Reviews (page 6 of 9)
3/10…gesprochenes Wort/ Jazz
What is this?
I mean, it's Tom Waits. Even when it's goofy, it's alway entertaining.
I like almost everything that Tom Waits has done. No exception here. I already own this album and spin it a fair bit, and doubtless will continue to do so
"I'm so horny the crack of dawn better be careful around me!" 🤣🤣🤣 I used to be dismissive of Tom Waits for being a faker but after about 50 or 60 years of sticking to his guns you have to wonder if maybe it's the rest of the world that's faking It.
I've enjoyed various Tom Waits albums and TV/movie appearances over the years, so it's nice to get him in this collection, even if what I've heard before is *much* more recent than this album. I'm not at all surprised that in many ways he sounded much the same in 1977 as he did in the 90s or 2000s (more gravelly as the years passed). Given that it appears there are five (5!) Tom Waits albums in this project, though, I do wish this wasn't quite as long as it is, but it's still an interesting experiment. If I hadn't read up on the album in Wikipedia, I wouldn't have realized that this was recorded in a studio, albeit one with a bar, tables, invited guests and an opening strip show to set the mood. (I love how the producer described the experience as "It was like Allen Ginsberg with a really, really good band.") I particularly enjoyed "Eggs and sausage" and "Warm beer and cold women". That said, I found it hard to appreciate either the music or Waits' semi-spoken-word lyrics. It sets an interesting mood, but I kept realizing that I was acting like those annoying customers at a jazz lounge who barely register the music as they try to have a conversation with a tablemate. Not at all fair to the band members or to Tom Waits, all of whom are talented musicians. This may be a good exemplar of Waits' early career, but it's too long and probably too much Waits for this collection (given that there are four more albums by him).
This didn't feel like an album to me as much as the recording of an experience, and while Waits writes some great lines, musically it didn't do a lot for me. The musicians sounded superb; I just didn't get a lot of melody or much sustained playing.
Best wel chill
All he has going for him is the too much cigarettes voice. As the album goes on the jazz arrangement grows on you though
basically a stand up comedy set with a jazz-y blues backing. pretty fun, definitely a bit long though
I have never hated any artist. Then I have listened 5 albums from him. I am fucking hate Tom Waits. His fucking mumbling voice, his fuking forced humor, his fucking artifical folknessness. Ahhh I fucking hate Tom Waits
I very much prefer the later stuff, although the voice and the humour are already in place here. Jazz piano ballads are not really my thing, but some of the lyrics are fun - for instance Better Off...
Everyone loves a bar room drunk playing the piano, right? Actually, I do. Yes, this dragged on. But then you try calling time on the BOOZE. The songs rather than the spoken word rambles work best. Chin chin.
i appreciate albums that want to achieve an aesthetic, it went for it and i felt immersed in it
This is the best fake live album ever made.
Tom waits is dreadful jazzy Tom waits should be more dreadful but is somehow a tad better than normal Tom waits 2/5
ljómandi skemmtilegt. er hrifnari af síðari biðstöð. 4.
While I would personally choose Small Change to represent early Tom Waits jazz club singer phase, this album does probably most encapsulate it as a concept. It also really shows off his character and illustrates why he's so appealing as a person. Lots of daft rough around the edges witticisms, "sleeping til the crack of noon". His little infectious laughs. The band are clearly fabulous. "A pressure and a plivelege to work with". Also, some people are going to really hate this, I almost don't dare open the reviews. In terms of albums that are "a whole vibe" this is definitely right up there. Other records have more brilliant songs, but that almost isn't the point here, and oddly it seems to work and not matter. Really enjoyable, but it is a prerequisite to completely surrender to the conceit, or you are in for a raggedy time. It's definitely too long, and I'm ready for it to end when it does (or before it does) but it's still getting a low 4.
Not for me.
Tom Waits & jazz - two things I don't usually get combine for an enjoyable album. Makes me think he'd be better live.
Tom Waits is a real hard work (to listen to). You can perfectly discuss the cultural relevance of such a singer. For me , this kind of musik is not an entertainment at all. Sorry for 1 star because 0 is not possible.
My god i hate Tom Waits.
4.25
Some cool, unique stuff going on. I’m sure I’d like this more if my favourite show was friends and my favourite drink was whiskey and my favourite pastime was eating cigarettes.
Wow - I came back after a long hiatus and then got dealt this, which has been incredibly tough to get through. I'm not a fan of most of this and while certainly interesting, there are just better Tom Waits albums.
I loved this. Even though it's a staged live show, and spoken-work jazz can come off as super cheesy or cliche, there's just something about Tom's delivery that totally clicks for me. And the backing musicians are fantastic!
Man, I'm glad we didn't stick with this version of Tom Waits. I found this to be a chore. It has a certain style to it, but it's just not a style I care for. 1.5/5
Probably my favorite Tom Waits LP. A
Brow-furrowing jokes, the worn-out atmosphere of a smoke-filled jazz club, all wrapped up with everything else that makes Tom Waits uninteresting. Again, whatever. 35
Ok but actually what was this? In doing some reading, I found that it was a studio album performed in front of a small live audience to emulate a jazz club. So it’s a live album…? I could meander on about the intricacies of this thing, but I think my take comes down to this - this album had a decent concept at conception, but never fully develops or goes anywhere. Instead it becomes this weird album full of clever wordplay and weird, somewhat unintelligible stories that don’t seem to have much of a point. I wanted to like this. I really did. I like Tom Waits. I like jazz. I like the feel of this album. But it’s too damn long, never goes anywhere, and is overall just plain boring. Two stars, regrettably. Not for lack of trying on his part, I just got bored. Standout Tracks: Opening Intro, Emotional Weather Report, Better Off Without a Wife, Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission)
Very Tom Waits - quite an experience, probably better to have experienced it live rather than listening randomly on a weekday.
