and Vine, In Shades, Downtown, 'Til the Money Runs Out, Mr. Siegal +: Ruby's Arms +-: Saving All My Love for You, Jersey Girl -: On the Nickel 7,2/10
I liked it sometimes.
Listened a few times. I hated the vocals at first but near the end of the album I thought they were great. Good
Listenable.
I can sort of get the appeal, quite a lot of very early blues singers from the 30s-50s had harsh voices like this, but I think the modern production pop'ed it out a little bit too much. He sounds/feels quite Nick Cave like in some places, not only the harsh vocal style but also the quite dark themes sung with a very normal backing and also writing and telling a story from (seemingly) someone else's perspective. Lyrically I think is probably my favourite part as I did notice some interesting unique metaphors and lyrics. Favourite songs: saving all my love for you, on the nickel. Overall around 5/10
He’s not my favorite – kind of a weird voice – but not bad.
I appreciate Tom Waits’ crazy voice and singular style, but I found myself getting tired of this before it was over. Best song: Jersey Girl
in the most deeply complimentary way; portions of this sound like the background music to an old point and click video game where you're playing a gumshoe and slowly cracking a case in the middle of a long summer in your city. (in shades in particular) i actually really enjoyed this album and would come back to it but i suffer from can't handle listening to slow music disease.
I liked some of it, the parts that had a really nice blues feel. There were definitely a few weaker tracks though. This is the 3rd or 4th of his albums that I've heard via this site, and I have been pleasantly surprised how much I've enjoyed them on the whole.
not my favourite Tom Waits, but there is still some great stuff
Why is it that I am unable to get special albums to celebrate 100-album milestones? Nothing I've gotten as a 100-album milestone has been above a 4/5, my 500th album didn't even have a Wikipedia article, and now my 700th album is from an artist that I've already gotten 4 times in the past! I don't get it! You know what I do get though? Tom Waits. I didn't understand the appeal the first time, but over the course of the other 4 albums he has on the list, I've become somewhat of a fan. Not a huge fan, but a fan. However, I don't really think he needs 5 albums on the list, and Heartattack and Vine might just be the most cuttable of the 5. It's either that or Nighthawks at the Diner, though I do like Heartattack and Vine quite a bit more. It's not bad at all, but compared to something like Rain Dogs or Bone Machine, it's nothing special. It's a good Tom Waits album and that's about it. Of course, if you're like me and you like Tom Waits, then that's not a bad thing. The things that make him stand out as an artist are still here. His voice is as... unique as ever. His songwriting is still strong. I will say that this album is a bit of a transitional album between the earlier jazz-focused days of the 70s and the more experimental albums that he makes starting in the 80s. This is definitely still the guy who will go on to make Rain Dogs, but he's not quite at that point yet. I also feel that none of these songs get quite as good as the best songs on the later albums. "Jersey Girl" gets pretty close, but there's nothing on the level of "Goin' Out West" or "Jockey Full of Bourbon," so that kind of brings the album down a bit at large. Still, there's nothing particularly wrong with Heartattack and Vine, but it's not Tom Waits at his peak. High 3/5.
estuvo bueno pero no lo escucharía denuevo
Maybe I am being generous here, but compared to the other Tom Waits albums I have had to sit through, this one was actually okay. It is still rough around the edges, but it feels a little more grounded than some of his more out-there stuff. The title track is a gritty opener that sets the mood right away, and there are moments where Waits’s gravelly delivery works with the material instead of overwhelming it. A few songs stumble into rambling territory, but at least there is some consistency in tone that makes the album easier to follow. Overall, it is not something I would play often, but it was a decent listen. For a Tom Waits record, that is saying something.
