Reviews (page 2 of 9)
I thought the last Tom Waits album I had was good, so I hope this one is too. Unfortunately, I don't really care for this one. Here, Tom doesn't sound like he's trying to sing, more just telling stories over somewhat jazzy instrumentals. It's pretty obvious what he's going for here; a shady club jazz-type deal. Adding crowd noise onto your studio record, however, is just asinine even within the context of this album, and this album lacks memorable songs. So, essentially, all this record has is its shtick(whereas Heartattack and Vine had some genuinely good songs). This album is ranked #20 of 22 albums for 1975. Other 1975 albums rated by me: Wish You Were Here(1/22)-5 A Night At The Opera(2/22)-5 Physical Graffiti(3/22)-4 Blood on the Tracks(4/22)-3 Mothership Connection(7/22)-4 That's the Way of the World(8/22)-5 Red Headed Stranger(11/22)-5 Pieces of the Sky(16/22)-4
I'm not a huge fan of jazz, and this does not convince me to change my mind. ★★★
Not for me
It kinda just sounded like the drunken ramblings of the dude you happen to sidle up next to at the high chair at the bar. Intelligent drunken ramblings but drunken ramblings nonetheless. I actually think I got the perfect weather day for this album though, it was foggy and rainy and I was a little tired on a Monday morning after seeing Iron Maiden last night 🤘. What a contrast that is. I suppose this would have been a riot to see in person, there was some good humour and clever musings but I doubt I’ll ever return to this particular Waits album. It was a worthwhile listen, I’ll give it that. Now I feel as though I’m rambling… 3 stars
He’s a good storyteller, but I wouldn’t exactly call it music. It’s just not my thing.
A very plesant, jazzy, entertaining evening. Not something I would listen to frequently. 3/5
A fun album. I didn’t think I would ever describe a Tom Waits album that way but here we are.
Tom Waits' dronken rambling oom stijl, valt soms de ene kant op, soms de andere. Overall is dit dus een prima plaat met hoogte- en dieptepunten. Complimenten ook voor de muzikanten
Deze trekt me wat minder dan Heartattack and Vine. De live setting is cool, maar het is flink wat eentoniger en druileriger dan voorgenoemde. Leuk om een keer te luisteren, maar ga ik niet naar terug keren.
Weird one, even for Tom Waits' standards. I was definitely expecting more of the same of what I got. Experimental blues. But what I'm getting is a kinda diner jazz, spoken word thing that I'm honestly enjoying. It's hard to kinda pick out any specific songs as they all kinda lead into eachother and just vibe through the whole thing. There's definitely a throughline to the whole album. My only complaint really would be that because there's that throughline, the variation isn't really there, and at over an hour long, it does kinda outstay it's welcome a tad. But the live audience is a pretty fun touch as well. Definitely prefer some of Waits' other stuff, but this one is a fun one.
lol, this is probably one of my least favorite tom waits records, and it’s still brilliant. its on the jazzier/loungier end of the spectrum for him. It works for him. I like that this record sort of sets up his storytelling vibe; one of my favorite things about seeing tom waits live was that the songs were really only half the experience…he spent a lot of time in between songs just telling stories…except that I actually was perfectly content hearing him do both. This record feels like that, except with some jazzy lounge backing (it ought to be noted that I kinda hate jazz and lounge music, but I love tom waits’ version of both those things). This is a front to backer of a record, but not for the normal reasons for me. Normally, that means a record that doesn’t really have a skippable track. This record feels more like a live show experience where to skip a track would mean you’d miss part of the performance. I understand why this record would piss people off: tom doesn’t spend a ton of time on orthodox songs. This is more of a spoken-word-over-music deal. Like i said, it’s one of my least favorite of his records, because I love his songs. But it’s still a 5-star record for me because I also just love to hear him do whatever he wants to do. He’s a weird dude, but interesting, and you kind of get what you get with him. You either hate him or love him. I love him. 9/10
Ugh. I thought maybe jazz club vibe would help make this more tolerable but I can't. His voice irritates me to no end, and apparently, with 65 albums left, I still have another Tom Waits one to try to get through. I'll give a point to the jazz musicians though.
That was definitely Tom Waits. Not my cup of tea
This sounds like it’s a way too long scene from a movie and Tom Waits’s character is bit like the one he played in (one of my favourite movies) Down by law. Interesting album but he has made many better one’s
I have never had patience to focus on Tom Waits. Every album that I have tried to listen and tried to to focus on loses my attention quite fast. Some component just pushes me away. I can't place a finger on what it is but that's just a way it goes with me and Tom Waits.
#465 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ Mr. Waits is a problematic artist for me. I love his voice but the music he has done is all over the place. Most of it is out of my wheelhouse and that makes me hesitate every time a new album is placed in front of me. I'm already feeling the dread of listening to this one. Indeed. Lyrics with a dash of music. Couldn't bear it. Quit listening after 6 tracks. 1/5
The only way this guy is going to get people to cheer and laugh is if he pays them to sit in a studio so it sounds like people actually enjoy this garbage. And it is complete garbage in every sense of the word.
idiosynchratic album ... suffered for the length but I think I enjoy this Tom Waits more than other versions of his Whole Thing. Maybe I just kept picturing Natasha Lyonne delivering these monologues in cut scenes from Russian Doll.
For a live-ish album this was pretty enjoyable
the album that got me into waits. it’s close to my heart but probably not as good as I remember it. so much better stuff to come in the 80s and 90s
Not really my cup of tea.
1. intro - 2 2. report - 2 3. foggy - 1 4. night - 2 5. eggz - 1 6. zauzage - 3 7. better - 1 8. uuife - 1 9. hauuk - 3 10. beer - 1 11. cold - 2 12. county - 2 13. putnam - 1 14. partz - 2 15. nobody - 2 16. big - 1 17. joe - 1 18. zpare - 2
What is this lists obsession with Tom Waits?? I just had a Tom Waits album. I wouldn't call what Tom Waits did on this album singing. He basically just talked over music in the background. It was definitely a concept album. It was over an hour long. I hated it!
This one was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed it but i don't know if there will be many repeated listens.
The only thing I know about Tom Waits is that he is a known weirdo, according to the interwebs. This is the first time I've heard a Waits song, let's see how it goes. There's an Andy Kaufman-esqe joke here that I do not get. But Tom sure does. He does have some odd song writing. 1
This is almost a stand up album. Tom Waits it's legitimately funny. His band is killing it. I really feel like I'm in some shitty dive bar somewhere in Vegas just listening to some drunk bastard making up songs as he goes along and I love it.
The schtick wears thin, amiable Tom.
The end of the road for Tom and us, have you been eagerly aWAITing this, Mark? Heavy on tired cliche and fake atmosphere, light on tunes, "Nighthawks" is a real chore, probably the one I enjoyed the least of all. I think the backing band are quite good, but I'm not listening twice to find out.
I listen to this in the same way you might listen to a podcast or watch some stand up with your mum and dad. I appreciate the storytelling and some of the jokes were pretty out there for 1975. Music is boring though
I never want to hear a song off this record ever again, diabolical nonsense
I understand why people dislike Tom but I tend to have a pretty good time with him, I really liked the jazz club atmosphere here (even though it's fake)
Waits voice is a difficult listen on the recorded album. On this live recording he comes across as both funny and disturbing. Decent enough but not an album too much time should he spent over.
The double bass in 'Putnam County' goes from plucked to played with a bow. It's fantastic. Not as good as 'swordfishtrombones' or 'rain dogs'. Maybe an album too add to my chill out list. Certainly not an unpleasant listen, will likely hear again before I die. Might grow on me. Happy it's on the list. Honestly feels like it would be better shorter, though, without the rambling introductions.
My biggest issue with this one is that I just really can’t see listening to it again. Those long intros and gruffy stand up comedy act just fell flat for me.