Don't have to ask permission if I wanna go out fishin
Was not aware that this was a live album, but it has all the soul, wit, and dry humor that makes Waits such a treasure.
Schtick perfection in process. To be fair, he inhabits it completely these days … If this is the representative TW album in this list (I’m 700+ in and this is the first) I’ll be very cross indeed.
It would be higher, this is just not my style.
So I remembered that I still had to listen to this at 11pm on a stormy Tuesday in October after one of the worst days I’ve had all year. I was not thrilled. The lightbulb in my kitchen blew just to be dramatic. I had no food in the house. So I listened to the whole album by candlelight with wine, whisky and a Halloween themed cupcake for dinner. It’s the perfect album for that situation. Literally perfect. I will treasure it always. I cannot imagine a person enjoying this at 10am. I cannot imagine a person enjoying this on a sunny summer’s day. I cannot imagine a person who meal preps enjoying this album. Perhaps that’s a failure of imagination on my part but I’ll leave it to those people to discuss their experiences. For me, last night, it was perfect. Tom was perfect. And I’ll treasure him always.
Very much better than I expected, but probably not something I would listen to a bunch…good, but plays as a novelty.
Once was way more than enough for this album, trust me
Although it’s not as bad as swordfish trombones it’s still not for me. I get why a very niche group of people might like this but I just can’t relate to the in my opinion substance lacking storytelling. I just can’t deal with the voice I guess. And it’s not because I don’t get jazz I love jazz. The setting feels unauthentic tho
Like a lounge core gig from Hell.
Had high hope la but unfortunately I was bored rigid. Did find him funny and his voice was too grinding after 3 tracks
Better than other Waits, but I would still prefer to never listen. 1.5/5
🥱
This is good background music Tom Waits than active listening Tom Waits. Big fan of a lot of his albums, never really listen to this one.
Han e jo seg sjøl lik
Found it hard to hold my attention on it but I really like the atmosphere and attitude he brings and also really like the closing
I've been avoiding this album. I stopped mid-way through the first song on my first attempt. I was not mentally ready for a spoken album. The idea of a semi-stand-up routine with the occasional jazzy ensemble was not appealing to me (especially for 1 hr and 13 min). I stuck it out for the second attempt (and some encouraging words from friends). I'm glad that I did. I enjoyed the caricature of it all - the voice, the content, the lounge/bar setup (not to mention the Large Marge-esque ghost trucker story!). It was a little long, and many of the jokes went over my 27 year-old self, but overall, a memorable album. That's all for now. I gotta make like a hockey player and get the puck outta here.
I like Tom Waits. I like his smoky, boozy voice. I like his music. I don't like the album. It may have been a recording of a great live performance. If you weren't there, his introductions to the tracks are simply too long. That bloats the whole album to over an hour. And it's not worth it. 3/5
THAT WENT ON FOREVER, THAT WAS MUMBLING WITH A BASS GUITAR
Most interesting of any album I have heard thus far. Humor album at a Jazz Club, but recorded in the studio. Just for the ambition I have to give it a 2
If a cigarette could sing it'd sound like Tom Waits. The Vibe: You went to the city to see a concert but it got cancelled last minute but you aren't going home without doing *something* so you stop into some random grungy bar with like ten other people in it and you find out that a local band is gonna be playing soon and *this* is what you hear. And honestly it's better than whoever you went into the city to see.
The intersection of the Venn diagram of "Me" and "Liking Tom Waits." This is a depiction of Waits as both a comedian and a musician; it's ridiculously entertaining and the songs are bitingly funny. Not sure what happened with his later work, it's like he spent two years alone in a padded cell with some percussive instruments.
feels a little dated, not my jam
Oh, look! Fucking Tom Waits again. How can this be enjoy unironically?
meo corte pero habla caleta loco y no me gusta su voz
Very interesting listen. Almost like a commentary with blues/jazz. Loved it.
A lot of not too interesting filler. I really liked Emotional Weather Report and Spare Parts though
Kinda cool! But not my thing.
not my favorite tom waits thing. i think he does the whole spoken word vibey sleazy thing better in the later albums. didn't hate it, but really didn't feel it otherwise.
Previously liked
It is unclear exactly how much of this is meant to be a joke, but it was enjoyable and there were some real standout tunes sprinkled through it.
This is really a good vibe, sounds like a hell of a show, but it wore for me just a little bit as it went on. But Tom Waits rules and I’d never heard this one before! I like the looseness and jazzy nature of this performance, and Waits, as always, has such a compelling voice
Absolutely adored this. Fantastic live concept, great sleazy Tom Waits vibes. Jazz!
i like tommy boy and its great to get a sense of his personality with a release like this - really silly and fun! great tunes
Fantastic album.
Classic Tom, interesting
I don’t know what people see in Tom Waits. It’s not my thing.
September 29, 2024 Spent half of this album frustrated that I wasn't in on the jokes like Tom Waits & his audience were, and the other half going ‘"get the puck outta here", aha hockey I understood that reference’ 🤓 A pleasant enough time, I’d like to come back to this album on a cold day in winter, since the faux live setting is undeniably cozy n’ immersive. This is probably the least essential Waits on this list, but has tons of character & spontaneity even for a Waits album. Still a bit mad at how long it was, but the good far overweighs the not-so-good this time.
Yeah idk Tom waits is like mumble grumbly singer songwriter nonsense. Boring
This is one of my favorite Tim Waits albums, and that’s saying something. It evokes emotions that I’ve definitely felt. Even if I’ve never been in the exact types of places he sings about, I can feel myself there. Nobody is one of my all time favorites…it ran through my head daily for the last few years of my marriage. And Big Joe is just a great story. Quite a few lines have dug themselves deep into my consciousness and subconsciousness. Just this morning, before even seeing today’s album, I was thinking about being Better Off Without a Wife. Tom’s spoken word and…crooning aside, the jazz is just fantastic. It truly has the feel of a little jazz joint. I think that’s a lot of the appeal for me, also. These clubs don’t really exist anymore and I never got to go to one when they did, so this is as close as I can get. This is an album I’d give 8/5 if it would let me. Maybe more. There is just no part of it I don’t love.