Interessante zang stem heeft Tom daar zeg. Op het eerste nummer althans, het tweede nummer is een lekker instrumentaal blues nummer wat ik een stuk beter trek. Zo'n lekkere jankende gitaar en piano. Dat is precies wat ik me voorstel bij Blues eerlijk gezegd. Ik weet het niet zo goed met de Tommert. Het voelt allemaal een klein beetje alsof ik in de zeik word genomen? Met het zwaar overdreven zingen enzo. Dit klinkt bij tijden alsof je oom net ff een paar drankjes te veel op heeft en besluit dat hij Elvis is ofzoiets. Hij spuugt sommige woorden gewoon echt uit, het draagt wel echt bij aan de sfeer op het hele album. Haha ik weet niet, vond het eerst echt helemaal niets maar hoe langer het album duurt hoe vetter ik het ook vind? Dit is gewoon echt blues, denk ik althans. Maar er zitten ook best wel wat Jazz invloeden bij en die waardeer ik echt hard. Maar ballads? Zoals Ruby's Arms? Dat moet ie gewoon echt niet doen. Pfoe, dan word weer duidelijk waarom ik zn zang soms echt slecht trek. Alles bij elkaar? Het was een vermakelijk album, maar niet heel veel meer dan dat. Jersey Girl is echt een mooi en vet nummer, en instrumentaal is het echt wel gaaf, maar Tom die als een dronken oom overal doorheen jankt? Het is een acquired taste laten we maar zeggen. FAVO: In Shades, Jersey Girl, Mr Seigal
I sincerely wish I could get past his voice, because everything beside that is pretty great. His voice even works in a couple of the slower bluesy songs, but then it absolutely doesn’t work in the ballady songs.
Kind of like a house. Good bones. I would repaint some of the rooms personally.
Rock, 1980 -> 3
Honestly I like this era of Tom Waits, like the slow blues jazz influences with this. His voice suits this style really well and makes it set the scene well.
Respect for whatever weird bit he's going for
It was interesting and unexpected. I wasn't familiar with Tom Waits, but I think I've heard parodies of him.
Lots of Tom Waits representation on this 1001 list. I think this is the 3rd album of his on this list. While its excellent, I'm sure there is still atleast 1 or 2 more on this list since they are even more acclaimed.
Try as I might, I’m just not as into Tom Waits as I feel like I should be.
Never listened to before, but enjoyed his distinctive melancholy style
Either I'm warming up to his style or this one actually wasn't as bad as his others...
Ok bakgrunnsstøy
I like his baritone in spurts, but it gets a little tiresome after a while.
Another difficult album to rate as his voice is harsh. It works on some, others not as much. Ballads seem to work better oddly(?).
Wow. There's this whole other universe existing that I had no clue of. It's the Tom Waits universe.
Still don’t really like tom waits
Not one of his best works but still really enjoyable, title track really works well. There's many songs that are a little boring but this album is still good.
I liked this, but not as much as Nighthawks At The Diner or Rain Dogs. Some Tom Waits records I adore and some I think are just pretty good. This is one of the latter.
6/10…blues / singer songwriter
Tom Waits. He's just a bluesman. That's all he's doing here. That's fine. His reputation is a carnival gruff goat raspy roar from him, and this is simply blues. Great! No complaints! And the inspiration is on his sleeve. Swaying, smoking, drinking, clinking. I can picture it all.
Ein raues, urbanes Album mit Blues- und Rockeinflüssen. Mal wild, mal sanft – nicht ganz rund, aber markant. Ein Wechselbad zwischen Genuss und Sperrigkeit.
En duet med sin egen grimme stemme er imponerende! Jeg var godt underholdt med det er bare ikke en Bone Machine det her.
I haven’t really listened to Tom Waits outside of A Little Drop Of Poison which is in Shrek 2. His voice is certainly unique and musically it all sounds great, I think I just sick of his voice a while.
I used to sing in a voice similar to this to annoy my girlfriend. Never realized I was doing a Tom Waits impression. I didn't hate it entirely. Overall, I'm a blues fan, but for some of the songs, his voice was just too much, like someone getting plastered and doing Louis Armstrong karaoke.
Tom Waits
𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘦 is a gritty, blues-soaked album with a rough, growling voice at its center. The uptempo tracks have a raw energy, but it’s the 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘀 where the music truly shines. Songs like 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘭 and 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 bring a surprising depth and tenderness that cut through the grime. While the overall sound can feel repetitive and the gruff vocals may not be for everyone, the slower, emotional moments reveal a powerful storyteller beneath the whiskey-soaked surface. A solid listen, especially when the volume comes down and the heart takes over.
Such a variety of music with a voice I oddly love!
Pretty good
I like Tom Waits, but I'm not sure he has this many albums that I must listen to before I die.