I initially wanted to be a bit critical of this, the studio audience and dramatised jazzman character Tom Waits portrays on this album seemed inauthentic as a concept. Listening to this though I was won over pretty quickly by how well he pulls it off. The album is all show and clearly calculated, which is a bit of an oxymoron against the eccentric and wild personality that Tom Waits has, but this so effortlessly brings you down into that smokey jazz bar with him. Music is meant to be fun, entertaining and performative, this album is a masterclass in all three.
I always know it’s going to be a great day when the generator graces me with a Tom Waits album. I'm a bit sad that I only have two more to look forward to from the generator after this. Nighthawks at the Diner is so focused on the atmosphere that it feels overdone, almost satirical. This isn’t just some jazz band playing any old jazz club, it’s an absolute caricature of the jazz band playing the seediest, late night, smoke filled jazz club. Everything is accentuated; it’s the corniest jokes, the wildest of stories, the most gravelly singing, the most enthusiastic cheers, jeers, and jabs from the audience, the smoothest bass, the most sensual saxophone, the smokiest smoke, and the strongest cocktails. All of it is turned up to 11. It’s also wild that, while this was technically recorded in a studio, it was actually setup and played as a live show, including an old-time burlesque dancer that Tom knew as an opening act. That would have definitely helped set the incredibly seedy mood they were going for on this album. While I prefer the junkyard persona that he adopts in later years, I’d be happy listening to Tom Waits reading the news out loud with some smooth jazz in the background any day, which is something he basically does on Emotional Weather Report. I would have killed to have been in the audience for one of these two shows.
I just love Tom Waits. One of the artists I have really come to appreciate thanks to this site/book/project whatever. I understand this record can be divisive, but that’s just a sign of someone who dares to be different.
Such a wonderfully bizarre album. Less a collection of songs, and more a rambling series of stories set to light jazz. I should hate this, but Tom Waits' gravelly voice, and eye for detail makes this an incredibly captivating listen. Not an album I'd likely ever come back to, but one I'm very happy to have experienced.
I got little tired by the end, but thought the ambience is captivating. I like the idea of mixing poetry with music.
Don't hate it, but I do dislike it. You had to be there otherwise it has no appeal. 2
Einer meiner absoluten Lieblinge, wenngleich das Album vielleicht das unzugänglichste von ihm ist. Ich mag das trotzdem sehr. Schrulliger Kerl!
Hatte ich als Live-Album verbucht. Noch besser als in meiner Erinnerung und echt witzig.
Skjønner ikke hangupen på live-album, men dette hadde i alle fall ok lyd.
3.5
Listening session: august 13th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: I really dislike this type of singing, but the bass and piano made up for it sometimes. Would like this album better if it was shorter and instrumental Favourite tracks: Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission) & Nobody
that was an odd one
Really good album. Fun little experience with this. Loved the vibe. Definitely a divisive one though, Tom Waits always will be, but I loved it.
I like Tom Waits but this is not an album I've ever returned to, if I've even ever listened to the full thing before. Listening to it in this format atleast gives me some appreciation for what they're aiming to do, and maybe if I were to sit in that studio I would have appreciated it more, but I can think of more than five of his albums I'd rather listen to. Apparently a rather quick recording, and clean process too. The entire concept reminds me of when Bengt Sändh got funding to record an album of Swedish drinking songs, set up in a bar and as the album progresses the entire crew got more and more intoxicated.
great stuff just a little long in the tooth
im never a fan of an album where i cant tell one song from the next. i think the instrumentals save it, but i struggle to listen to the whole record through. the vocals aren't nice enough to me to justify listening from beginning to end.
Definitely a mood
Muy bien Tom Waits
This was ... odd. A fake live albums dominated by comedic interludes between songs. Yet somehow it all kind of worked for me. The band is great, the vibe of being in an intimate jazz club largely transmits, the stories are entertaining, and a handful of the songs are quite solid. Weird, but compelling,
A rare example of a live album saga that earns it's length and kept me engaged throughout. Very enjoyable. 8/10
This was the least bad of all the Tom Waits albums on here. Would’ve been a decent night live, in a small jazz cafe, perhaps. But still too salty and gravely for my liking.
Like this one way more than the other one. Kind of gave me So I Married An Axe Murderer poetry vibes.
I like when he croons....but don't' care so much for his 'stand-up'.
0/10 how tf does this shit have any listens isnt even a song hes just telling random stories that arent even funny rather peel my skin of with a credit card then listen to it again
Thought this was a live album and was blown away by the quality, but found out it's semi-staged. Great work but marked down for authenticity - my 2 rating is for albums that I respect but are flawed in some way. 2 - a good album but not my thing
While it's far from my favourite Tom Waits album and my selection for the list would definitely be different, Nighthawks At The Diner has an unique place in his discography due to its recording method. It's kind of a perfect setting to record a Tom Waits album, honestly, the man has endless charisma and it was never more obvious. The audience has a lot of fun throughout, which creates a very pleasant ambience. However, the album just runs out of steam in certain moments and the highlights just can't match up against his best work. I always vastly preferred Tom Waits, the madman over Tom Waits, the bohemian crooner, that's just how it is. Regardless of the persona, though, it's still a Tom Waits album, and that's good at worst. Years of extensive runs through his discography just reinforced that belief. Favourite track: Better Off Without A Wife
There’s better Tom Waits albums that could’ve been here instead but I’m happy I checked this out. I’d kill for a coffee and a cigarette with Tom. 3.5/5
Aint bad ! His 80s stuff much better
I gotta say I really struggled with this one, mostly due to its length I would suspect. The last of his albums on this list 'Bone Machine' had some very interesting themes; dark, creepy, and unsettling tones throughout. This one was like listening to a drunk uncle telling you some stories 75 minutes. Some of it was enjoyable and funny but I can't say I got much out of it besides that. Favourites: Spare Parts I
We’ve all been there. Enjoying a quiet drink at the bar when the resident bar fly sidles up next to you uninvited and proceeds to gush unintelligible ravings in an unending stream of spittle filled monologue. You wait for him to stop to take a breath but he never does.
No 2/5
This reminds me of Warm Beer and Cold Women.
Please.
I feel like I've heard about this album but haven't ever sat down to listen to it start-to-finish. I suppose I give them credit for trying this sort of experiment, but I'm afraid that it's just not working. Definitely deserves a shout-out to Jim Hughart for his upright bass playing.
I'd love to give this points for being Tom Waits, but this is just not good. It's different, but not good. 1.0/5.0
this was an interesting album. he really nailed the vibe he was going for and he fully commits to the bit. there are some good lines on here but the delivery didnt do it for me.
Like the music, get the feeling Tommo likes the smell of his own farts though. First 15 minutes were ok, then his voice started to remind of the creepy uncle with a slight drink issue and incestual tendencies.
The atmosphere is so thick I could cut it with the butter knife that spreads the joy as I spin this record which creates the perfect backdrop for my special date night with myself
I wish I liked this album, and him, more. The lyrics are spectacular and he is truly one of a kind, but I find myself zoning when listening often times.
Four Albums?!? This project has pushed me to absolutely hate an artist who I had previously never even knew existed!
The songs and the instruments are nice but the vocals are way too gravelly for my ears.
Really cool concept album. Make me wanna go to a jazz lounge.
I look forward to Tom Waits, I really like some of his work, some is a bit like black licorice to me. It borders on a staged play. Some of it comes off as try hard or being weird for the sake of weird. But when it’s effortless, and the spoken word intertwines with the music it really takes off
Let’s be clear. I really hate jazz and I’ve never enjoyed anything Tom Waits has done that has come up on this list so far. But this completely captured my attention. I really enjoyed the atmosphere created by the recording and the crowd interaction. I felt I was there in the room. And had I have been, I definitely wouldn’t have got up and left. He was the ultimatum raconteur and those stories were mostly funny and self deprecating. Not sure it would age well with multiple listens, but as a one off it really worked for me. The jazz band were tight and played their supporting role perfectly. A mad 3 stars from this jazz hater.
