Reviews (page 6 of 9)
I find it hard to believe this is Tom Waits' best album. I've never got into Tom Waits. The gravelly voice, down at heel, bourbon and blues thing always seemed like an act to me. But I've heard some great tracks here and there and I'm prepared to get into it. Unfortunately, this wasn't the album to win me over. It was alright. But if anything, it makes me think I should check out his other albums and find the good stuff.
Gravel voiced king does it again…
Bonus points for including the lyrics "Lair liar with your pants on fire"
There's two kinds of songs on this album. Rough, rasp, dirty powerful ones, and sugarsweet love ballads. And one entirely instrumental track. It's clear to hear that this is a Tom Waits that's in the middle of a transition to a different style Standouts Jersey Girl On The Nickel Mr. Siegal 4/5
This guy is an icon for the everyman. In love, in heartache, down on your luck, drunk in a seedy bar with a woman who would leave you for the first bloke with a bottle of gin. If you can't find yourself in a Tom Waits song consider yourself one of the lucky few. Great story telling, great album.
Better than the other circusy album with him i got. his voice get kinda annoying. The album kinda feels like 4D experience of sitting in a small bar. it kinda feels like his spit is reaching you through the earphones and you can feel the smell of his cologne with the hint of his previous meal. You can almost imagine the regular sleeping on the bar and couple random cast of people coming and going... so yeah, that's kind of a unique experience. I like the music and i'm kinda used to the voice so not that bad at least for just 45 min.
I hope he was able to get the mucus out of his throat.
Listened to this while playing Isofarian Guard. I had a roommate who owned the entire Tom Waits collection and listened to it quite often. I couldn't stand his voice back then. As the years wear on, I somehow have softened to his sound. There were a lot of fantastic orchestral moments throughout this album. A very pleasant surprise!
I can only imagine that this album was shockingly unlike anything else that dropped in 1980, so much so that it didn’t register the way it ought’ve. I always say, and this album only serves to put bricks in this wall, that Tom waits is the musical auter of his era and that his is the music that will escape the orbit of the current, spinning off to be what reps his time. I mean… “There’s no such thing as the Devil, that’s just God when he’s drunk”, “I shot the morning in the back with my Red Wings on, told the sun it better go back down”…From the first notes this album is gritty America of any age. Fucking fantastic!
A album that catches waits in a transition - a couple of years later swordfish trombone is released and the rest is history. This album has a couple of my favourite Tom waits songs- jersey girl and rubys arms. Overall not one of my favourites but any tom waits album always has some gems.
Always down to drink and wallow with Tom Waits, but I'll save some stars for what I know is yet to come.
# Album Name: Heartattack and Vine # Artist: Tom Waits # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: I like his style of vocals and music. But its definitely more "background music in a whiskey bar" vibe. Overall not bad but its not something i would listen to often. Its just not my style for a regular listen. I would need a certain vibe. Like the whiskey bar. # Top Tunes: DownTown # Would I listen to it again? Maybe.
From other reviews, I've read that his lyrics are amazing. Problem is, you can't understand a single word the dude says. I've heard other singers with gravelly voices, but this guy takes it to a new level, almost like wants to be incomprehensible. Jersey Girl was kinda nice, Saving All My Love For You was good. The rest was eh. Music is nice though. WHAT? WHY ARE THERE 5 ALBUMS FROM THIS GUY? Best song: Saving All My Love For You
Needs to clear his throat.
How did Tom Waits get this album past anyone?
Really digging the vibe... need another play-thru.
Some people love Tom Waits and some people hate him. I LOVE him, and thoroughly enjoy his drunken drawl that sounds like a man deliberately trying to sound like a ripped newspaper. I adore the slurring caterwaul of Mr. Waits and relentlessly force this musical adventure upon my family in an effort to get them to “get” it. How can they not “get” it? Right? Right? Guys? My wife however disagrees. Anyway, she’s taken the kids and the dog which is a bit harsh I think. Not sure when she’ll be back, she didn’t say as I wasn’t here when they left. I was away in a dreamworld coloured and filled with the tales of whimsy Tom Waits has been spinning me! But I digress, five wonderful, lonely and tear stained stars!
I get it. But I don’t like it.
Tom Waits howling out another blues album. Certainly good at doing what he does but harsh sounding for me.
Alright. I feel a lot of things about this album. I could see what it was going for. But it just felt like a weird menagerie of bluesy jazzy jams and really terrible Christmas songs. This guy sings about a fucking penny for 6 minutes and 19 seconds and it is UNBEARABLE. The tracks where he didn't sing were great. Although it could've just been the relief of not having to hear this guy hack up every single lyric as if it's his last dying breaths. The blues numbers, I did like, but the more, well, I wouldn't even know what to call them - they were, not so good. This vocal style can actually sound good, but this album, just didn't pull it off for me. If you want something like this that is actually listenable, go and listen to 'Solitary Pleasures' Album by James Leg. That's good shit. So sorry Tom.
spitty speach
Bara för att det är Tom Waits betyder det ju inte att det är bra per automatik. Ganska svagt album.
I think this is a little bit of an odd choice for a Tom Waits pick in this list. It is a transitional album. You can tell he is trying to break away from his 70s sound but he hasn't found his way yet. The bluesy ones have more overdriven guitar than normal but the string arrangements on the ballads are if anything even more syrupy than before but that might be a hangover from One From The Heart. I suppose maybe the presence of Jersey Girl made famous by Bruce Springsteen swings it for a lot of people. I love it but he has better albums representative of where he was at at any particular point in his life.
good
very odd album that is surprisingly a good listen
Some of the worst singing you’ve ever heard followed by a really touching ballad with outstanding orchestration - over and over again. He’s obviously really talented but so many musical decisions I will never understand… it’s good I guess?
Not the Tom Waits catalog selection I would have went with. Tom is an acquired taste but still some very good songs here
Bedre enn da forrige tror eg
Like if vic reeves club singer smoked two packs a day
The final album of what I think of as Tom Waits' transitory phase. Long gone are the clean, jazzy ballads of Closing Time and The Heart of Saturday Night. Instead we have Waits' bluesy riffage and guttural delivery of abstract poetry. There's a lot of experimentation here, in fact. After this album, Waits' would co-write the soundtrack to the Francis Ford Coppola movie One From the Heart. During this time he met his future wife, Kathleen Brennan, who encouraged Waits to pursue his vision of a more experimental and eclectic sound, leading a slew of classics including Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, and Bone Machine.