Had never really listened to Waits, kind of thought he was country but really enjoyed it.
Love LOVE the music, vocals are okay. We saw a group at Cliff Bells in Detroit, and the guy sounded just like Tom Waits.
Tom waits is an acquired taste and not one that I want to go through acquiring.
Я не уверен насчет всего контента и Тома Вэйтса в целом, но этот альбом меня удивил. Во-первых, это звучит только отчасти как Том Вэйтс, которого я знаю. Но главное, это просто интересный альбом, очень смешной и прямой как будто? Хороший альбом. Лучшая песня - Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac With Susan Michelson) (с интро).
Tom Waits carefully extracting everything I hate in music and putting it all into one devilish concoction. One hour yapping session over generic_jazz.mp3. Might actually be like top 5 worst things I've had to listen to on here.
Everybody’s got to have a hook: Frank Zappa wrote songs about toilets, the Captain and Tenneille wrote songs about rodents, Tom Waits woke up one day, decided to he wanted to be Charles Bukowski and started writing songs about being a derelict. Such is life.
Unique classic, pure Tom Waits
3.4
What the flip is this? Seems it's popular with people in the States, but this is a pretty solid "no" from me.
Love me some Tom Waits! This is mostly his goofier side. "Nighthawk Postcards" is probably the standout track here.
Is it supposed to feel real, or like a play? An interesting concept. But I just don't feel it. The crowd seems scripted. The occasional bits of crassness seems pretentious.
So was von cooler Atmosphäre, lockeren Sprüchen und schnoddriger Anbiederung: man muss es lieben, denn es ist nicht nur Jazz, sondern dazu auch von Tom Waits, dem erzählenden Sänger.
Gleichförmig, schlüpfrig, Jazz. Naja.
Quickly got very grating, voice felt forced and wtf did he do to Phantom 309?
Tom Waits as a quirky jazz lounge singer. What more could you ask for? The band is super tight, and Tom is at his gregarious best.
I kind of want to like this. There is a really pressing friction where the fantasy of the club, singer, audience interaction is so polished that you can't really help but be taken along with it, and the reality that it is curated, honed, re-recorded and edited to the point where one can no longer suspend one's disbelief. It is no secret that I'm not a fan of live recordings; audience noises contribute nothing of value, and almost universally the sound production and performance cannot match what can be achieved within a studio. I can think of perhaps three or four live sessions where the talent overcomes the limitations of "live". This is not a live album, and that is evident by the silkiness of the production that surpasses even the likes of Ellington at Newport, Jerry Lee Lewis at the Star Club, Hamburg or Muddy Waters live at Newport, 1960. However skilled the artifice though - it's a jarring disconnect from the fantasy it portrays. This might be the intention - I don't know, I'm not clever enough to know these things - but if it is, it would make the exercise one of ridiculous ponciness, and that makes it more difficult to suffer. Ultimately, I want to like it. I just don't feel I can switch off enough to actually really like it.
I like the concept of this record, if not necessarily the execution. Too long.
From a technical perspective, Tom Waits is not good. He sounds like a bumbling drunk. But from an entertainment perspective? This is excellent. The music was outstanding. The comedic timing was brilliant. I really felt like I was in a boozy jazz club in 1970s LA.
This is weird so far This is weird still 2/5
Over the multiple revisions and editions of this book, its authors have seen fit to eliminate albums by Adele, Arcade Fire, Bowie, Johnny Cash, Kendrick, Radiohead, The War on Drugs, the White Stripes, and many, many more less notable albums. But for reasons I will never grasp, they've never excised a single Tom fucking Waits album. This is one part comedy routine and one part Hollywood circle jerk with a contrived “live audience;” a Disneyland gin joint.
Excellent Tom Waits record. I have always loved his earlier stuff, and this is one of the weirder ones, recorded to make it sound like it's all happening in a jazz club. Great vibe for a late in the work week morning listen.
meh
Rubbish album
Semi-comedic rambling to a good bass and drum back beat in a jazz club atmosphere. No thanks. Didn't even listen to the whole album.
I love jazz. If I saw this live, in a jazz club, I'd probably be all for this album - in fact if I was in a jazz bar, or somewhere that matched the atmosphere of this album, I'd definitely rate this higher - but honestly, I just don't feel this translates well onto a record. Obviously it's not the instrumentals that's the issue, it's Tom rambling on and on about some of the dumbest things I've ever heard: You can't go fishing because of your wife? Various things you had for breakfast? Who's in the diner while you're eating? What the fuck? The whole concept of this album is whack. This album really does have some standout tracks, Warm Beer and Cold Women just worked - because he stopped doing his stupid rambling mumbling shouting, and actually used his harsh, gravelly voice in sync with the jazz behind him. And it worked. The song is great. A shame it can't be said for the rest of the album, because like clockwork, it's back to rambling about masturbating or some other nonsensical shit. This album isn't for me, because for all the faults I have with Tom's vocals, the band behind him are pretty damn faultless. I was hard tossed between a 2 and a 3 here, but I'm going to go with a 3, just because I think if I listened to this in the right mood and in the right place, I'd actually enjoy this record. I'm going to re-listen in the future and I think my opinion will change, but I'm definitely interested in listening to more Tom Waits in the future.
Imagine Johnny Cash's Live at Folsom/San Quentin albums. Now swap the legitimate and interesting setting of a concert in prison with a fake TV studio-esqe Jazz club set with a small group invited studio audience. Now remember Johnny's little gaffs and jokes he usually has to segue between songs? They are going to take up half the runtime of the album. Also, they aren't going to be funny. Also, instead of Johnny Cash we are going to get some mumbling dolt who is trying his hardest to sound like an old black soul musician, only to end up sounding like the love child of Chris Rock and Randy Newman. Now take that down a point or two from your expectations. The music that you can even make out over Tom's mumbling is perfectly adequate, unfortunately with how much the guy is rambling on you can't even enjoy it as simple background music. I think this was the first time in this list that I was checking to see how much longer I had to listen to this shit.