I did like the smoky, whisky stained, late night aura this recording captured. That is the only positive I can give it. Sorry Mr Waites, but it may have seemed a good idea, but your material was funny for all the wrong reasons. I would have really appreciated being in the audience for the above vibe I have described, but I would never ever go out of my way to listen to this ever again. Its not quite the lowest point of drivel Mr Dimery had managed to dredge from the sewer of his eclectic music collection, but close!
the only listenable tom waits album. but still not that good
I don’t really love tom waits? I don’t even really get Tom Waits, but this album was a good listen start to finish. Felt like I was there with him
Jazzy awesome love lounge act
Love it.
A ‘live’ album that’s not actually a live album, it feels like a bit of a gimmick which undercuts the strength of some nice stuff.
Olen kuunnellut Tom Waitsilta vain hänen ensimmäisen levynsä (josta tykkään) sekä kourallisen muita biisejä. Täytyy todeta että Nighthawks at the Diner oli todella tuskallista kuunneltavaa, joka tuntui jatkuvan pienen ikuisuuden. En pitänyt yhdestäkään biisistä ja ainakaan tällä levyllä Waitsin juopuneen baarilaulajan rooli ei jaksanut viihdyttää.
Tom Waits is such a great storyteller and the faux live diner setting works well, allowing him to introduce stories a bit more. Overall it’s a good album, but not as good as Rain Dogs
I had 4 days grace from Tom Waits before I was subjected to this. I hate jazz. I (mostly) hate Tom Waits. I hated whatever this was.
Until now I've been enjoying the Tom Waits albums that pop up on the generator, having previously never listened to him, despite knowing the name. Well, I've found the line I won't cross with Tom, and it's Nighthawks At The Diner. I did not enjoy this. I tend to find skits on hip-hop albums quite annoying, and this album is chock full of the Tom Waits equivalent. I also tend to find jazz infuriating so there was a double whammy here, with the album pretending to be set in a jazz club. I also tend to dislike albums that are very long, and this clocks in at nearly 74 minutes. So now we're up to a triple whammy. It's like he made an album purposefully for me to dislike it. Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson) really made me yearn for a fry up though... 1/5
I understand the idea of being in a small smoke filled bar but did not realise that the show was going to be some sad drunk sitting at the bar.
Oef dit kan wel weer eens een hele bittere pil voor mij worden. Jazz is niet bepaald mijn favoriete genre. Echter, zolang er nog iets van een ritme te vinden is, ik noem het maar even semi-jazz, dan is het wel weer te waarderen. Ben benieuwd welke kant Tom op gaat! Ah zie nu dat de rest van mijn notes niet zijn opgeslagen! Dat is jammer.. Anyway, het was iets in de trant van, rokerige stem leuk, maar hij zingt niet echt. Meer een soort dronken verhaal in de bar. Instrumentaal wel leuk, maar uiteindelijk ook veel van hetzelfde, wat naar mijn mening raar is in een jazz album. Ik vind 3 reten teveel, dus dit worden er 2.
Neat
Cute.
This album is such a fantastic example of great storytelling through music. The jazz music in here adapts itself so well and so beautifully to the atmosphere, being very intimate and soft, combining brilliantly with Waits' voice, most of the time spoken, but also sometimes sang in such a really powerful way. I won't lie at saying I've loved this album. There is a great balance between the songs, and their lengths really are at the exact point in which they don't become excessively long to bore, but that actually extract the potential of them in a wonderful way. This album feels very nocturnal, so warm but still pretty calming, slowing down as the record goes on, becoming the songs also longer and much more acoustic and folky. It's brilliant how it really transports you into a diner, or a kind of pub, in which the album really gets its magnificence. Such a lovely album.
eg
I apparently need to listen to more Tom Waits because I loved this.
The album is overall alright, nothing too exciting, but relatively chill. It is fairly old, but not TOO old, so I guess it must've had a nice following, although I find it just a bit too meh nowadays.
This is music?
7/10/26. Wow, definitely one of the most unique albums I've ever heard, especially on this journey. Very showmanship like and hilarious; you can put this on if you want a "going out" experience without visiting a club. Would definitely recommend this to anyone.
Might relisten. Possibly not.
this would have been really good and fun live but to listen to it recorded was a bit weird lmao. a bit bizarre. but a good time
Disco en directo infumable. Si fuera únicamente instrumental me gustaría BASTANTE más.
El bajón al darme cuenta de que no solo iba a estar dando la chapa en la primera canción..... Me lo pongo de fondo y okey, pero en serio esto es un disco que había que escuchar antes de morirme?? No lo creo. Los músicos le dan mil vueltas, siento que en general me sobra Mr. Tom. P.D. Me he puesto a escuchar otras canciones de este tío y ni tan mal, es este disco simplemente, que es un peñazo.
Al principio no me estaba gustando hasta sin saber por qué hasta que (en Putnam Country) me he dado cuenta a que me sonaba todo a un discurso de Trump con jazz de salón de fondo. Al final siguió sin gustarme. Igual puedo salvar Eggs and sausage pero ya.
Absolute tosh
More strangling of a drunk clown from Tom masquerading as vocals. Why does he justify having multiple albums on this list when all of them sound just as bad.
Like a mixture of king Louie of the apes from The jungle book and Randy Newman. This is a blue-y, scat style uber cool jazz album. I really struggled with it to begin with as I feel like this type of album has been parodied a million times in lots of different media. So I found it difficult to take it seriously. But it is quite playful and funny in a drunken and silly way. It appears to be set in a theatre with a live audience. But ll credit to the sound technician that got such a good recording in what seems to be a pretty intimate gig. (2.750)
Always love Tom. Dont think much about this as music but more of a story telling with instruments. Its an amazing storyteller best by a mile. Not for everyone its an acquired taste
Has Tom Waits ever seen an ENT specialist? Good songs, but you cannot distinguish most songs from each other.
I think you could make a reasonable argument that this is categorically not an album. I really dislike both the singing style and the spoken word. Something about the weird invited fake live audience is sooooo offputting and weirdly self congratulatory to me
Very whatever. I can understand if the jazz club experience is something you enjoy, but for me it's just a snoozefest
I get why people don't enjoy this. It's not an album for every moment in life. But I think it covers a niche music listening experience that we don't all get to experience. Anytime I've wandered into an old dimly-lit jazz bar, often in the Urban American South or East, this is the experience you get. A drunk man singing his woes over a glass of whiskey or vodka with a single companion pulling a lot of weight with his instrument. Drunken quips and stories that make you laugh in the moment, but if you were to record it and play it back it wouldn't be funny. An interactive, sometimes annoying audience. It's just so human. I'm not saying this is that experience, but this feels very similar to the real thing. Enjoy this on a rainy day, with a strong drink, and good company.
Both of the Tom Waits albums that I’ve listened to so far really bring you to a specific place. This makes me feel like I’m in a movie or something and I like that about it.
First impression of this album was that it felt like a parody of a character that existed 50 years ago but it now long forgotten, and we have this album by Tom Waits as an exaggerated memory of it. A comedy album, a form now nearly extinct. (This is an impression from someone with more familiarity with Waits as a movie actor than from his songs.) But as I listened through and then started over, the whole form of it clicked. It's a fantastic album experience: if it's a parody, it's fully invested, a loving parody, it's also for real, and it's a great performance experience, charming, funny, with deeply engaging songs. The band performance is fantastic. The "intro" tracks are as important as the songs. It's an album out of time now. I'm not sure there's any other way to listen to this than from the start and in sequence. It's probably not great as background music, because it's going to steal attention from whatever conversation or work is going on. I'd say it belongs on a list like this just because of what it represents about the form of the album, the kind of experience it creates. I feel like it's an album that forces me to give it 5 stars... almost.
oh god, i've heard the name but never listened to the music. oh god, its just not worth it. he talks rather than sings. actually its a mumble. and its a live album, i just hate a live album.