Rooted in blues, this is perhaps his most normal sounding album. Despite that, it's still very Tom Waits and has quite a vibe.
Pure and raw and powerful. "Jersey Girl" is 100% classic. The rest balances gutbucket blues with some strings-laden sweetness that never gets too sugary or sickly, though it gets pretty close. Full marks for full-on originality and sticking to one's gun.
It’s definitely a mood. A phlegmy, phlegmy mood which I weirdly love.
Brooding, haunting and perfect Waits.
Was that RFK Jr. as their lead singer?
Tom Waits is always cooking. Some parts hit. Other parts don't.
3 Stars (8/15)
Dios mío. 2/10
Everything Tom Waits is gold.
3.9
“There’s no Devil, that’s just God when he’s drunk” You gotta love Tom Waits. Always a great listen.
Not my favorite Tom Waits album, but still some decent growly raspy stuff. Some great lyrics. Jersey girl was the highlight
I liked it at first, but as it went on longer and longer, I found myself wanting it to end. There was a lot I liked about it, but not something I'll rush to listen to again.
I liked some of it but i really don’t like ballads.
Really not my thing
Man... this is going to be a tricky one to rate for me. I absolute LOVE the slightly more upbeat songs on this album. I also am nuts for the lyrics. I knew I was going to at least find something to like on here when I heard the lyrics "Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk". His voice really works for me on the songs I do like. The slow songs however I really didn't enjoy. I feel like he definitely uses his voice very differently in those two, which also don't like. I think I WANT to like all of it though, so I'm going to rate this a little higher than my gut is telling me in hopes it becomes true.
expected more from tom waits, not sure why
Pre-listening thoughts: I am not sure if I’ve ever heard a Tom Waits song but from seeing the reviews this may be the genre where Adelynn and Oliver intersect and I do not lol. Also there are FIVE Tom Waits albums on this list?? Christ. Hoping for my sake I enjoy this cause I’m screwed otherwise. Post/during listening thoughts: hmmm listening to this guy sounds like listening to someone try to sing while gargling mouthwash. He sounds drunk. Some lyrics are great and some I can’t quite understand cause this guys voice is making me subconsciously clear my own throat. It’s very bluesy which is fine. I think I’m learning blues is not my favorite genre through this challenge. I enjoy jazz, I enjoy soul, but blues tends to get sooo repetitive. An instrumental for track 2 is a brave choice that ultimately did not win me over. This is what bad bar karaoke sounds like 2/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no can we start uplifting vocal AND lyrical talent?? Why is is always one or the other Fav tracks: girl idk Least fav tracks: holy moly like literally all of them. Cannot do this guys voice and 5 albums of this in the future is gonna kill me
🎧Can’t see myself ever revisiting this but I sort of understand the charm of Waits’ growling, almost gargling, sad drunk bastard with a glimmer in his eye brand of BS. Made me laugh.
bom
# Playlist track - Heartattack And Vine # Notes - The album kicks off on a moody, kind of interesting vibe, which is super nice. But it never leaves. By the 3rd track I'm kind of sick of the same shtick. - It then tried to get moving again and becomes enjoyable for a while. Waits then falls again on the hole and it's back to the same old. - The atmosphere is there, it's well executed. But it's a bit boring to stay at this bar for the entire album.
I’ve tried to listen to Waits a number of times over the years. Always something about him that I don’t get. This didn’t really change that but I liked most of the songs that aren’t ballads. 3.07
Absolutely cannot take Tom Waits voice seriously at all. Some of these cuts are laugh-out-loud cheesy. Musically, very diverse.
4 maybe 5
wow I liked this Tom Waits more than I have liked the other Tom Waits
This might be Waits at his most accessible. There’s such a strong bluesy undercurrent here that compliments his unique voice and almost elevates it. The ballads are a bit rougher on the ears, but there’s an earnestness to be admired.
I think I’m getting Tom Waits fatigue but Jersey Girl is an amazing song
Did anyone request more Waits? The answer is no.
I liked this album better than Rain Dogs, but it's still an acquired taste. Some people really love Tom Waits, I guess I am just not one of them. However -- Tom Waits while Jeremy IIrons and Ben Folds.
Not bad but far from being one of his best, not even one of his best from his beatnick era. So why this one in particular is included here is baffling.
I once wondered if I would enjoy Tom Wait's music. I don't.
Pretty boring compared to albums like Rain Dogs or Swordfishtrombones. Did we really need to hear this?
This sounds like a parody album on South Park. How did people take this seriously
Not for me. A few good songs
it sounds like he’s trying too hard
I shouldn't like this so much but it sucks me in.
This is the most ridiculous voice I've heard. Favourite Songs: Heartattack and Vine, Jersey Girl, On the Nickel. Least Favourite Songs: Saving All My Love for You, Mr. Siegal.
Lekkere bluesy plaat van de man met de stem van langs elkaar schurend beschuit. Prima hoor, maar helaas springt geen een nummer er echt uit. Dus vraag ik we af: waarom precies deze plaat van Tom in de lijst? Over twee albums krijgt de man de kans om zich te revancheren.
Dit hele album lijkt in het leven om de ruwe stem van Tom te etaleren. Dat leidt soms tot flink overdreven stukken, soms wat aanstellerige stukken. Af en toe is het net even wat meer ingehouden, en dat zijn de fijnste passages. Niet mijn kopje thee dus. Toch is het wel knap dat je als zanger overeind blijft met zulke geluiden uit je keel. Laat ik het naar boven afronden naar een 3 en dan voorlopig gewoon even bij Tom uit de buurt blijven. O...sh*t.