Caleb asked if this was Louis Armstrong which is fitting. Okay album!
I love when Tom Waits sings, and I'm ambivalent or negative about when he growls his songs. This album tends toward the singing end of the spectrum, which is good. The choruses (outside of Jersey Girl) are a bit underwhelming, though. I'd give 3.5 if I could, but I'm sticking to my round-down policy.
Funky blues, gritty voice
He has a very powerful voice and tells great stories, the lyrics are funny and original too. Unfortunately this just isn't my type of music but I can appreciate it
His voice makes it a bit hard for me to listen to, but the songs are well constructed. I feel like if I saw him live, I'd feel a lot more positively about it.
The songwriting is there but the voice just grates
Typical Tom Waits. Excellent production, music, and song writing. Questionable singing.
I really, really like Tom Waits - but there’s too many of his albums on here. Heartattack And Vine is a good album, but it does nothing that his other albums aren’t already better at.
I didn't hate this as much as I hated his other albums. There isn't a fake audience, no pretentious upright bass, just sad bastard lyrics and a gravelly, no, cobblestoned voice. Seriously, how does he do that?
Musically I enjoyed it but his voice is hard to take seriously, kept waiting for him to launch into a Christmas song for some reason.
1980?! Sounded way more 60’s
I've never quite warmed to Mr Waits. This hasn't helped. Feels like a mumbling Faggin character from a musical. Some interesting lyrics
I hadnt listened to Tom Waits for what seemed like an age. Undoubtedly too long for sure, so I was pleased to see him making an appearance on this list However, I was surprised to receive this album as I don’t consider it to be up there as one of his must owns. Lyrically, it’s as poetic as ever, with Waits painting picture portraits of his troubled characters in a way that few other lyricists can even get close to.. What challenged me with this album is that it’s a touch inconsistent musically, and if anything left me disengaged in places. As the album progressed it definitely built atmosphere and depth which drew me in, but I still don’t think it’s up there as one of the best works in his pantheon. It’s a solid 3 but just falls short of a 4.
He sounds like a bullfrog getting strangled but I don’t always hate it.
Interesting mix between beatnik jazz, funk, soul, and ballads all with Waits signature ragged crooning
I’d like to meet the Tom Waits fans that immediately clicked with his sound because this has got to be some of the inaccessible music I’ve ever heard. Which is not to say I’m put off, but this is certainly an acquired state. I found the softer tracks here a bit more palatable. I recognise Jersey Girl from Springsteen’s cover, but Waits’ version clearly has more grit and soul. I’ve never been more certain with a review that whatever rating I give here will inevitably change as I figure out whether I’m into Waits, or can’t do it. But this album has me interested for more at the very least. I expect I’ll be hearing more of him on this list too.
Some really great, fun songs: Heartattack and Vine - really fucking good song In Shades (Instrumental) - a nice break from his voice after Track 1 Downtown Jersey Girl Til the Money Runs Out Mr. Siegal (maybe the best song) Unfortunately the others are barely listenable. Even the songs I like are barely listenable due to his vocal delivery. Sounds like he took a sip of water and started singing before swallowing it. And it bothers the hell outta me. Would love to hear these songs sung by someone else. 3.5
Not my favorite Waits, but there's some really good stuff here if you're in the mood for it.
I had heard of Tom Waits and now I have heard Tom Waits.
Love the bluezy sounds! What a voice!
Heartattack And Vine - 4/5 In Shades - 3/5 (it's just instrumentals) Saving All My Love For You - 2/5 Downtown - 4/5 Jersey Girl - 1/5 'Til The Money Runs Out - 3/5 On The Nickel - 3/5 Mr. Siegal - 4/5 Ruby's Arms - 3/5 Average score: 3/5 oddly enough, i really don't mind Tom Wait's vocals like others here do. however, i feel that gravelly grumbly voice definitely doesn't suit some of the tracks here. his singing sounds fine in more bluesy tracks like Heartattack And Vine, but sounds laughably bad in slower ballad-like tracks like Jersey Girl (especially in those "la-la-la" moments... oof) i don't think his voice is completely unsuitable for slower songs. i've heard it done well before, even on this album with On The Nickel. it's just not executed well sometimes
3.5
To say this is way way way way way way better than the other Tom Waits albums on the list isn't much of a compliment, but this album is far better than those. Its still Tom Waits so it's not like actually brilliant or anything. Jersey Girl is good
Another solid one from Tom, 3.5 stars
One of the most emotionally impactful albums I’ve heard so far, but I still haven’t gotten used to Waits’ voice.