Humorously poetic featuring delightful improvisation and uniquely slurred vocals.
Sometimes I don't know what to make of Tom Waits. Good writer storyteller but the man cannot sing. Live albums are not a good idea for him.
There's a very compelling quality to the storytelling (and sometimes very flowing poetry) of the words. And the jazzy instrumentals. But man, the spoken-word style of the vocals pulls this down a lot for me. And it is much more one-note than Rain Dogs, though in its defense it is somewhat of a concept album.
Still don’t like his voice
This guy diners
During the first few tracks, I thought I would dislike "Nighthawks at the Diner". I got used to it by the second half. Waits' voice is grating; I know, I've already listened to two albums of his. The jazz accompaniment throughout "Nighthawks at the Diner" compensates for this. I could do without the intros, though. 3 stars for "Nighthawks at the Diner".
What is it about this guy that endears me so much? By most of my metrics, I should not like Tom Waits. He rambles, he does not have a great voice, his songs are a-rhythmic at times. It's a live album. And yet, there is just something about him that makes me want more. He speaks with the tone of an old, hard man. Yet I think he was relatively young when he made this. He wasn't even 30 when this album came out. But his bravado and voice betray his youth. I just can't get enough of him. While I do like this album a significant amount, I would prefer other of his albums. Still, I find myself wanting more of it. What a legend.
I like it although I’d like it better about 1/3 shorter.
I haven't liked much I've heard of him, but this album had a nice atmosphere. 3/5.
That bass player slaps, and it was kinda fun to hear him talk and use poetry as humor, like talking about how someone wanted him to dress nice and he used a lot of extravagant words. So I liked it more than I thought I would, even if he used some rapey phrases.
I wanted to like it more… but leave the poor singing to Bob Dylan. I would see him live… but only For $10. 2.4
I found this pretty interminable. It was way too long, and even when the jazz was good, he had to tell boring stories over the top of it. The bass player slaps. 3/10 Ho Hum
would I listen again: no I thought this was going to be jazzy and cool but there was lots of laughing of jokes I didn’t get and not a lot of singing. liked the instrumental though
Its just not my genre
Really nice, but also a bit boring. It could play in the background, or not?
This is #day687 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my third Tom Waits record already. An apt comparison I came across while reading about this album is that it's like hearing Allen Ginsberg backed by a jazz band. Yes, it is. The whole thing is atmospheric and makes for a perfect Friday afternoon listen. The fact that it's performed live, with no lyric sheets in sight, gives it a special kind of spice. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day688.
A truly unique album. I remember hearing somewhere that there is some art professor that, as an assignment, makes students go to an art museum and stare at a painting while doing nothing else for multiple hours. Their case is that you don’t truly understand the painting until you’ve looked at it for that long. Tom Waits here, with his album based off the famous painting Nighthawks, proves this concept. He recorded an hour and 13 minutes of content inspired by this painting that managed to never stray from the essence of the painting. Every line in the song fits in with the world of Nighthawks, whether in the head of the man alone at the corner of the bar, in the back rooms of the establishment, around the corner, or up the river out of view. I suppose the best paintings capture far more than they show. The painting is a single visual slice at a single point in time of a single world. But some paintings, like Nighthawks, are so full of energy, that you can experience more than what’s in the perspective of the painting. Tom shows us this here with his performance at a jazz club that’s not in the painting in the sense of space or time, but is irrevocably linked to its world. It’s a 5 for me for all of these reasons. Is it the best sounding music? No. But if it were, it wouldn’t work. Tom isn’t a musician here, he’s an actor, transforming himself into a piece of the world of Nighthawks. This isn’t just an album, it’s a multi-dimensional piece of art. It’s incredible how he managed to blend all of these different mediums — painting, acting, music, comedy, poetry — together into one wonderful auditory experience. This is what art is all about: sharing the experience of another world so that others can gain the perspective of that place and themselves be better for it.
God I hate Los Angeles. So proud of their own artifice, but so desperate for validation, desperate to convince you they're not ghouls. A grown-ass man, smeared in his own shit, confidently complaining that he's become the first person to ever have taken a shit. Fitting that a cowardly fucking spectacle of an album would use a cowardly fucking spectacle of a city as its setting. Yeah I get that Art requires intentionality and a stylized language, but this is just so alienating and up its own ass that it makes his other work, before and after, seem less sincere.
I love Tom Waits the actor.
3/10
I think I preferred Tom Waits when I didn't understand anything he was saying...
I think this should’ve been Closing Time, but actually, I don’t listen to this one enough, it was cracking me up. Tom Waits is my Bob Dylan?
Jazz can often be sensual so it’s nice that Tom Waits was out there making it horny
Not necessarily my style, but a good album still
It grew on me
Like Charles Bukowski fronting a jazz band in a seedy bar. It's very evocative and lyrically brilliant, but it's never really clicked with me
Some of this is good fun, but not the best TW I have heard so far, 1 or 2 tracks I would go back to
Enjoyed this more than the previous TW album. Good listen for a stiflingly hot day
I get pretty fed up with TW pretty quickly TBH, far too pleased with himself, this album just about limps into the bottom of the 2 stars as “Better Off Without A Wife” is a good song, just not one I’ll be listening to again. Tom.
Kind of silly but I really like it
Fantastisch
The last 3 times I got a Tom Waits album I rated him low because he is not for me. That being said I at least understood his appeal. Not here. This is a parody (?) concept album where he pretends he's at a fake jazz hall and for the life of me I can't understand the point or why anyone would listen to this. At first I thought this was supposed to be making fun of what was happening which I don't understand why anyone would listen to but from what I can tell, he was serious. So why not just make a real Jazz club album? If that's what I wanted to listen to then I don't want this phony shit. It's just such an odd idea and I don't know why it's like this. 3/10. I don't like it but I thought way more about it then most of the things on this list, and while I still don't like Waits, his voice, or his ramblings the rest of the band understood their job here, so I can't truly hate it.
This adds to the ambience of a nice dinner.
Не можна не відзначити класну атмосферу та настрій цього фейк-концерту. Я б ніколи не подумав, що це не запис справжнього концерту. Мені тут забагато матеріалу, забагато самого Уейтса. Я трохи втомився за альбом від його споукен ворду.
Прекрасний "концертний" альбом Тома Вейтса (як відомо публіка просто сиділа в студії щоб імітувати атмосферу маленького джаз клубу). Не та його ера, яку я люблю найбільше всього, але це топ.
I went on a real journey with this. For much of it, I found it intensely irritating, because I really didn't want to hear him twatting on to his audience with a series of bon mots that they found inexplicably hilarious. And then quite a few of the songs weren't even slightly worth the long spoken word intros. But there are some songs on the back end where Waits' good voice comes out - the voice that makes his Waltzing Matilda so unbearably beautiful - and it's earth shatteringly good. I think overall, I'm just simply not the kind of man whose personality is 'I'd like to wear a smoking jacket, drink brandy and pretend it's 1950', so I'm not going to absolutely love this, but I am the kind of man who likes to be overwhelmed with sad emotions, so I do really love a few songs on it.
Rough and rowdy in the right way, although as a non-English native speaker it's a bit of a challenge to understand all of the rambling from mr Waits.
I usually like Tom Waits but this was not very enjoyable for me.
This is my fourth Tom Waits album, and I have to say it doesn't get better. His vocals are just annoying, and this album especially just feels like he's trying out being a comedian. It felt like I was listening to someone ramble more than music, I think this could have been left out of the book.