Hey, Tom Waits, die hebben we al een keer gehad. Niet verwonderlijk, want zoals veel artiesten, staat ook Tom Waits meerdere keren in deze lijst. 4x maar liefst. Dat lijkt me toch ietwat overbodig. Maar goed, we zullen ook deze keer een eerlijk oordeel geven. Het album verrast me eigenlijk. Ik ben verder niet zo bekend met het oeuvre van de man met de stem van schuurpapier, niet te verwarren met die andere stem van schuurpapier Bruce Springsteen, wie het nummer Jersey Girl groot gemaakt heeft. Maar er staan een paar zeer luisterenswaardige nummers op. Sowieso vind ik die bluesy klanken wel lekker altijd. Je ziet Tom Waits voor je, in die kleine rokerige barretjes optredend, in tegenstelling tot de stadionrock van broeder Bruce. En daar past de muziek prima bij. Tom Waits met een peuk in zijn bek, voorovergebogen op zijn toetsen spelend. Het glas whisky staat op de rand van de piano. Ik heb zin om hier een 4 voor te geven, omdat ik het gevoel heb er bij te willen zijn. Hij zet een sfeertje neer en doet dat met verve.
Never was a massive TW fan....until I heard this album. Gold.
Heartattack and Vine is the seventh studio album by Tom Waits, originally released in 1980. This list has been trying relentlessly to get me into Tom Waits. I get that he's a talented songwriter and arranger. His voice and overall vocal delivery just puts me off most of the time. This record was one of his better ones that I've listened to. I think he does blues pretty well. It's kinda like the Captain Beefheart/Howlin' Wolf blues vibes. A lot of the lyrics are pretty dark and depressing, which is expected from Tom Waits. I was surprised this was released on Asylum Records. This seems a bit "out there" for them.
Kräftige Stimme. Recht orchestrales Album.
abrasive vocals, but intriguing
Day225 - this was a surprisingly good album. the lyrics are fantastic and the music isn’t overbearing. i put it on and just chilled
Hmmm. Putting music to Burkowsky.. All singing does not have to be about a beautiful and trainer singing voice. Tom Waits proves it here.. nice album
A couple Tom Waits gems cushioned by generic blues
Heart Attack and Vine - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ In Shades - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Saving All My Love For You - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Downtown - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jersey Girl - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Til The Money Runs Out - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ On the Nickel - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mr. Siegal - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ruby's Arms - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Total - 32/45 Percentage - 71% Rating - 3.55
Found the lyrics hard to follow and the vocals regularly unpleasant. He does put a lot of emotion into his singing especially on the last track but def not for me
Not my favourite Tom Waits album but still a good’un.
Is it the best Tom Waits album... no. But is it still a Tom Waits album... yes.
Never been a Tom Waits fan, but I get it a bit more after listening to this. Interesting to hear “Jersey Girl” and realizing that it likely served as inspiration for Springsteen’s “Atlantic city.”
After listening to multiple Tom Waits albums on this challenge, I can honestly say I'm not a big. I do like his bluesy songs and some of his ballads. Aside from that, I could go on with the rest of my life not listening to his albums.
Not one of my favourite Waits albums, but still a good listen. From the haunting melodies of Closing Time to the aggression and weirdness of Bone Machine and Dark Rider, I am down for some Waits any time.
Tom Waits is a vibe
This was pretty terrible.
Boring, awful vocals, nothing good to say about this album
A master class in lyric writing
Don’t like this one as much as bone machine. Rating: 3.2
Crazy vocal range, some tracks little boring
- Tom Waits, so ein Name, den man ständig überall und schon über hört, den ich aber nie wirklich registriert habe. - Album ist eine wirklich wilde Mischung aus Jazz, RocknRoll, Blues und Klassik - Stimme ist bestimmt authentisch, klingt für mich leider nicht so und nervt mich dementsprechend - Insgesamt war ich leider eher unbeeindruckt, weiß aber jetzt, was Tom Waits macht 2,5/5
Okay
The fifth album by Tom Waits I've gotten. At this point, I'm use to his crazy sound and actually kinda like him
I once went to see a Tom Waits film. A few minutes in and almost the entire audience had stood up and walked out. Those who were left would probably not have given this a 4-5 star rating. I stayed.
Awful and excruciatingly painful. Dude sounds like he just had COVID, is drunk & constipated.
This is a rough one. Tom Waits is cool and an incredible musician/writer. At the same time this album wore me out. I would have enjoyed reading the lyrics as poems instead of him grunting them at me. Middle of the road stars, I wanted to like it more.
It was OK
A drunk stranger that only eats lit cigarettes rambles at you for 44 minutes in a jazz bar as you uncomfortably try to escape. 4/5 Would have been a 5 if it wasn't for Jersey Girl being somewhat bad.
I loved the title track "Heartattack and Vine" plus "'Til the Money Runs Out"- his voice matches the bluesy ballad style of these tracks. But on tracks like "Saving All My Love for You", it's almost like he's a parody of himself.
One of those records where I couldn't care mire. Some good moments , a bearable voice and some equally bad moments. Could have done without hearing it but I also don't regret hearing it.
I love the voice of Tom, but this album is definitely not his best work. Jersey Girl is a standout.
Hm, had dan liever Closing Time gehad in plaats van dit. 2.9*
Loved the rough texture of the vocals.
Loved Tom Waits ever since I first saw him a sitting in a gutter in a Jim Jarmusch film. This album is vintage Tom Waits - it reeks of cheap sex, whisky and cigarettes
Come on now
Was a good example of Waits but I like closing time better.
Almost listenable
2/8, 25%
I was curious about this one. A distinct voice for sure, but sometimes a bit jarring. I don't know what to think. The storytelling when it can be understood is really good. However, the style isn't always pleasant to listen to. When it works during some of the tracks, it is definitely good. Not likely to listen again though. Highlights: Downtown
I liked the music, I didn't like the singer's voice
Has one of the best lyrics of all time in the first two minutes: "don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk" a lot of schmaltz, though. His 80s stuff got way, way better
He's pretty bloody good isn't he. No idea why I don't listen to tom as much as I used too.
Objectively good but not really my kind of thing
Sounds like a guy who just pulled an all-nighter regretting every decision he's ever made
Loved it… felt like I was in some dive bar in America and Tom was singing to me.
Tom Waits is definitely the only kid who made a weird face in their school photo. But this was a bit better than his other stuff I've heard on here, it's actually listenable and tuneful in places, for one.