Highlights Warm Beer and Cold Women, Eggs and Sausage. Nighthawks Postcards was very fun. Big Joe and Phantom 309 was reminiscent of a Johnny Cash tune if it was quite loose. Last song sounded like he was closing out a stand-up set. Very humorous album. I enjoyed it overall, the jazz and at points country music was great. I don't think it's something I'd listen to again, but it was a unique, enjoyable, albeit long album.
this just isn't for me. i usually love jazz and spoken word but waits is too growly and grumbly for me and i also just dont want to listen to this guy complain about his lower middle class life for an hour. jazz artists usually have drug addictions and violence and other depressing shit to talk about, or at least an infatuation with an interesting breadth of women they can go into detail about, but he just talked about how his bitch wife wouldn't let him go fishing and his shitty car keeps needing to get fixed. even the love songs have no substance, never talk about the subject of affection just how walts is such an epic lover and so in love and hes the best lover and hes gonna love you sooo much. to top it all off apparently he was a raging alcoholic and he barely talks about that, or any of the detrimental effects it has. honestly if this was an album about an alcoholic admitting how he ruined his life i think i'd have enjoyed it a lot more. the instrumentals are great, the lyricism is actually really fucking good however he just isn't talking about anything interesting, but his voice is the real dealbreaker and it features far too prominently on the release for me to overlook it. maybe i just dont like vocals guys i think i should start listening to video game music instead. fuck i love saxophones though.
One hour and thirteen minutes of Tom Waits doing his best impression of a sleazy nightclub piano man. I can see why some people would REALLY hate this album because it basically sounds like 73 minutes of drunken rambling over a bluesy jazz band and piped in audience noises. HOWEVER I massively enjoyed listening to this album. The whole time I was just wishing I was in some dimly lit club where you can smoke indoors, plastered on cheap whiskey with several women who are definitely on amphetamines (diet pills). I have a bad habit of sort of tuning out what’s actually being said in music a lot of the time and more focus on the sound and rhythm of the vocals over the lyrical content, and I enjoy Tom Waits gravelly voice crooning along to that smooth ass instrumental. When I did tune into the vocals they were kinda funny. My bitch wife type content. In summary if I were Tom Waits I would have named all my albums things like “for the bus” so the album read Tom Waits for the bus.
The first song on this album sounded almost like a comical take on a jazz musician on SNL. I can imagine some comedian wearing super dark glasses with a cigar doing a bit and just spouting random nonsense like being a "swingin' cat". That said, I can definitely imagine sitting in a club, listening to this and just being fucking entertained. I've never really listened to "spoken word" music before like this, but the jazzy blues ilicited visons of a seedy, underbelly club from the 70s thick with ciggerette smoke and dinner tables with dim bankers lamps infront of the stage. I don't know who was playing the piano but my god, it shines with that sax. Im writing this still in the introduction song, and it's very good. The further I listened, the more it reminded me of a small Jazz band I stumbled onto playing live in this dingy bar in Wellington (Taylor probably knows the one). They were fantastic, noone was really talking, they just stood absolutely attuned to the talent of these artists. This provides the same sort of experience, everyone just drinking and watching. I do really enjoy the crowd sounds on the track, I believe it really adds to this feeling. I enjoyed just about all the tracks on the album. I found On A Foggy Night and Better Of Without A Wife to be not as much my style, but still incredibly well performed or the story telling was great. Tom Waits has an incredible voice with such character. Most interestingly, a lot of the intros with large talking portions with just piano and the bass playing in the background were my favourite. I feel you wouldn't get the full experience without these intros, they are integral to the feeling of the album. I most definitely listen to this album again, and I feel like I have been introduced to a completely new to me genre that I'm excited to explore.
My first listen I thought I was listening to one of my new all time favourites, this album captures a range of emotions so well, it's surprisingly funny, but also melancholic and introspective. Waits has a way with words that can't be understated. On further listens the recency bias wore of a bit and I saw it for what it was, a little rough around the edges but a still astonishing piece of spoken word poetry, delivered by one of the best voices in music over the top of remarkable jazz. I have no doubt for those who saw this live it was life changing. I also can't see why you could dislike this album, think it's just good or alright maybe but the jazz is so good and the delivery so capturing it couldn't possibly get a bad review... right? Right? Low 9/10 for now but definitely something I'm going to return to regularly , really awesome to capture a live performance of a GOAT before his prime. A really magical and important album. 1001 - 26 (24 Was Kid A btw hence no review) Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner (1975) Genre - Spoken Word, Jazz added to the music list. 🐍 9/10 Fav tracks - Opening Intro, Emotional Weather Report, Eggs and Sausage, Better of Without a Wife, Nighthawk Postcard (Free Easy Street), Warm Beer and Cold Women, Putnam County, Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emmission), Big Joe and Phantom 309, Spare Parts II and closing Least Fav - None really
This one was I think the first album that doesn't feel like you're traditional album. Closer to a set from a comedian that was recorded, in this case none of the jokes were landing. THAT SAID I really liked this, felt like I was in a smoky bar listening to this guy sing about his week, In terms of music itself it fit the tone, little Jazzy but mostly Blues kinda vibe, it fit well. Tom does a good job pulling me in and making me feel like I am there soaking up his stories in a bar full of people, staff running drinks around and listening to his story about not wanting a wife because she won't let him go fishing with the fellas. 4/5
This album is like a comedy album for people who don't find things funny anymore. I could put this on in my flat and it would transform it entirely, this album is oozing with atmosphere but it is not an album to actively listen to and consume like I normally would. It is difficult to rate this album. Love the atmosphere, but I find it repetitive. Love the vocals, find the lyricism irritating. The instrumentals are sparse and barebones, and I find it difficult to even classify this as music. Regardless, I am going to give it a 3/5 as this is great background /noise/ rather than a musical album per se.