The coolest album of the 70s? It isn’t the best Tom Waits album, and it’s not the one you go to for classic songs. But as an experience, it comes pretty close to sitting in the audience for a smoky, drunken jazz bar show.
endlich es tom waits album wo d band dörf richtigi instrument spiele. und er isch huuuuere funny und selbstbewusst und het s publikum im griff. hammer bis etz. ah shit ha mega wenig notize gmacht aber has fantastisch gfunde au wenn irgendwenn lang und nöd sooo abwechsligsriich aber er isch en suuuuper gschichtenerzähler und d band isch coooookin! christlieb on the tenor haaammer. vieri. guets vieri. jetz checki langsam wiso de tom waits so respektiert isch. das war sehr sehr gut.
my beloved tom waits s konzept vom album tönt schomal recht cool er het ebe scho e cooli stimm und paart mitem schiinbar gegesätzliche jazz findis gad würkli supeeer find so cool wie s publikum immer wieder lacht eggs and sausage isch hueere geil hahah mier isch erst jz bi warm beer ufgfalle, dass er vlt zum erste mal singt? seehr funny han jz nöd esooo vill ufgschriebe aber de tom waits macht eifach sooo spass! und es isch cool, echli e ruhigeri siite vo ihm z ghöre (bzw. vor allem vode band hahaha) die lyrics woni mitübercho han, hani reecht cool gfunde, muss d text umbedingt mal genauer ahluege
This is basically stand up comedy set to jazz. The album goes on too long for the concept - I was ready to be done with it by the end of side 3, but I stuck it out to the end. If I want to listen to funny jazz club antics, I much prefer Judy Henske's self-titled album from 1963.
Not my favourite tom waits album, but still has a lot of the early tom waits charm 3.5*
Feel that you need to be in a smoky club at 2am to give this a decent review
What a strange little fella Tom Waits is. The atmosphere on this album is pretty much exactly what they were going for, and the band is smooth and loose. It’s hard to evaluate a “fake” live album with few traditionally structured songs like you would a normal album, but I’m not sure Waits has ever made a normal album, so what’s the difference?
Este álbum destruyó completamente la visión que tenía de él antes de escucharlo, pensé que iba a ser tedioso y largo, termino siendo todo lo contrario porque la voz impresionante y el humor cautivante de Tom Waits me hizo sumergirme en el ambiente del disco y me llevó a estar sentado en un bar lleno de humo de cigarro y olor a zapatos viejos y whiskey, viendo esta increíble presentación llena de jazz, humor e historias sobre desventuras por la ciudad y desamor, sin dudas un álbum que me compró por completo.
I enjoyed it. I had a bad prejudice against this but Its really enjoyable
Interesting. Loved his voice. Mildy funny. Music was a vibe.
I don't understand why there is even one album of Waits on this list, never mind two... don't tell me there's more to come... Absolute jazz dross. The incoherent ramblings of a weirdo.
Tom Waits isn’t for everyone, but I enjoy his gravelly banter, weird poetic turn of phrases, and odd story songs. It gives me a an American noir vibe. That being the case, some of these are too story teller / too long for me.
In the past I have given Tom Waits bonus points for his fringe level weirdness and uniqueness. But I can't bring myself to do it on this "album". It's just Tom talking/half singing stand up bits over the same simple jazz style musical structure for over an hour. But the stand up bits aren't actually formed jokes. They're more just nonsensical word vomit.
Reminded me of being stuck next to somebody who will just not stop talking.
This might be the dumbest thing I've ever listened to.
This is what i imagine the diner actually sounded like. Cool and relaxed. A little clogged and stuffy but otherwise very well done 7/10
One of the recent Spotify features revealed that the very first song I ever played (back in 2011) was 16 Shells From A 30.6 by Tom Waits. So it's no surprise that I am rating this album 5 stars. That's 3 for 3 and I'm already excited for the next one. He is an interdimensional enigma whose natural habitat seems to be with a live audience. This recording truly makes me feel as if I'm at the very edge of the stage, lulled by his sing-songy narrations, chuckling along with the crowd, steeping in the smoky atmosphere, admiring his easy relationship with the piano, and shuffling out into a moonlit night after the show has ended. Nobody does it like Tom Waits.
Odd. Good listen once but that’s it
What the hell is this. I just kept imagining Charlie Day singing this. Actually I'd like this better if Charlie was singing.
Its not you, its me..... 1. Jazz playing in the background, I hate jazz. 2. Jokes about l.a. that just went over my head. 3. Songs about l.a. street life that just don't relate. Tom, it was a blast, but I don't think we should see each other anymore, and Tom, its not you, its me.
Ol’ divisive Tom Waits! I get it…his voice evolved into a Marlboro rippin’ Cookie Monster(I like his voice outside of his 3rd and 4th albums). The time of day you listen to Tom Waits really changes how his albums hit you. Every one needs to be at night time or early morning, the exact time frame his music evokes. He is a master of setting mood. I enjoy all of his albums at varying degrees and feel this is one of his misses due to its spoken word slower tempo. However, the first time I listened to this album was in the fall at around 5 in the morning…I enjoyed it then. Today it was 65 and sunny at 5 AM and the album did not fit the mood. So, to be fair, I’m giving this album a 3 because it has the typical moments of Tom Waits’ greatness on display but can also be a real drag of an album with the subtle, continual jazz behind a grating voice. Parts of this album really feel disingenuous to me, as well, where Waits’ voice borders too much on characterization. For those who rated this 1 star or have given up on Tom Waits as a whole, I suggest you listen to his first album “Closing Time.” It is one of my favorite albums ever, taking me by surprise as I thought the Waits you hear on “Nighthawks” was always that way. Instead you get a calming set of finely crafted singer-songwriter-like tunes that evoke similar feelings of early Springsteen.
Good. Good.
Not something I'd throw on, I don't think, but probably classic in some capacity.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely listen to it again. I love the way it was recorded to sound like it was performed in a small club. The lyrics are clever and a few made me chuckle. I've always stayed away from Tom Waits because I've never found his voice enjoyable to listen to but this album made me reconsider and I'll likely check out more of his albums now.
Somehow simultaneously exactly and nothing like what I thought Tom Waits would sound like.
To be in that room in 1975 must have been so cool. Hearing those stories, smelling the smoky alcohol filled room and listening to jazz. But, man, it sure was hard to listen to 51 years later. Too many stories, not enough music and the music we got I didn't fancy.
1.25 - Musically, this is way too low of a rating, but I really don't like this vocal style.
I’m not a fan, the atmosphere and music is good but something about Waits vocals really turns me off and I just can’t enjoy it. This could’ve been a much shorter album too but we got 70 minutes of long winded spoken word intro to songs.
I'm not a fan
You can keep this x
I loved the "intros". Otherwise it was good.
Enjoyed this one, creatively scened and funny!
Just can't get past his gravelly voice...
While I love Tom Waits and think this is a cool idea for an album, I can’t say this is one of my favorites of his.
I think I wasn't in the right mood for this.
I've given Tom Waits a 2, 3, 4 and 5 so far, but this avoids the straight :) My issue with this album is that even though i liked each of the individual songs, an hour and a quarter of it is too much, and they all start to blend into each other. I liked Warm Beer and Cold Women best; the bass in it sounded really good.
Good old Tom Waits, gruff and barbed like a bucket of rusty nails. Actually, this is kind of a young Tom from 1975, before he seemed to corrode into a haggard husk of a crooner. But this record is brilliant! Some kind of mix of lounge jazz standup storytelling. I can imagine choking on cigarette smoke, sitting on the musty naugahyde upholstery of a back corner booth, shrouding my crooked grin in the shadows.
another great album from a top class artist
My favorite of Tom Waits' barfly lounge singer era. Love the songs. Love the banter.