Perfect
I guess Jon Bon Jovi is a big fan.
Correcto
I loved this
such an interesting voice!! i have a lot of people around me who love tom waits and i can see why. i kind of felt like i was living another life while listening to this, very stand out!!! 1.) saving all my love for you 2.) jersey girl 3.) heartattack and vine
Off-putting
Comienza Tom Waits este disco con toda una declaración de intenciones en la homónima "Heartattack and Vine". No sólo por su gutural voz, ya totalmente quebrada, fraseando los versos como hacían los cantantes de jazz, sino por el R&B primario mezclado con clásico blues "gut bucket". Todo en una canción que, además, concentra el contenido de su visión de un mundo amenazante. Por su letra defilan los habitantes del lado oscuro de la vida y un pesimismo vital que le llega a preguntarse: "¿No sabes que no hay diablo, solo está Dios cuando está borracho?". En "Downtown" el estilo vira hacia una mezcla más con el funk, para hacernos una descripción sórdida de la ciudad, un mundo donde se puede pasar del sueño a la pesadilla inadvertidamente. Me gusta especialmente las baladas "Jersey Girl" (versionada más tarde por Springsteen) y "Ruby's Arms".
The lyrics of the songs are good enough that his voice only lowers this to 4 stars or B for me.
Trash
Bad
6/10.
I liked the lyrics and understand how people might love his music. I felt like at times I was listening to a Louie Armstrong song, but at others like the Tasmanian Devil and/or songs from team America. Not sure how much I’d listen when it’s not a super popular song.
While I have the utmost respect for Tom Waits and love many of his songs, I had a hard time listening to this album! Maybe the day wasn't the best, but I wasn't helped by the cacophony and experimentalism it contains. So only 3 stars. Sorry, Tom ;-)
Tom Waits is the shit.
Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: passend angegrabbelt, schmierig und vergilbt Mix: angesichts der versumpften Vocals fast schon überraschend klare und wuchtige Mische der Instrumentierung Musik: Andere Reviews vergleichen Tom Waits' Stimme zu einem betrunkenen, Geschichten erzählenden Muppet, dem blauen Alien aus Star Wars: Episode VI (Special Edition!) und einem obdachlosem, tibetischem Kehlkopfsänger. Alles bestimmt lustig gemeint. Aber wahr. Wertung: 📰📰/5
This is my third Tom Waits album to review, but it's been a little over 200 albums since my last one by him. I loved Rain Dogs and enjoyed Bone Machine, so I was happy to get the chance to go down another gravely-voiced road with Mr. Waits. Even though this album has some absolute gems in "On The Nickel" and "Jersey Girl," this has been my least favorite Tom Waits album so far. Aside from the two aforementioned songs, I found the rest of the musical arrangements to be pretty good. I enjoyed the strings on "Saving All My Love For You" and "Ruby's Arms", and the gritty sound of the title track and "Downtown" complimented the lyrics really well. I wasn't that big a fan of the rest of the songs on the album. Now to discuss the best parts of the album. I loved the softer crooning of "Jersey Girl," complimented by the strings that ebbed and flowed in intensity. The minimal percussion was great too, and I think I heard a little bit of Hammond organ as well, which I really liked. The lyrics on this song were fantastic as well, and Tom's voice carried such a great sense of love and longing. The best part of this album though has to be "On The Nickel." The strings comprise a beautiful lullaby sound, and the piano compliments them nicely. The sound of this song is so soft and gentle, which contrasts starkly with the lyrics. To me, this song discusses the fact that everyone who winds up homeless or drug addicted or in jail, starts their life off as a child at some point. I'm reminded of a line from Bright Eyes' "Road To Joy": "no one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter, sometimes that's just the most comfortable place." No one chooses a life of hardship, but hardship manages to find people anyway. I really connected with this song on a personal level too. As a child, my home life was incredibly tumultuous. My mother, a victim of abuse from her father, inflicted that same trauma on my brother and I. Her father ruled her house with an iron fist, which kept her in line, and she expected the same tactic to work on her children as well, but it didn't. She was always angered by what she perceived to be my lack of effort on my school work, and would often warn me that if I didn't make good grades, I'd wind up on the street. Thankfully, that didn't happen, but those words still haunt me. When I see someone suffering from poverty or homelessness, I can't help but wonder if there's some alternate timeline where I'm in their place. Oftentimes, I feel like their fate is what I deserve. There's so much to address with things like poverty and drug addiction, but "On The Nickel" perfectly captured the innocence and humanity of conditions like this. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good album. I like how Tom Waits tends to examine the uglier things in our world, but he does so with such grace and gentleness. While this album wasn't my favorite of his, I'm still glad I got to listen to it.
Not really my preferred Tom Waits mode.
This was horrible! How was Tom Waits ever popular?! The voice was painful to listen to, the songs dragged, and I really just couldn't wait for this to be over. I think if his voice was good, this would have been a 2 star album, but after hearing him sing, this immediately goes to 1 star. How does anybody enjoy this?!
my expectations were so unbelievably low for more tom waits after absolutely DESPISING swordfishtrombones that enjoying a song or two from this feels like a revelation. 2.5
I didn't like this much as the other, weirder Tom Waits I've gotten from this project before.
Tom's gravel-like tones didn't always marry with the music, like nails on a blackboard!
The album has a unique charm to it, but I found that on many tracks there were points that the vocals cuts notes short that the instruments continued to hold, which sounded rather off. The title track, Heartattack and Vine, I would say is the strong point.
Not my favourite Tom Waits album, but damn do I love Tom Waits! :)
I love Tom's grungy voice on the upbeat stuff, but I'm not fond of the slower songs, and the way the album keeps flip-flopping between the two is jarring
I love Tom Waits, but this isn't him at his best in my estimation. I love the sweetness of Closing Time, and the zany sound of Bone Machine more. This felt like an unhappy compromise. But it had great moments definitely!
Levy osui maanantain tunnelmaan, sopivan rauhallista ja rosoista. Huikea kontrasti kyllä kun tuolla äänellä laulelee slowareita.