Third Tom Waits album and slowly (albeit in reverse-chronological order) starting to appreciate what he does. It's bluesy and has real swagger. The most accessible of his records I've heard yet. Obviously his voice still stands out as abrasive and difficult, but I've somewhat got used to that now. He's not someone for whom I'm going to run out and buy the back catalogue but I don't mind knowing what he's actually all about now.
Decent sound. Super unique, though I don’t like the raspy voice. Sounds Bluesy almost
Here's a Tom Waits album I've never listened too. All of Waits' 80s albums are pretty good and this is no exception. Its not quite as good as Rain Dogs or some of his other more classic albums but it has its own melancholic beauty. Favorite track: 'Til The Money Runs Out 3.5/5
It's not bad, it's just that I've hit my lifetime quota of Tom Waits songs. Everyone has their own personal limit. There's nothing more to do here.
not bad, tiene swag, no es mucho mi rollo
I liked this one more than I wanted to admit. One of the few albums I have come back to in this list so far.
Alright, not his best album imo
Nice tunes but not really my style :)
I love Tom but this isn't his best, not by a long shot. Luckily a mid Tom Waits album still beats 90% of anything else.
heart attack and vine- 6 in shade- 5 or 6 saving all my love for you- 5 or 6 downtown- 5 jersey girl- 5 or 6. so true til the money runs out- 5 or 6 on the dime- 5 mr siegal- 6 rubys arms- 5
I counted at least 3 separate prostitution references, so that was pretty solid. I feel similar to the last album of his on this list, unique voice obviously and interesting style but probably won’t come back to it.
3.4 I wouldnt turn it off but dont think I would put it on. But maybe at some point I will get into a Tom Waits deep dive and be totally enamored with everything he does. Until that point this was good listen
Emotional, raw, a bit dark. Not really my cup of tea but interesting. Good instrumentation.
Obviously we all know Tom Waits from his brilliant performance in Mystery Men, but I've never been a huge fan of Waits' music. So I was a surprised I liked this album as much as I did. Definitely above average. I had trouble with his voice at times, but this one is worth listening to.
I'm a Tom Waits fan, but come on. This is his fourth album on this list so far and I'm only halfway through. There are thousands of albums released every year. Having multiple albums from one artist means other artists are getting snubbed which annoys the shit out of me. This isn't even Tom's best.
Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - Heartattack And Vine.
Tom Waits is such an interesting act to have so many inclusions on this list. I really like his slower stuff and his more conversational stuff rather than his SUPER screamy stuff. and unfortunately there’s a lot of heavier screamy stuff in this one so i didn’t love it. but i didn’t hate it. he’s got a little springsteen in him (or vice versa)
Blues'y balleder, lidt tung stemning, men godt nok
3 stars. I didn't like the music personally except as it reminded me of Hadestown, but I did like the music that it inspired musically if that makes sense, the spotify soundalikes or whatever.
Clear your throat, Tom.
The music was enjoyable, but his signature voice is an acquired taste for sure. That being said, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Music is not bad, but listening to his voice makes my throat hurt.
Jersey Girl live with Bruce: 100/10. Otherwise, this ain't my favourite Waits.
It is fine, but I like the other Tom Waits album I had before this better, the 'live' jazz album called live at nighthawks or something. Mid 3.
Cover art ripoff from Think as a Brick? I dunno, this feels like exploratory work before he really found his best sound. Still love him tho
My first whole Tom Waits album - and its more accessible than I was expecting. Main impediments for me 1) I do not like his vocals 2) I don't really listen to lyrics (!) so his lyrical talents are wasted on me... and 3) I don't really care for plodding blues rock.... Notwithstanding the above I still enjoyed it. Doubt I will rush back - but its a solid 3.
gritty and delightful
I don't think the music is terribly bad or anything, but Tom Waits voice just isn't for me. On a track like Downtown that's bluesy, it works for me. On others like Saving All My Love For You or Til The Money Runs Out or On The Nickel, it doesn't. Jersey Girl is another one where it sounds like he's doing a bad Bruce Springsteen impression. In Shades feels weirdly misplaced. There were more lowlights than highlights in this one and I landed on giving it 2.5 stars. I'll bump it to a low 3 since the music itself was good.