I enjoyed Tom Waits wit enough, and not having enough exposure to his stuff, is this his normal shtick, does it need to be for an entire album? In reality, my biggest knock is the fact that it was recorded in a studio, with a small crowd to simulate a jazz club. Why not just record it in a live jazz club. Tom Waits is kind of an acquired taste anyway, that I have definitely not sampled enough drinks with yet. It's not horrible, just not a Tom Waits connoisseur.
I like the other Tom Waits albums in this list. I don’t like jazz. I thought about giving this one two stars for hitting the brief with the ambiance and the bass playing. But the album simply wouldn’t end. My patience did, though. The last 30 minutes were hard to endure
O clima desse álbum é tudo. Soturno porém divertido. QoA Vesper.
La verdad no me gustó el álbum, no se si era que ese día no andaba en el mood para escuchar ese tipo de música, pero le puedo dar otra oportunidad para escucharlo con más calma.
Album's got good vibes, what else can I say? 3.5 bumped up to 4.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll just barely bump up to a 5, though I'd prefer to leave it there. In order to really enjoy this album, you have to play along with its conceit; you need to be like an audience member here. Tom Waits is in more of a stream of consciousness mode here; still lyrically sharp & one hell of a storyteller when he’s in his groove, but not as concise about any specific meanings to these tracks, save for a few rather clear ones. This is more of a conversational piece, meant to snapshot slices of life that Tom Waits has in his head. It is not one to dig into deeply & analyze like it’s one of the other 4 albums he has on the list. It’s one where you’re meant to listen along with the ride like you’re in the crowd, and be charmed by this raspy-voiced man & the jazz band behind him. For the third album he ever released, it’s a pretty big swing. For my tastes, it’s a swing that hits more often than it misses, as long as you can buy into Tom’s approach. The problem with Tom’s approach here is that he doesn’t start to find his sense of charisma with this crowd until “Better Off Without a Wife”, & he only fully grabs them in by “Warm Beer and Cold Women”. The early parts of this album, where the TV sitcom-esque audience are following along like they were paid to be there, feel a little rough, as Tom just doesn’t have his timing down. It’s trying to be like one of Johnny Cash’s live albums, but without the realism behind it, down to the intros of each track. This album is rougher early on, and while I was charmed by Bob Dylan’s “uselessly conversational” approach back on the final track of “Time Out of Mind”, some of that same uselessly conversational tone just doesn’t feel as effective in the first few tracks. It does, however, feel a bit more effective after “Warm Beer and Cold Women”. Once Tom finds himself a bit more & vibes with the crowd better, that uselessly conversational tone just feels more compelling. Granted, part of that is because I could only hear Macho Man Randy Savage inhabiting Tom Waits on some of the later tracks here, but for the most part, I just found the back half of the album more charismatic. The band’s a little more in sync, able to riff with Tom’s vocal approaches more easily. The songs don’t feel driven by complaints, giving a lighter & easier tone to the back half that I enjoyed a bit more, even on its sadder tracks. I also just happened to buy into the vibe a lot more, going so far as to mime smoking a cigarette while listening. It’s method acting, for sure, but it really helped to set the scene in a much more fruitful way. The back half of this album is strong enough to just barely get this up to a 5. I do think some of these tracks go a little long & a lot of the pauses on some of these tracks only serve to pad out an atmosphere that doesn’t really feel as potent as Tom & the band are going for. This definitely could’ve been cut down by a bit. However, when it works, it works really well. If anything, I’m just impressed that the last Tom Waits album we’ll get ends on him literally saying goodbye to a crowd, looping around on that dive bar atmosphere that most of his later albums give. It’s a very fitting way to end his albums for our group, and I just can’t help but bring this up to a 5 as a result. It also helps that “Better Off Without a Wife”, “Warm Beer and Cold Women”, “Nobody” & “Big Joe and Phantom 309” are all great tracks. As far as Tom Waits goes, I never gave him anything lower than a 4; one of those was a 3.5 bumped up to a 4, but still. I’m very impressed, given that I never knew the guy existed before starting the 1001 Albums, and I now find him to be one of the more potent storytellers on the entire list. Is 5 albums overkill? Well, maybe, but at least he brought something new & different to the table every time, compared to Elvis Costello doing the same thing 6 times over. Seriously, going from this album to “Bone Machine” 17 years later & still managing to sound relevant & worthy for the era is impressive as hell. I’m sad this is the last time we’ll get him, but I feel like I’ve got some listening to do on my own (probably “Mule Variations”, if anything). Hell of a run.
Kinda liked it weirdly
Omg just shut up and sing. Your talking is annoying. I don't like live albums. All the songs suck, I just picked Eggs And Sausage as the best because it's about food. Better Off Without A Wife was funny, but still hate his delivery. This is my third Tom Waits album (after Heartattack And Vind and Swordfishtrombones). I still have two more to go. Shit. Best song: Eggs And Sausage
Interesting stuff, and new to me. May well listen again and explore more (perhaps the studio stuff rather than live - it's all a bit 'jazz wanker' in the background)
Never heard of this guy before, though he surprisingly has a fuckton of albums on the list. I was originally going to hedge my bets on a straightforward 70s blues rock album, though given that much of his acclaimed material was released in the 80s I think I'll hedge my bets on a ballady, singer-songwriter rock album. Probably with some distinctive piano numbers, too. Here goes. Hmm. This was quite a strange introduction to this guy's discography. I'm not sure what I can impart about his general style - I doubt all of his albums are gimmicky, fly on the wall concept albums with a light jazz accompaniment. Maybe I have another Elvis Costello on my hands with the loveable loser persona that this guy has on going on. Anyways, I respect this album for being different, though I can't say I enjoyed being trapped in a dingy bar with this schlubby sadsack bloviating into the microphone. Much of the appeal of this album obviously rests in how engrossing Waits' character and storytelling is - both of which I don't find to be particularly robust. A lot of the songs come off as directionless and rambling, and the gravelly voice undercuts the moments of comedy as well. Fortunately, the easy listening jazz in the background was able to keep my attention span from falling off a cliff, though overall I found the content and runtime of this album to be a bit of a swing and a miss. Book time. The faux-nightclub atmosphere is much of this album's appeal and best encompasses the charm of Waits' early career. The album was recorded before a live audience. Waits pivoted into acting, apparently. Wikipedia says this album is revered primarily for its atmosphere, immersion and character. Critics have been kind to it, though the only place the album charted was in the US, peaking at No. 164. I suppose I'm favourable to this album. A faux-live album from 1974 would certainly be the first of its kind, though I really think Waits needs to prove himself with his next album. For the time being, however, I cosign this inclusion.
I've always enjoyed Waits and his boozy story-telling schtick and it works really well in this setting, in a jazz club setting with a great backing band. I laughed out loud a few times and this album could be considered a comedy or novelty album in some ways. But, Jesus, a little of this goes a long way. A double album of it is a bit much. There are some very good songs like "Eggs and Sausage," "Better Off Without a Wife," "Nobody," and, especially, "Big Joe and Phantom 309" a great, haunting story song. If he had made just one album and tightened it up it could have been a lot stronger.
I'm a fan of Tom Waits, but not a big fan of this record. Too freewheeling and improv for me, and the live studio audience thing wore thin. The man's got some great one-liners, but not everything he says is funny, and theyre laughing at every word like its a damn sitcom. Atmospheric and can be fun but grows old, I think there are better 70s-era Waits albums that could be on the list, like The Heart of Saturday Night
Iconic voice, great background music. But this was more story time than concert
Cringy af.
what the fuck is this horseshit
Love me some tom waits! This was a great album! I really liked it quite a bit! Good jazz
i hate spoken word, i hate jazz, i hate his voice and these lyrics were so dumb and meaningless
Y’know, given that prior to this, I’d only ever listened to Waits’ post-Swordfishtrombone experimental stuff, I just assumed he had put on /the voice/ to sound more mysterious and creepy. Evidently, I was wrong. This is a pretty straightforward vocal acoustic-jazz record, and yet he still sounds like that. Ya learn something new everyday, I suppose.