Hyvä levy, mut pidemmän päälle Waitsin ääni alkaa käymään raskaaks kuunnella… sen verran intensiivinen tyyli
he can't be serious
Тому Уэйтсу нет (но всё ещё не так плохо как другие его альбомы)
i really respect the creativity, originality, artistry of tom waits and i want to like him. but i don't
Ég kynntist Tom Waits fyrst þegar hann fór með ljóð í upphafi Hullabaloo tónleikum Muse. Þá fannst mér hann töff. Svo hlustaði ég á þessa plötu og fannst hann flottur í upphafi en fékk svo smá leið. Þurfti að taka pásu og þegar ég hélt áfram að hlusta var hann orðinn töffari aftur.
Tom Waits stays on top 🙏
Helt kova
Interesting
If only Tom didn’t sing
It was interesting to get Tom waits and the black keys in the same week because they’re both in the same musical vein at different points in time but the latter I really love and the former I try to at least appreciate even though it never quite works for me. This one was better than a lot of his other music since it had actual music and singing but I still wasn’t super engaged with it.
Just cannot get interested in this stuff. 1/5
Me llama la atención cuando hay un disco de un autor que no contiene ninguna canción entre las 10 más escuchadas de ese autor en Spotify. Sé que no significa nada en concreto, pero es una de las variables que miro. Este es uno de esos casos. Me he guardado "Saving all my love for you" y "On the nickel".
Every song is so high impact! I've slowly approached a huge Tom Waits deep dive and this just got me closer. Everything I hear from him is so caliber and brimming with authentic emotion that just takes you there. 5/5 on first listen.
An ok album. Great for a road trip through Kyrgyzstan! Last track seemed redundant.
The more traditional Tom Waits. Not a bad record at all, but it is missing some of the theatrical quirkiness that I love so much with Big Time or other such records. Some filler instrumental organ blues as well imho. A convenient listen.
I decided to lean into his weird voice and just try to enjoy it. And I did!
this started up and i was like hmmm i dunno Tom but actually it ruled
Great album. Tom Waits rules, maybe better than Blue Valentine?
Certainly a unique voice
So I’ve never liked Tom Waits. Actively disliked to be honest. And yet… …I think I love this. The piano and orchestration work brilliantly to off set his vocals (which I normally can’t abide but sound more Springsteen like on this) Jersey Girl in particular was a highlight. Really enjoyed this. Really surprised
It was good. Bluesy and jazzy.
Dit album was naar alle waarschijnlijkheid de barrière die tussen mij en Abbey Road stond. Maar goed, ik moet er toch aan geloven. En meteen voelt het eerste nummer aan alsof je een roggel in je gezicht krijgt die voor de ene helft bestaat uit sigarettenas en de andere helft uit whiskey. Je kan van alles zeggen over het geluid, maar uniek is het wel, en ik begin er steeds beter aan te wennen. Op dit album staan wel een paar nummers die me wat meer liggen, waaronder Downtown en Til The Money Runs Out. De band is echt goed: fijne orgelgeluidjes en korte krachtige bluesriffs. That's more like it Waits! Rating: 7 Highlights: Downtown, Til The Money Runs Out
Na 'Nighthawks at the Diner' komt een ander album van dit mythische figuur aan bod dat niet al te hoog staat op mijn favorieten-lijstje. Dit album belichaamt de overgang van Tom's gevoelige, dronken ballad-periode (barfly Tom) naar het tijdperk waarin hij meer ging experimenteren en een beetje een maffe joker werd. Die periode, vanaf de jaren 80 tot begin jaren 90, staat het dichtst bij mijn hart, al heeft early Tom ook z'n briljante momenten. Deze plaat - de laatste op Asylum Records - mixt de rauwe blues met zijn dronken bar-hang persona. In die vroegere periode van zijn loopbaan was zijn grootste deugd dat hij zijn verhalen en de - vaak fictieve - hoofdrollen met angstaanjagende precisie kon vertolken. Op rauwe en emotionele wijze werpt hij een blik met een vergrootglas op de verschoppelingen van de maatschappij, wat ook maar gewoon mensen blijken zijn. Dit album bevat met 'On The Nickel' en 'Ruby's Arms' twee van die ontroerende stukken, die tekenend zijn voor 70s Waits. En meer dan in zijn voorgaande albums worden de rauwe lyrics van ballads als deze uitgebalanceerd door de rauwe instrumentatie in andere nummers. De titelsong en 'Mr. Siegal' zijn hier goede voorbeelden van. Dit zorgt voor wat meer variatie, waar de 'Island Trilogy' van de jaren 80 bol van staat. Toch voelt dit album meer als een losse flodder tussen twee iconische tijdperken door, al is hij stilistisch onmisbaar voor de evolutie van de beste man. De blues zijn me iets te simpel, en de songwriting trekt me minder dan op 'Closing Time' en 'Blue Valentine', bijvoorbeeld. Één voor in de collectie, onbreekbaar op de chronologe tijdlijn van de artiest Tom Waits, maar muzikaal bij lange na niet mijn favoriet. 5,5/10 Highlights: Heartattack and Vine Ruby's Arms
Laat ze maar komen die Tom Waits platen. Dit album valt net in een interbellum van albums die ik niet super goed ken, dus leuk om ff in te duiken. Tom is 'goed bij stem' voor deze plaat die verder wel wat weg heeft van Bruce. Ik twijfelde of ik dit durfde op te schrijven met Youri de Waits-versteher die nu zit mee te lezen. Echter bleek Jersey Girl (toen ik de gelijkenis met Bruce voor het eerst bedacht) een nummer die the Boss vaker live heeft gespeeld dan Waits zelf. Veel mensen denken daardoor dat het track van Springsteen is. Hoe dan ook. Prima werk Tom. 7,5/10 Highlights Jersey Girl On the Nickle
i suppose i like this a bit more than his more experimental later records but it doesnt beat closing time. my favorite tracks were the most blues focused ones like the title track, downtown, and mr siegal. they remind me a bit of time out of mind which i enjoy much more than this record. low 7/10
Waits music is like slipping into a bad dream
He has a great voice. But it gets boring. I don't really know why. It just does.
solid album, the first 2 songs fucking rule. Can’t mistake the sound of Tom Waits. Waits has weirdish moments here but is still largely sane…but maybe seeing some bridge between the older/jazzier and more experimental music to come. Some respectable ballads. Just a master storyteller of life in the gutter.