Best Song: Eggs and Sausage. A perfect example of what is possible in this genre of music. An elevation of ordinary materials to something that feels, lyrically, like more than the sum of its part. Worst Song: Nobody. Far too sleepy and repetitive this late in the game. Overall: The jazz-club motif is so strong here that the album feels like it has the intensity and energy of a live recording, while maintaining the production of a studio setting. This is also a sweet spot for Waits in his career, where maintains some of his soft-boy aesthetic from earlier in his career but he hasn't fully dived into the grit-and-gravel voice that dominates his later records. The album also has a pleasant sense of humor that is really difficult to capture in a record like this. Really my only complaint is that it gets a bit long in the end
Functional, smokey late night jazz. It's not terrible, but there's not much in the way of melody from gravel voiced Waits and there's a sense of 'you had to be there' to the proceedings. In fact, he'd probably get booed off the stage after a couple of tracks. He just ain't that interesting.
Chit chat jazz with ol gravely.
My favourite kind of bonkers album. Nothing individually great, but the whole thing is a riot of mad fun.
I really enjoyed these stories in their contrived pulp fiction diner stylings. I didn't like the previous Tom Waits album on this list but I was in the mood for (and had time for) lying back with my eyes shut and letting this wash over me. Dirty, gritty melodrama from the wrong end of town.
I'm unsure what environment is ideal to listen to this. I'd probably enjoy this being performed live at some jazzy open mic night, but listening on headphones at my desk... it sounds like a lot of drunken drivel.
It's funny, it's groovy, let's listen again. 3
Ostensibly, I like Tom Waits. His raving madman shtick does pretty well for me. This is a weird one, since it's a "studio" album, even if that album is being recorded in front of a live audience. The backing musicians are tight, and everything sounds great, it just runs pretty long and Waits can get pretty heavy on the ramble. Call it a 2.5. Favorite tracks: "Nobody", "Warm Beer and Cold Women"
Acceptable quality lyrics but performed over the vamping of the most middling of blues and jazz scales you've ever heard that ultimately sounds like one long uninterrupted track. In my opinion the work of the bass player should have earned them the bulk of the royalties. Not much, if any real music elsewhere. Rather it seems an excuse for a spoken word album that also doubles as a half-assed stand up act. Wait's voice is still really annoying.
Blues, Sprechgesang live, 1975 -> 2
Ugh I really do not like this guy
never listened to a full spoken word album, it’s like a comedy show over jazz instrumentals, his voice is kinda annoying in this, the jazz was a vibe though
while initially i wasn't feeling this spoken word live performance, the more i listened the more i honestly liked it. waits just has this voice like no other, he croaks every line and a lot of the lyrics he recites really resonate. the jazzy accompaniments also are nice to listen to... like with other albums on this list, this one isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you treat it with the respect it deserves, it's a artistic live performance. kick up a chair and smoke a cig, you dig?
I don't get it. Some of his music is good but I dk how to describe this. Jazz-Poetic-Comedy?
“I’ve been standing on the corner of 5th and Vermouth.” That was the best Beat poetry slam I’ve ever attended.
I wouldn’t call what is on this album “songs”. It’s basically Tom Waits talking shite whilst some musicians tinker around in the background. One of them is him describing what he had for breakfast. It gets two stars purely on Waits voice alone, which has an almost ASMR like quality to it.
I could honestly listen to Tom Waits murdering someone and I'd still give it a 5
Tom got better once he stopped trying to be a weird jazzman and started just being a weirdo. This goes on for way too long. It's not bad, it's just thirty minutes in you get it and nothing really changes.
Unlike yesterday’s unfortunate album, Tom Waits is an artist that I will gladly spend time with again. Swordfishtrombones still remains one of the most interesting albums I’ve ever heard, and Waits himself is a very enigmatic person. So being able to dive into more of his music is great. Because I’d love to become familiar with as much of it as I can. Believe it or not, there was a time where his music could sort of be considered “normal”. The release of Swordfishtrombones seems to have been the turning point. This record comes quite a few years before that. And even before you can get into the music, you have to understand the set up. This is like a live album, but not. It was performed in front of a live audience, across four days. But at a recording studio, that was set up to feel like a jazz club. People didn’t pay for tickets to see this. At least I don’t think so. And you know what, all things considered they nailed the vibe and energy. This has a super relaxed atmosphere. The crowd also loves him. Maybe too much at some points. They laugh at damn near every remark and joke he makes. But this does a really good job at giving a much clearer view into who Waits is as a person, and as a character. And what a character he is. If that wasn’t clear from any one of his songs. His music is filled to the brim with a slightly twisted and dark adult sense of humor. It’s what makes him such a remarkable lyricist. This album in particular has some of the weirdest writing I’ve ever heard. But this fact probably contributes to the accessibility, or lack thereof, in his music. It’s something you have to be able to get behind. The idea of saying so much with so little is not at all present here. It’s the opposite, in fact. I’m aware this is almost entirely drunken rambling. But there is a part of me that could listen to him talk about anything. Thankfully, beyond all of that, this is a solid chill jazz album. And Tom just happens to have a fantastic band backing him up. That bass player? Good shit right there. If you are a fan of him, I believe there is reason to give this a chance. Even if it’s a little too long. Just think of it as Bedtime Stories with Tom Waits. Except you are more likely to get some pretty vivid nightmares from this. Rating: 7/10
The idea works well and well executed. Within the first 30 seconds I did feel transported to a small, smoke filled jazz bar with an intimate crowd. It was very immersive. Due to the nature of the album though, nothing truly stood out for me. I liked ‘Better off without a Wife’ and ‘Nighthawk Postcards’. I also like the inspiration for the album name coming from Hopper’s Nighthawk painting as it’s one of my favourites.