A continuous performance of a sax/piano/drums/upright bass jazz combo with Waits rambling beat-poet-style or sometimes singing gravelly or raspy over the top with club crowd encouragement heard in the background. The music is good, and this third record by Waits showcases his story-telling imagination and creativity - a unique voice in both senses of the word. This list has 5 of Waits albums and this, the first one is also the first one that came up for me. I have most of his late-period stuff with more varied and experimental content and find it more compelling.
Jazz en vivo, con perfo y todo. Muy agradable al oído, sentía que estaba ahí en el club con el viejardo cantándome. No lo terminé, escuché un rato.
terrible, just not for me although I do see the vision
This was tolerable.
What a brilliant BRILLIANT album. This is one of my night-driving faves
Not fully my type of album, but I absolutely get what Waits was going for. In the 300 some albums I’ve listened to, this has been the closest thing to a comedy album that I have heard. This is a storytelling album and a jazz album with a layer of sincerity dipped in a lot of satire as well. And I think there are a lot of people who expect this list to be all rock and roll, and can’t conceive of albums that explore artistic expression through other means.
Crazy lounge act and I love the performative style and banter. For everyone who is like 'I don't get Tom Waits' and honestly, I consider myself part of that group, this should be required listening. You might not like this either, but it made his appeal clear to me. Still like his acting better than his singing, but all of these 'standard' sounding songs being original is insane.
Cringe
🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 (rounded up because I know I'm being too cautious, but truly, I wish I could give this an actual 2.5 exactly) Love Tom Waits's voice, the jazz instrumentation is really smooth, and the atmosphere, overall, is great, but I'm having some reservations about this one. It should bug me how much of a performance he's putting on—like, I know all music is performance, but I hate when someone is trying to be someone else so hard. Except—and I'm not sure about this, especially given the length of this album—I don't find it all that grating. It's almost, like, sooo overdone that it becomes like a cartoon character. The dimwitted goon laugh, the lisp, the ashtray, the slurred murmuring... it was just so rich that it sort of became enjoyable. True, some cracks started showing in the inconsistent humor and more inconsistent accent, but I guess my disbelief was sufficiently suspended. Still, there's some discomfort in the fact that he's obviously doing some kind of blaccent? And even more discomfort in the fact that I'm less bugged by this and more bugged by the runtime. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
Bro clear your throat. Stars for the jazz instrumentals only.
(After the intro) This must be the intro right ... right??? Yeah that wasn't just the intro ... my gosh 1/5, the jazz was nice but Tom Waits wasn't it
I believe this is my last Waits album, and it was the most tolerable of them all. That being said, it is still too much of a rambling and nearly incoherent mess for me. Overall I definitely don't see the appeal. 2.5/5 Won't listen again
A alcohol fueled journey through the night is for the listener. A bridge between the jazz infused later 1950's to a slow version of future rap observations of life. Too many interesting word combinations to list are found here. A true gem of a live recording.
Essential? Maybe not. But I love it. I love the warmth, humour and pathos in the way he describes places and people. I love the way he talks about patty melts and naughyde stools and other things that are exotic to me. And I love it when the dawn cracks hard just like a bull whip and a dozen other descriptive moments. His best tunes are elsewhere but this captures a moment of brilliance from a wonderful observer and performer.
Shut up and sing, Tom.
Unique concept for a record and I really like the atmosphere and the banter between the tracks. It’s just kind of missing the standout tracks other TW albums have to tie it together and outstays it’s welcome a little bit.
It's Tom Waits doing peak Tom Waits stuff. Some people seem to hate it. That's cool. I love it. 5-stars.
who the hell gave this guy a mic. i cannot stand him. bassist slapped tho
There is no way that's his natural voice/accent. Stop pretending to be black. Rambling jazzy nonsense. Depressing that the jazz part was the best bit. Not a good sign when you check 3 times to see how close to the end of the album I was.
I listened to the whole thing but this was too long. A couple spoken words or ramblings would be fine but an entire album like this got boring. 3 for uniqueness.
Hated this. Tom Waits just isn’t for me. I might’ve been a bit more forgiving if it was shorter but the 73 minute runtime brings it down among my bottom albums so far.
Like being in a tiny, smokey jazz club, drinking a Manhattan. The banter might be better than the songs, but everything about it makes me want to be there.
really like this guy's voice and the really gravelly sound to it. also he knows how to have fun! love his interactions with the crowd and had lots of fun even though i don't usually enjoy spoken word. probably the most fun i could have while also admitting that i probably won't listen to this on the regular. just because i don't think it fits into my daily playlist fave track: putnam county may 29 2025 edit he was really not that funny idk what i was thinking 3 ⬇️
Am interesting contrast to Bob Dylan's live album from yesterday. I know this one was staged, but the audience is much more engaging/part of the experience. Unfortunately, Tom Waits tends to annoy me after awhile, and there was just nothing particularly remarkable about this particular album (beyond the live staging).
I’m not in on the joke and this hindered my ability to appreciate this album. But Waits is a very interesting artist.
No standouts, would be better without his terrible singing
Please no more Tom Waits
As spoken word faux live jazz albums go - this is great. In the right place and the right time this could be a 5. Other times a 3 at best. As an album I could do without some of the intros and applause. Accessible for TW and (more than) solid non challenging jazz musicianship to back up. Will go with the average.
Definitely rounding up here but in retrospect I was a little harsh on Bone Machine, and recognizing the whole sui generis nature of this...
Far for being my favourite Tom Waites work, which I could state for every album of his I’ve heard aside from closing time. Bonkers in parts, unsure what to make of the fake live effect too. Mid.
This is music, acting, one man show, stand up comedy, cosplaying all in one. An art installation more than an album. A recreation of something that never existed. And it’s wonderful, except for the second hand hangover I got from being a part of it.
1/5 This guy is annoying
Tom Waits, 3eme album =>1/5 Voix insupportable, comme sur les 2 précédents albums. Plus que 2 albums de TW à subir ! Point positif : ils seront vite notés.
I like the live feel of this. It wasn’t exactly my favorite but I could appreciate what they were doing.
I don't mind this album. It has a lot of personality to it.
I get that there is a vibe here, just not sure I’m catching it.
I tried my best to “get” this. I guess I just ain’t cool enough. There’s other material of his that I like better, and I’ve always appreciated his eccentric and weird style. But trying to listen to mostly spoken word for over an hour is a big ask. Even if it’s witty and clever. Would’ve been much easier if experienced live in the studio sessions. As much as I tried with this, I couldn’t help but think of Mike Myers character in So I Married An Axe Murderer reciting his beat poetry: “Woman…Wo-man…Whoa, man! She makes me horny, Saturday morny…”
This would not be the record I reached for if I wanted to hear some Waits. I can see why it’s on the list, conceptually it’s unique for sure. But I was ready for it to be over almost immediately
He’s oddly charming. And at times this is good. But man, overall kind of a tough listen for me. I could see going to see him live at the right venue and this being good. But not really something I want to put on and listen to. Certainly one of a kind. I’ve heard heath ledger based some of his joker off Tom. Don’t think it was ever confirmed but you can see some of the mannerisms. 2.25
If the drunk dude yelling at you on the street could also play the piano… Rounding up based on the album capturing the feel of a small smoky jazz club, otherwise this would be a 1*. 1.5/5
I didn’t actually hate this. Instrumentally it’s fanatic, I love Jazz like this and it sounds great. I think Tom can be jarring at first but his perfectly suits the vibe of music he’s going for. It’s certainly different and probably not one I’ll listen to again but I enjoyed some of it.