Tom rips out my heart and leaves me smelling of cigarrettes
Rumour has it this man came out of the womb at 50 years old with a Marlboro Red in one hand and a Bulleit Bourbon in the other. But then you listen to something like Saving All My Love for You and you realise he’s just a big softie really.
I've listened to a couple Tom Waits albums so far, with varied results. This one is actually really good though. Some of the lines transcended right out of the songs and smacked me in the face. It's definitely a mood. The mood of a sad drunkard - but it sticks with that vibe and does it well. I feel like this is the Tom Waits that is catered towards me (of the ones I've heard so far).
A bit boring tbh
Not a fan. Reminds me of Bruce Springsteen and I don’t like him either. Personally don’t think gravely voices are good.
Sounds like he wants to be Louis Armstrong
Painful vocals. Hated this one.
I didn't know what to expect but it really feels as though you shouldn't take this Album too seriously.
I love that deep crooning voice.
Tom’s last hurrah on Asylum brings the best of his early-career jazz crooning
Quite moving in parts
Melancholy, sad, hurt my heart in a good way.
Sehr coole Stimme aber höre ich mir eher an wenn ich 80 bin und ein cooler Opa
Blues, folk de Tom Waits. Un 4.
Nice little blues album, nothing too exciting, although the singing person sounded like he was trying to make his voice deeper and it sounded like he was straining it a lot, although I assume that it is not the case. It was not too bad, it was nice having this in the background.
Tom Waits, patron saint of the gutter drunks. I've gotten a few on this list, but I think this my favorite of his. Probably has to be, being from Jersey. It flits between marimba-filled, drunk-for-24hrs madness, to tender ballads once you sober up and the hangover disappears. Favorite tracks: "Heartattack And Vine", "Mr. Siegal", "Jersey Girl"
These songs are great. Groovy, good songwriting, heartfelt. However, Tom Waits should not be allowed to sing anything and that is a hill I will die on. My vocal chords hurt just listening to him.
raw voice good music
Really starting to get into Tom Waits especially after hearing his The Wire soundtrack
1/5. Maybe it would be higher if I could understand what he was saying (singing?).
Tom Waits makes very interesting music, and this one might be my favorite so far. The bluesy, jazzy sound fits him so well, and he has a really good way of creating a scene - particularly one in a seedy bar on a cold, windy night. But there are moments where I have to ask, what in the world is he doing with his voice?! Gravelly singing works sometimes, but there are songs where he sounds like he is trying so, so hard to add grit to his voice. It's as if there is phlegm in his throat and he's trying to get it out. Please stop! Your normal voice is fine!
Tom Waits is always great. The sound is scratchy and dirty. I find it interesting and am always captivated by it. 4/5
Stop making me listen to Tom Waits
One of the best albums I have listened in this challenge so far. For sure I will revisit.
Incredible blues opening with the first two tracks and then Tom Waits comes back in and ruins everything with his awful vocals. And it continues with beautiful songs and arrangements however Tom Waits cannot sing. The same continues through the rest of the album.
Tom was very influential, but like Bob Dylan I find his singing awful. The album had a couple of good blues tunes on it but overall not very good.
Den var ikke helt så gennemført for mig som Bone Machine, men stadig meget stemningsfuldt og hans sange passer virkelig til hans stemme
Super fedt! Elsker hans stemme! Skør plade, men vel også inden hans plader blev RIGTIG skøre
This is the nuts.
Quite a powerful record, the ballads really shine, and I did have a lot of fun with this, but sometimes it feels made redundant by his later album. However, a middle-of-the-road tom waits album is still a great album.
I came to read through the reviews as I listened to this album and sure enough there were people who thought the same thing I did...."am I listening to a drunk muppet?" I love the music...I can tolerate his voice on most songs, I just don't think I would choose to come back and visit this album again!
The voice of Tom Waits takes some getting used to. It is however effective. Interresting music,interresting lyrics, interresting voice what's not to like. Not the greatest album ever but still pretty good.
I hate his voice so much. Like cannot stand it at all.
Classic Tom Waits! Nothing can compare to this unique performer and his distinct voice.
It wasn't too bad. His voice is very interesting. It is a fine line between annoying and quircky. Not all the songs suited his voice. but i glad i tried it.
Super bluesy and Tom Waits has such an incredible voice.
I liked the energy but not the album. Favourite track: Jersey Girls.
3/5
god I love listening to Tom Waits feels like forever since I’ve heard one of his albums - 10/10
It’s an album, not of all time. It’s just an that exists.
Never been much on Tom Waits.
In a nutshell: if a drunk Nick Cave smoked 4 packs a day and sang the blues. Overall: 6/10
Quite good, ahead of its time although not really my thing
didn’t like it. first song was fine. everything after that was not
First track really hooked me: I loved both his voice and the baseline and I thought breaking up the album with an instrumental next really worked. I also really enjoyed the slow and relaxed pace of jersey girl. Same with on the nickel. They’re just really nice songs to listen to. Overall very nice. I also love his voice.
Pretty wacky little album, not a massive fan of the vocals (reminds me of motorhead and not in a good way) not really my sort of jam overall
In the reverse of the usual way of these things, Waits seems to get better with each album. This seems to be from the period where he is still a piano-based balladeer - not my favourite phase. Also, I started to find the voice a bit grating after a while - the mannered style seems to work better when the music is a bit odder than it is here. On this it sounded - to me - a little faked or forced. Once I heard that, I couldn't get past it. I like Waits as an artist, but not a big fan of this particular album.
Tom Waits at his most Tom Waits.
I just cannot take any of Tom waits songs seriously lmao he sounds like he’s drunk when he sings
it wasn't perfect, but it WAS very good especially ruby's arms
his voice grew on me as it went on, not an album to be listened to during the day.