Ah yes our good ol friend Tom Waits. It has been almost a year since our last time getting one of his albums and I specifically said I think we have had enough of him. From the get go this statement still holds true. I feel like my ears are now wet from the amount that he was spitting into the mic. Instruments good, singing bad
Tom Waits has such a distinct voice I feel like I could hear a song by his and instantly know it's him after this. For me personally it really works in small doses (Heartattack and Vine, Downtown), but also seems kinda satirical at other points (Saving All My Love For You, On The Nickel). Points for mentioning Chartreuse in 'Til the Money Runs Out. Very low 3, as are all of Tom Waits albums.
Pretty boring
Feels a bit forced, and kind of like show tunes…interesting but not great
Definitely Tom Waits. A little more musical than some of his stuff, but not as interesting.
Say it, don't spray it. 2.6.
I feel like I need to listen to this more to fully get it. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
I enjoyed it.
A transitional album for Tom. One foot in his Asylum Era and another foot exploring the sounds that will come next in his Island years. It’s not my favorite of his, but it’s still a good listen - especially through the lens of an artist who is on the verge of redefining themselves.
It’s poetic and blusey. Light and dark. The only consistent thing is the odd vocals. Vocals that range from droopy dog sounding to smoked too many cigs range . I knew what I was getting into with this album. This is the kind of emotion I feel like Leonard Cohen needed to liven up his albums. I really can’t say much about this album. I didn’t hate it. I grew tired of it about 3/4 of the way through it but I’m not turned off in any way. I won’t go out of my way to listen to another Waits album but if the feeling is right, I could wander back. Choice cut: Jersey Girl
It was... Interesting. Tom Waits has an interesting soulful wail to his voice. It's not something I would normally listen to, but I'm more likely to check out his other work now.
The highs are really high in this, and the lows are very, very low. It's not for everyone and it probably isn't for me? Best Song: Mr. Siegal Rating: 6.5/10 3 Stars
Have never taken the dive into Tom Waits. Would listen to some more in the future. Music was good. Kind of a cross between the Pogues and at times at not as talented Louis Armstrong. Cant tell if that’s just his voice or he is trying way too hard
2,7
Weird and crass and very human. Certainly not as good Swordfishtrombones, but I enjoyed it and respect the artistry.
This is an OK album, even though I dont love tom waits. Great lyrics and good composition, but its all very tom waits-y at the end of the day. 3/5
Tom Waits has really grown on me but this album is no Rain Dogs
I will never become the biggest Tom waits fan but this was not bad.
3.5
Started off strong, and became kinda forgettable by the end.
Good, but not my favorite Waits album.
I think (I hope) this is my last of the Tom Waits albums on the list. I'll admit I found this one the most bearable. I think it's because there's a track where he doesn't sing and that I've nailed the stupid impression I do of him when he does.
Few bangers but few huge misses too.
I think started off strong but then got too same samey throughout and I got a bit bored! Usually I fuck w this kinda music though
Tom Waits is an interesting artist, I enjoy his gravelly voice and lyrical pictures, but I don't want it in big doses. This was a good-sized package, and I enjoyed "Downtown" quite a bit.
Some good moments
i love thomas
Very distinct voice and sound. The album grew on me.
I don’t drink enough to put this on regular rotation. But it’s clearly good, well written and uniquely performed. 3/5
Started strong but faded out in the second half. I'm waiting for something to top Nighthawks At The Diner but I think that's not going to happen. Still decent though.
Decent.
Another artist I need to spend more time with. My knowledge and experience is limited.
Waits hasn't become weird yet. He's slowly emerging from his drunken ballader phase and becoming more bluesy and jazzy. The bar flies are still hanging around him - he hasn't climbed completely out of the gutter yet and headed underground but the clues about his next steps are scattered here. Best Tracks: Heartattack and Vine; Jersey Girl; Mr. Siegal
I like Tom Waits, but this is just a bit bluesier than I like. Still good, though.