Husky
Maybe I'll give it another try.
Turned 3pm on a sunny afternoon into 3 pm in a smoke filled jazz club. Amazing atmosphere and some good songs.
Eeeeeemmm, it okey, i mean it s good, but i just dont like this type of music, it s boooorinng, so i give 2.
Tom Waits is one of my all-time favourites, and I understand that for some, he might be an acquired taste. This album is a rare gem of a live album where it seems like they bottled up the atmosphere of that LA lounge that night and somehow got it all onto the record. If you settle in with this one, you'll be privy to a night of Tom's peculiar charm and oddly sensical nonsense. I find that it is full of comfort and delight.
I was going to write a long diatribe about how having world class musicians perform mediocre songs........ You know what, fuck that. I don't need to ever hear this again. Someone put this on the list because they thought it would make them cool. It doesnt.
Shady lounge lizard that is doing a stand-up routine with jazz orchestration. ok to listen to it once, not sure if i would listen to it again.
This was SUPER fun. I loved so much about this. I loved the live feel. I loved that you felt like u were in a dark dingy smokes filled basement bar. I loved his voice. I loved his lyrics. I loved the humor. I loved the easy listening piece of it.
Not my type of blues or jazz. I prefer the bb king, Stevie Ray Vaughn type blues. This ok to listened to once in a while
Interesting and funny. This guy has a funny look on life. I enjoyed it.
Who doesn’t love tom waites?
10/10 just for atmosphere, like gg I 100% believe this was recorded at midnight in a dimly lit speak easy that smells of cigarette smoke. But it wasnt. The format takes a bit of getting used to and I see what the other reviewers are saying about the Mumble mumble mumble bass strum mumble mumble. But you learn that every song has an intro bit where he introduces the song and talks to the audience, and then the actual song comes next. This album is really only 10 or so songs long, not 18 While the stories may be nonsensical, and his voice is rough, the atmosphere is peak and the actual songs here are seeping with talent. I may not add any of these songs to my Playlist but it is very talented and 1 of a kind absolutely deserving a spot on this list. Eggs and Sausage Better off without a Wife Warm beer and cold women
Live recording of a smoky jazz performance. This is my first experience of Tom waits and enjoyed it.
Very unique and full of character. It's too long for my taste, but nevertheless a cool experience. 6/10
Even a third martini into the evening, I'd like to think I would have left this self-indulgent performance early.
I wish I had a physical copy of this album so I could have the pleasure of throwing it in the trash where it belongs.
This is my first time listening to the loungey version of Tom and I have to say I’m into it. It’s not something I would casually listen to, but I appreciate that it exists.
Really not the most interesting thing Tom Waits has ever done, has a cool live feel but it really is all the same, definitely some cool tracks here and there though
You either love Tom or you hate him, and I sit on the former.
2 is kind. No idea why this is here.
A masterpiece honestly. Phenomenal storytelling and songwriting that's funny, relatable, and just sounds damn good. Everything just works. The concept is so fascinating and I've never seen anything done like it before.
it doesn't get much better than this gamers
tom wait’s persona is so charming, the band is perfect, everything about the recording of this album is so fucking cool what do you mean they set up a full bar in the middle of a recording studio, so much fun but also one of the most experimental albums so far in the challenge.
This is my fourth Tom Waits album, one day after getting my 5th PJ Harvey album, but I'm not quite as annoyed by Waits having another album in the book. His sound tends to vary from album-to-album a bit more than PJ Harvey's music seems to. Still, I questioned whether we needed a 3rd Tom Waits album in here and I still have that question for Nighthawks at the Diner. I listened to it one time with the intros and then listened to it after that with just the songs. My conclusion is I could have gone without the intros, but I also understand that is part of the conceit. Nighthawks at the Diner does have a "jazzy club feel" to it, so in that way Tom Waits succeeded. I think I have another two Tom Waits albums after this one, including his debut album, which I am excited to hear. A lot of these songs sounded very same-y to me and I have a feeling this one is going to take multiple listening's before it can be enjoyed, or maybe I just don't worship Tom Waits enough to love this album. The cumulative score for this one is a "3" and that's absolutely a perfect score. It's a fine album and the music is fine. If you don't like Tom Waits, then this won't stand out for you and if you worship Tom Waits then this will be brilliant. Count me in the middle...still.
yeah yeah old man
Big fan of Tom Waits. Wait, he has five albums on here?? hahaha okay chill out
Do you remember that scene in How I Married An Axe Murderer when Mike Myers doing spoken word in front of small band. This album is like an hour and 20 minutes of that, but not nearly as interesting. Kind of just bad
Can’t believe that’s his real voice lol
Enjoyed the jazz parts but not his drunk musings.
cut to the chase
This is a great jazz album. I loved Tom Waits.
Es como si fuera un Jazz con milonga, como si fuese la payada yankee. No es algo que me encante ni que pondria de fondo, pero no es malo al oido, no se dificulta escuchar. Y me parece buen arte. 6/10
LOVE ! LOVE ! LOVE !
Impeccable vibes, LOVE the patter between songs.
This more than an album. Its the sound, the look, the smell, the feeling of the coolest jazz club youve never been to. But I would pay a fortune, or a semi vital organ, to visit.
Asylum records. Right >boasting about being able to get more ass than a toilet seat Ain't no way... They had tiktok back in 1975, that's crazy Saur, while listening I didn't find the jokes particularly funny, because let's be real, comedy is the fastest genre to age, but I found it funny that the audience was laughing at those jokes. Imagine my diappointment when I learned it was all staged. I didn't even mind that they added a stand-up performance under disguise of a music album, it's kinda refreshing even, but when you realise that one guy that was laughing at every joke wasn't genuine it all falls down
Makes me want to go sober and I dont even drink
Disco para para oir a la noche y pensar que estás en un club de jazz. No sabía que existía. Es para amantes de Tom Waits.
What a mood.
Pretty fun album. I liked that it was live - made a difference for sure.
Thank you Mr. Waits for another ROPE… of SAND!
Not really a Tom Waits fan but this was at least done in a way that was entertaining, I appreciated the jazz band playing along with him.
This was pretty good
I really enjoyed this. More than I was expecting. Would listen again, late at night, maybe.
Tom Waits - elite songwriter and storyteller. This is exactly what you'd expect and want from a young Tom and for the most part it is delightful.... But I have to knock off one star for how jarring and conceited the pre-song chatter is at times.
Not usually my thing but really grew on me over the week really loved eggs and sausage and warm beer and cold women. Instrumentals were great and as stated funny mans funny voice really grew on me
This is a transformative album in the Tom Waits catalog. And it’s different for a couple of reasons. First, because his voice took a significant turn on this album specifically becoming more gruff and gritty which would define may of the later albums. Second, because this is not just a collection of songs it’s a conversation with his audience and almost comes off as a play of sorts. Knowing that he would later soundtrack movies and play roles in other movies this makes sense as an avenue to explore. Theres also a couple of all time Tom tunes on here. Specifically Eggs and Sausage (which is kinda the title track) and Better Off Without a Wife. Both signature waits piano diddys with rich storytelling and soaring melodies. My gripe with this album is while the format is interesting the added skits/dialogue make it a slog to get through. All that said a Tom Waits B+ is an A+ for most artists and I will revisit this again.
This is the best Tom Waits album I’ve heard by a huge margin. Tom Waits sounds like he’s smoked WAY too many cigarettes, but that style really works here. Soulful and funny and evocative of a very specific kind of bar. I was hanging on this album’s every note.
Not sure if this album was a legit live performance or a schtick, but either way Tom Waits should forget about comedy and stick to music. And maybe stick to your less jazzy era. This one was a bit of a chore to listen to for me.