GOAT-level singer-songwriter bends genres and enters the 1980s with a record outside time. It’s sweet and sour, confrontational and comforting. The songs are top notch, several immediate Waits classics. One thing has always been true of Tom Waits: he doesn’t sound like anyone else, not even his influences. And in the middle of all these voice-as-well-traveled-gravel-road, boozy, brooding songs , ballads like “Jersey Girl” and “On the Nickel” hit you straight in the gut and squeeze your heart. Ever the Beat poet protégé, he covers a lot of ground here, from romantic meditations to religious commentary. Waits is also incredibly funny throughout: “How do the angels get to sleep/When the devil leaves his porch light on.” All tongue-in-cheek, all straight-faced and serious as hell. There’s nothing quite like him, and this record doesn’t let you forget that for a minute.
Tom Waits. I am perfectly divided with Tom Waits. I LOVE sometimes, and I can't listen at all other times.... I think one must be "in the mood" and not just jump into Tom Waits (at all, let alone an album). Yet Tom Waits is very very special. That is a fact that I will not ever ignore. Nobody else is or ever will be Tom Waits and that is something intangible, priceless... The only negative in this album is it lacks that story telling element that puts Tom Waits into an entirely different class of his own, which I would suggest is a "must do" on a lifes bucket list.
This guy is a joker!
on the nickel is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful songs ever written. wish i could give half stars
not as good as closing time, but I fucking love Tom Waits
Waits' voice is unique and therefore polarizing. I am just not the biggest fan of it, but can appreciate a couple songs, Downtown being my favorite. While I do like the lyrical themes of the anti-hero and the downtrodden, it is just a little to grating to listen to the whole album all the way through.
Simply the best
Tried to poke this guy for years. Not going to happen.
Quite listenable but not memorable
5⭐️ soy fan de Tom y amo el disco Rain Dogs pero creo que este album para ser debut es mejor que mi favorito. Su voz de Louie Armstrong blanco y bruce springsteen pujando un mojon atravesado en el baño finciona con el. La cancion Downtown fue mi favorita. Y la primera para abrir el albu Fue ganadora tambien
daj se iskasljaj momak, al nice inace
Something about the vocals, and music, but maybe not for 2024 in my car on a grey day, definitely not in a Midwest Saloon smelling of liquor and smoke.
I hate this because there are no gay niggers as I love
I really enjoyed listening to this bluesy good quality instrument playing
Annoying voice
didnt finish the album because of this guys awful voice
2.75
This dudes voice makes me wanna vomit
Tom had crafted one of his famous formulas when he released this album: the achy hoarse melancholic troubadour. "Heartattack and Vine" is a lovely work. IT does not demand anything from the listener, quite the opposite, the singer pours out his heart song after song. You are a character in the shadow, witnessing how he, vulnerable drunkenly, shares his sorrow. Love this phase of his career.
If you can get past or not be bothered by the way he sings, there is a lot of good stuff on here to enjoy
I got excited because the instruments sounded nice in the opening of this song, but then this guy started singing? spitting? it sounds like he's growling and salivating all over the microphone. No thanks... Oh my GOD this is SO BAD. Hate. Bye. Literally do not play this man ever again.
# 176 : This was dull. It is hard to know what he is singing about with that incoherent voice of his! I didn't like any of it.
Made me laugh out loud more than once. Silly voice.
Jazz. Ok
First song is great, minimalist music, rasping, screechy vocals. the second one, In Shades, is generic blues-boredom. Third song, Saving All My Love For You, sounds comical; his voice doesn't suit the song - which has good lyrics, but... the delivery is weird, not in a good way. Certainly is original, though. 'Downtown' (the fourth song) is better; his voice does work better with less gentle songs - but it's not the best song, slightly predictable. Jersey Girl isn't the strongest or most interesting song, and the vocals in the chorus grate, although the softer bits are okay. The music in ''Til the Money Runs Out' is crisp and funky; the singing suits it - although I'd prefer it if someone with a nicer delivery fronted the music. He just doesn't have the glamour and depth of, say, Black Francis' bone-shattering scream. He sounds more like a frothing, sputtering, wife-beating drunk - which I guess is what he's going for. (You could call it 'swampy', being generous.) On the Nickel is boring for me, but might be interesting to some; its vocals progress from lisping to shower opera. Mr Siegal works! It's the right blend of those vocals and simple music. I won't say I'll listen to it again and again - stylistically, it's boring old blues - but the song works well and is a good one for basic-blues lovers. (This song is unnecessarily long, though, as well.) Kinda glad when this album was over - although I will be playing the opening track, Heartattack and Vine again. And... it is wildly original, unusual, and will appeal to some people very much - not to me, though. A worthy listen - once!
Die Stimme geht gar nicht.. instrumental ist ok
Pretty good. About what I expect a Tom Waits album to sound like.
Did not enjoy
Great if you are into Tom Waits. Definitely not bad, but not into it. It’s unique for sure.
Redelijk mooie muziek die totaal wordt verneukt door een flapdrol die het nodig vindt om als een extreme versie van cookiemonster liedjes te gaan oprochelen. Ik zie hier echt niet de lol van in. Dankzij ome Joe Talbot van IDLES heb ik een sterker dan gemiddelde tolerantie voor sputumgeluiden, maar hier trek ik een grens. Ik wilde het tijdens track 1 al afzetten. Track 2 was instrumentaal en zorgde voor verlichting, maar daarna was het weer reutelen geblazen. Niet alles van Tom Waits is kut, maar dit wel. Ik heb in deze lijst eigenlijk nog nooit of zelden een album uitgezet, maar nu is het zover. Bij track 6 was m'n emmer aan het overlopen. Wellicht dat ik later op de dag die laatste 3 tracks er nog even er doorheen jaag omdat ik vind dat je albums korter dan een uur eigenlijk helemaal moet luisteren, maar ik gun mezelf nu even beter dan dit.
This man needs a cough drop and a spit bib.. Definitely To Waits. Enjoyable is spurts..
Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine I love Tom Waits. His distinctive voice and storytelling in the form of a song are amazing. This is his seventh album. I loved his first few more than this one, but it's still really good. Never pass up the opportunity to listen to Tom Waits! 5/5
Wonderful
I like the songs themselves but I’m gonna be real with y’all, his voice made me burst out LAUGHING like I just couldn’t take the growling seriously!