Boring
Like being in a pretentious jazz/blues bar in 1975. all songs indistinguishable.
Fine I guess
Not sure I like the jazz club conceit, but good album regardless
Tom Waits makes me feel like I should be walking on a dark, snowy street in the middle of winter or I should be drinking a martini in a smoky jazz club. Getting this album in the dog days of summer did not match with his vibe, but still solid nonetheless.
No. 224/1001 Opening Intro 3/5 Emotional Weather Report 3/5 Intro To On A Foggy Night 2/5 On A Foggy Night 3/5 Intro To Eggs And Sausage 2/5 Eggs And Sausage 3/5 Intro To Better Off Without A Wife 2/5 Better Off Without A Wife 3/5 Nighthawk Postcard 2/5 (2x) Intro To Warm Beer And Cold Women NR Warm Beer And Cold Women 3/5 Intro to Putnam County NR Putnam County 2/5 Spare Parts I 2/5 Nobody 2/5 Intro To Big Joe And Phantom 309NR Big Joe And Phantom 309 2/5 Spare Parts II And Closing 2/5 Average: 2,38 Didn't really like him trying to be a comedian. Also wasn't that good musically.
this album was billed as a 73 minute long Tom Waits album. while TECHNICALLY that’s what it is, it’s not a good descriptor of the actual album. it’s a beautiful mix of storytelling, comedy, and jazz over a couple nights in a controlled faux jazz club. and it captures that vibe perfectly. it’s funny and easy to listen to and just really great. it got a little tiring but i think that’s just because i didnt do it justice with my listening. it should be listened to over speakers in a dimly lit, kinda dingy room filled with people talking quietly underneath it. one of the easiest 5s i’ve given
I'd give more stars if it was just the bass man
I feel like I should probably hate this album, but something about it is weirdly charming. I don't know, this album is just a vibe. It could have probably been trimmed down to ~45 minutes or so, but it is fine. high 3
Perhaps his best record of his early era! The secret ingredient is the live atmosphere, it adds a sense of authenticity to Waits’ performing that lets the music flourish
Really great to get to hear Tom Waits. His story telling and live entertainment style were funny and enjoyable
I absolutely adore Tom Waits. I don't think this is his strongest album, but it's more than good enough. For some reason this man can distill jazz down to a format where I actually enjoy it. He seems to be able to improvise but still reign it in, and his stage persona keeps it strange and interesting where I'd have given up on other artists.
Enjoyable ! I really felt I was in a club with him !
2+
Musically the group is very talented however the album was a lot of drunken spoken word poetry
Not for me but appreciate how it was viewed at the time.
This feels like something to listen to live, not as a recording.
Damn. Please reserve me a table at whatever diner Tom Waits is Nighthawkin' at! The be-bop rhythms of the band are a perfect back drop for his observational lyricism, which is raw and real and true. Bravo, Tom. Bravo.
Tom waits perus vittuilua..
This album has a lot of pleasant instrumentals with pretty enthralling stories and world building, to the point where I'm genuinely always intrigued in the next tale, and was even getting into the non-jokes Waits was spewing that the crowd couldn't get enough of. Nothing actually gut-bustingly hilarious, but the charm got to me at about the forty-five-minute mark. However, I struggle to call this an album of music. It feels more like stand-up and poetry with instrumental backing that may be my favorite part, but feels needless, and if this album is truly not actually live, it just feels like the whole album is mocking itself. Perhaps that is the intention, I don't know, but a lot of tracks are just not songs, and so I think rating it on that same musical scale feels unfair, but if this is one of Waits' main releases, I kind of have to look at it that way. All the pieces are there for it to be a cool, albeit long, live album, but as a studio performance with lots of rambling and relatively simple songs, I know Tom Waits has a lot more in him, whether it is from this early era or not. This is a good one-and-done album, but I can't see myself returning to this, and I think if any other artist tried this same shtick, I'd be far more annoyed. It truly is worth that single listen though, mileage will just vary.
Tom Waits is in my top 10, but this is my least favorite album of his. No noteworthy songs. But listening to it in it's entirety, I did enjoy it.
This was surprisingly listenable and fun for an artist I don't particularly like. Good work Tommo.
Really good album
Solid Tom Waits album, but in general I'm already familiar with his work and not a particular fan of his. Without reference to influence or importance, I generally prefer a few of his other albums more (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones).
Absolute wank.
While the actual songs are decent but nothing special in the most part, the humour throughout makes you want to have been there at the weird "gig" set up
Likes the feel of this but couldn’t remember a single song
Slow piano jazz with a classic Waits talking whiskey voice vocal about drinking and life. Not exactly a masterpiece, but ok background listening. Background sounds from the audience if it were recorded in a bar. Don’t know if it is.
I thought that Tom was the funniest thing ever (not intentionally) when I first saw him on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Scary bendy fingers too. Fast forward a couple of years and I'm working in a record store. The manager insisted that I give Tom another chance. What a wise manager! I went back to the start and was hooked. Yes, his vocal style became more gruff on each subsequent album. But oh my, what fantastic albums. The jazz scthick definitely wore thin towards the end of the Warners albums. But not many better 3 x album runs than his first 3 on Island. The ANTI albums ain't too shabby either. So, give him another chance (particularly the Island stuff), he's worth it!
What I've enjoyed about previous Tom Waits albums that the generator spewed up has usually been the gritty, grimy, shambolic and raw instrumentation - coupled with his inimitable voice, of course. This time round the music is completely different - smooth as silk and sophisticated in a way I wouldn't expect to enjoy. Somehow though, when coupled with that same voice, the atmosphere of drunken urban sleaze created is much like those other albums. Perhaps it's because the emphasis on lyrics is so much heavier here. At first it feels like he's sending up jazz-club banter in a cartoonish fashion, but then I realised no - this is actually funny! He'd make a decent stand-up, as well as a masterful storyteller. Will I return to this album? Probably not often. But I certainly enjoyed it, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how engaging and effective the whole thing was, as well as how unique it is among the ranks of the 1001.
Weird as shit but somewhat interesting. Probably won’t give it a second listen.
Witty at times, but that's just it. It's main sin is beign just spoken word with a jazz band as background. Is closer to a Dollomite record than a jazz album, not what I was looking for when entered this site
Brilliant jazz spoken word/ sung style. Relaxing and hilarious, Tom Waits nails his characterization.
Tom Waits is one of those artists I really want to like. His voice is unique and the swagger in his delivery is undeniable. But the music just doesn't do it for me because the lyrics are too intentionally convoluted.
Favorite Tracks: Better Off Without A Wife
Poetry reading meets amateur standup comedy performed with a mouth full of gravel. My second Tom Waits album I've had to endure and I know more are coming.
Bro just yapping on a jazz beat, lol. Did have a few good ones though
Day 32 - July 3rd, 2024 Too much talking, not enough jazz. If I was half into a pack of reds, I think it would be so much better. 1/5
Not one of my favorites. This one is akin to a comedy album, in that once you've heard the bits a couple times the novelty wears off. Smooth backup band tho.
talk smoke diner 70's
If only they shut off Tom Waits' mic it'd be much better. Good musicians; terrible "singer". It's shocking that one of Waits' albums made it on the list, two is crazy, but this is now the third one! How!? 2/10.
Some parts were quirky & humorous, but this honestly reminded me of that one jazzy Gremlin from the first movie. This was just too on the nose.
I don't enjoy this one nearly as much as Closing Time, but this era of Tom Waits is always a good listen. 3.5
Distinctive. A bit repetitive. But also quite enjoyable.
I've avidly disliked Tom Waits, his voice sounds like he's in a meat grinder and as a singer myself it gives me anxiety. However, this album, I get. It's super charming, there's really high quality to the musicianship, his stories are funny, and it's unique. Cool stuff.
This is a live album, and includes the lengthy song intros. While I love this stuff in the context of a concert venue, it doesn’t work for me on an album. I just wanted him to get to the music.
Fantastic early Waits. I thought it was actually a live album, but it’s actually a studio album with people invited to make it sound like a jazz club. I thought it was, so it’s effective enough to fool me! The stories here are great. Warm Beer and Cold Women is a great song with one of the best titles ever.
Comedic at times.
Pretty good, and interesting
If I went to this show in real life I would be bored as hell. Instead I listened to a fake show, by myself, so I was somehow even more bored than bored as hell.
Tom Channels a Rodney Dangerfield turned philosopher poet. Best SNL sketch ever. Musically I don't know that it was that special, but as a comedy sketch character study, five stars, glad I listened, would listen again.
I definitely wasn't able to give this the level of attention it deserved, given I was driving at the time. The story of this album's production is pretty interesting and helped give it some context. However, I admit I liked imagining it at a jazz bar more than I like knowing it was actually just a recording studio, albeit set up like a jazz bar. The intro to "Better Off Without a Wife" was the highlight for me. The outro with the band introductions was also pretty funny. I'm not super into this spoken word kinda thing but even still, I was entertained.
What the hell was this ?! 🥴 seriously awful!
I never want to hear this man again in my life Terrible. Absolutely terrible It was like bad stand up comedy over a jazz band. But he wasnt funny, and even his talking voice grated on me. And the audience laughing made it even worse, because his ramblings weren't even funny I was begging for this one to end 1 ⭐️
If I want to listen to a nightclub singer for 75 minutes, I'll just go to the nightclub. My memory of Waits from his Letterman appearances is that he was kind of a weird guy. This album fits with that perception.
Hadn't listened to the album before. I wasn't expecting that this would be so accessible. Really great songs, and a great recording for a live album. "She's been married so many times she got rice marks all over her face."
Enjoyed this one a lot. Never heard this album before, but I used to have his follow-up (Small Change) on vinyl back in the day. I think Nighthawks is better.
This was interesting and I am really glad I listened to this record. As a live recording it was fun to hear Waits entertaining and interacting with the crowd. As much as I didn’t like the first album I heard this one was jazzy, it felt like he tried to sing and it really sounded like he was enjoying what he was doing. It was refreshing!
Tom waits ist ein Künstler, den man mag oder ablehnt. Seine Stimme ist durchaus gewöhnungsbedürftig. Ich mag seine Alben , ich mag seine Arrangements der Melancholie und Baratmosphäre. Diese Scheibe kannte ich noch nicht. Aber wer Tom Waits erwartet, bekommt Tom Waits. Und das ist gut so.
First time hearing Tom Waits. I remember my brother talking about how he had a Cookie Monster voice, so I wasn't looking forward to this. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the album. Nice jazz, fun lyrics, good atmosphere, and his vocals reminded me of George Thorogood more than Cookie Monster.
first thoughts: I'm worried. It's too long, and I don't generally like interludes, and this album has 7 "intros." On the flip side, I think I like Tom Waits - or at least I quite liked Bone Machine. We'll see. Starts out jazzy with the first intro, a live set where he's just kinda talking to the audience. It has the line, "I'm so goddamn horny the crack of dawn better be careful around me," which I appreciate. So it appears the album is a live jazz performance. It's good for jazz, his voice definitely lends itself to this kind of thing. I think it's enjoyable, but not particularly interesting or novel. I wonder about replay value due to the riffing and crowd work. It's interesting the first time, but how many times can you listen to it before it loses its appeal? Overall, I'm glad I listened to it, but I don't see how I can give it higher than 3 stars. One good thing, though, is that it's confirmed that I *do* like Tom Waits.