It was good. No songs I’d listen to again but beautiful as well.
Sorry Tom Waits, I just can’t groove with you. Barely a 2.
Look, we've all known from the very beginning that Tom Waits is not for everybody, and he'd be the first one to tell you that. But he'll be there for you when you didn't know you needed him.
Good album. I’d never listened to him before but had heard of him. Starred 2 songs and listened to some of his other stuff.
Why? It's a cute presentation and the songs are fine I guess but they sound very sappy and overwrought like a sad movie.
Not my kind of music
This is my third Tom Waits album on the list, and for many reasons, I bloody hate the guy. To be fair, I was fully expecting to hate this album and whilst I didn't like it, it was a lot more bearable than Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs, which is something. Whilst both those two albums I scored 1/5, I'm willing to extend to 2/5 for this one, but still, fuck Tom Waits.
Of all the Waits albums, this one doesn't conjure in the top 1001 of all time to be heard. I'll have to regroup and think this through. It's fine, but kind of Waits by the numbers at this point in his evolving career. I think the earlier records are a better representation of this phase and Swordfishtrombones is a better watermark for what was to come.
Was not expecting that voice from the album cover but not complaining
Good album - 3.5. I like Tom Waits later albums better.
Tom Waits, another one of those legends I've seen on lists and shouted out in reviews and interviews, but have not taken the chance to really dive into before this list. I enjoyed the blues-rock songs a lot more than the piano-orchestra ballads I must say. Great lyricism. I have to say a little disappointed overall. This is one I could see myself returning to later and giving a much higher score, but as for now I do not think I can give it more than a solid 3.
1.5 I did not vibe with this
Surprisingly Tom Waits voice is not the turn-off for this album. I just found the songwriting pretty bland, nothing really grabbed me at any time. His voice is pretty dope tho. Fav Songs: - Downtown
Picture a scuzzy cartoon alligator in a rocking chair on the porch of a house in the swamp. Bottle of bourbon in hand, belting out these songs while his tattered fedora falls over his eyes. The first song had me a little unsure of how this would go, some interesting lyrics, and his singing voice made me wonder if I was supposed to take him seriously or not. But Tom manages to execute both sides of an interesting coin here: Half the songs are gritty, southeastern honkeytonk blues with some sort of loose storyline. Then the other half are somehow the most beautiful piano-and-string love ballads I’ve maybe ever heard, where genuine sincerity shines through his weathered voice. I can’t believe I’m giving this album a five outta five but I have to. Masterful songwriting. Insane vocal commitment. Clear sonic theme. Rob Dougans “Drinking Song” is a clear homage to this style of ballad too, and I highly recommend the album it’s on, “Furious Angels”
Great lyrics, not so great voice. Sounds like he needs to clear his throat!
Beautiful songs
I really want to like Tom Waits. Good songs. Just can’t quite get there.
I grow tired of the shtick. Outside of this list I will not listen to this muppet.
Dare I say, one of the most annoying voices of all time? The music is ok/good in places, but that horrible voice just about ruins it.
Wasn't for me, knew the name but still expected it to like it more
I hated this for all the reasons I hate Leonard Cohen. The bluesy bits were listenable, and the one instrumental track might be enough to push this up to a 2.
This is my second Waits album and it's also a treat just like the first. I love his ability to spin a yarn. His singing is rough but his orchestration is incredible. I don't find this quite as strong as Rain Dogs but it's still an easy 5 for how much I'll be coming back to this one.
The usual collection Tom Waits slightly bent characters set to a nice blend of guttbucket blues, tin pan alley arangements and jazzy feel. Pretty good album if your tastes run in this direction. 3.5 stars
Not for me
Added to collection!
An amazing album. I think Springsteen now owns Jersey Girl and plays a better version but the rest of the album is perfect lounge and blues.
Like listening to a drunk muppet.
ok. there are some greta moments with waits but there is only so mich gravel one can take. kat made me give it an extra star for being on key unlike other grating voiced singers could i write poetry to this? n
It's okay. Better than I remember, but I'm just not a Tom Waits fan. It's musically competent, but in the end just comes across as schtick to me. Two and one-half stars, with the added half-star because I do enjoy seeing Tom Waits when he makes cameo appearances in movies.
Hot take: Tom Waits' voice is unpleasant to listen to.
Honestly the music and lyrics are a 5/5 by themselves. But as I've said before the worst part of Tom Waits is Tom Waits and unfortunately these beautiful songs were sung by a man who sounds like Bruce Springsteen on Quaaludes. Honestly I really enjoyed this album and I'm glad I got this album but it I have to deduct a star because Tom Waits sung it. Favorite song: Heartattack and Vine
Great voice, of course
LOVE
Not my cup of tea. OK music if you like blues with gravel-voiced vocals.
3.5 really
I can imagine Tom Waits spitting phlegm globs from his mouth at burglars trying to rob his house. Just some real chewy gooey ass shit. Brown as well. I don't know how I feel about Tom Waits singing genuine songs with a mellow piano in the background. I think his voice works better for the weird experimental stuff he did later on in his career. This just feels like listening to generic blues rock with a singer that's uncomfortably close to puking. Makes my tummy feel strange.
Wow, the ballads here were incredible - he has a rough voice, something between Springsteen and Lemmy, which makes for some epic slow songs. Unfortunately that set a high bar and the rest of the album didn't deliver. Stand-out: Jersey Girl
Ok
holy blues. half of it is some REALLY gritty americana blues, tom's INCREDIBLY deep and throaty voice compliments the sleazy rough sound the accompaniment has, and another half is some somber light chamber stuff, which I favor. there's a lot of merit in this album, with tom giving his thoughts and experiences about what it can be life to live in this strange forsaken place we call earth... despite his unique voice and meaningful songs it's just another collection that isn't really for me.
Not for me
Great!
Really not a Tom Waits fan, not sure why he's on list list so many times. I have similar feelings about PJ Harvey, Elvis Costello and Nick Cave.
Loved the interesting raspy voice and lyrics. Nice and bluesy 3.4
1.5 - This has gotta be my least favourite Waits album I've heard so far. It's kind of like Nighthawks at the Diner, but that blues-y influence is a killer, man. Oh well.