Un album vraiment trop long pour ce que c'est. Je comprends ce que l'album essaye de faire, mais j'avais constamment l'impression d'avoir manqué un évènement et d'écouter l'enregistrement pour me remonter le moral. La majorité du temps Tom fait juste radoter des trucs sur la musique (suposément drôle mais je n'ai jamais rien compris), c'est la même chose du début à la fin. Vraiment pas mon style. 3/10
This is sheer brilliance. The original rapper. Tom's ease of communicating in this style of whatever you want to call it is impeccable proof of a true artistic genius at work. Not sure why I don't want to give him 5 stars, maybe because I can only handle listening to it once every few years.
lyrics are great but music is too loungy for me
I think I have a specific idea of what Tom Waits is, and I think this is ACTUALLY what he is, and it's good but not for me.
I'm enjoying learning more about Tom Waits, as I don't know much about him to be fair. I like this gravelly voice. I was surprised to here he was 25 when he recorded this, I would have guessed 40 or something given the voice. I thought the show was quite entertaining and told stories I was interested in. Tom Waits also had the crowd's attention and was quite funny! Big Joe and Phantom 309 stood out most to me.
I'd not played this before despite having quite a few Tom Waits albums in my collection. The album has a rather nice ambience with the invited crowd in the studio. Waits' voice is characteristically cracked sounding. The odd thing is that because his vocal style verges on speaking, the intro sections between songs and the songs themselves seem to merge together. On the whole I like this album and I've added it to my Qobuz favourites. Not up there with Rain Dogs and later albums, maybe, but it could be a grower.
I wanted to like this but it's a bit contrived. I guess it's a novel idea though so not all bad. It grates after a while, Tom's voice is so in your face.
Tom Waits has a rugged wisdom that really makes him feel genuine. This album is fun, thought provoking and hilarious. What else could you ask for in a spoken word jazz album?
It was pretty good but it got super repetitive. He's funny! And that is ace at the start but it gets old quick.
I did not care for this record at the start... It isn't so much of a music record. Not a typical one at least. But this one grew on me the more I listened. I'm happy I kept going. This album is live in an intimate setting. It sounds like he is playing in front of maybe 50 people in an old diner, or old comedy hall. This album is part live music, part story telling, part stand up comedy. I have not heard a record like this before. I am pretty sure it was an ambitious and gutsy decision to release such a non traditional type of live album. Musically, it's very jazzy: saxophone, piano, stand up bass, drums, and Tom Waits' "gravel-filled-mouth" vocal style. He sounds like he lives off cigarettes and whiskey. There's almost an improvisational feel to what Tom Waits is saying. Again, this album feels very Jazzy. I knew a guy who reminded me of Tom Waits. As he sounded very similar to him and even had similar eccentricities. He was the lead singer of a local band called Rye N' the Vats. Unfortunately he passed away suddenly and then a few years later, one of the percussionist's passed away too. Both great dudes. Both talented people. You can youtube theit name and watch a lot of their live stuff. Great stuff! Anyways, this record started off meh, but when it ended, I wanted more. There is only one Tom Waits.
it's kind of like folsom prison where johnny cash noodles with the prisoners except instead of prisoners it's people who like jazz music and instead of johnny cash it's tom waits
Far too slow and way too much talking for me even aside from the intros.
I like the concept of the album, the band and even some of the songs but after listening to a whole album it’s a bit much for me. There are some very clever lyrics at times. 2.5
So incredibly boring.
The concept of a “live” recording in an imaginary dive is clever, but couldn’t listen to it regularly without tiring of this conceit.
Super moody, felt like I was in a Smokey jazz bar watching the show
interesante concepto de live album(? me senti igual de intrigado de lo que me sentiría en una club de jazz real
I understand
Pretty Meh for me. Could easily pass me by as background music in a bar. I get what he is trying to achieve. But wasnt my thing.
The live vibe is cool, but with all the loose spoken word songs feels like you had to be there. Couldn’t really get into it.
Kinda cool and vibey but kinda boring
I like other Tom Waits albums way better. The concept is cool but it gets repetitive.
Oh man what a trip. "I'm so goddamn horny the crack of dawn has to be careful around me". Brilliant album.
Unlike the last time I attempted to listen to more than half a Tom Waits song some decades ago... I didn't immediately hate it. I have no experience with the rest of his catalog, and I probably won't seek it out until it pops up on this list again... but I'm honestly surprised I didn't hate this one. So I'll approach the next one with some mixture of confusion and curiosity, rather than dread. Win?
I don't like Tom Waits, but as this album is earlier in his ouevre, he hasn't developed as much of the rasping growl that I really detest. The music was OK - I was not expecting much jazz, but overall I couldn't really get into this one
ey yo he yapping again. 1.5 just for the jazzy baselines and interesting concept - but it's still quite shit.
I love this album, 4 star rating is because I think Tom has done better (Raindogs, Swordfishtrombones, Franks Wild years). The bass player is amazing and does need to be chained up
Waits recreated a small jazz club, complete with audience, inside the recording studio for this album. That may sounds gimmicky but it definitely works exactly as planned. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear it was live. Waits' crude, humorous, and growly spoken word is always likeable and is made all the more accessible by the accompanying jazz band. There's no sign of his later avant garde style here. This is something you might take a date to, as long as they had a good sense of humor and weren't easily offended. This is a great showcase of his early work. I'm not sure it needed to be a double album though. Enjoyable as it was, I was ready to change albums by the middle of side 3.
I really like this actually. It sounds great, it’s entertaining and flows well. It’s funny. Solid 4
Prob waits most jazz and bluesy beatnik and least song oriented effort from his early days. It's not peak Waits but I still love it.
I like Tom Waits, but an hour plus of piano noodling and beatnik rambling is too much to handle
This cat was funny as hell
3.5
Moderately entertaining Jazz with spoken words.
Is okay
Fun. Touching. It's been really fun coming across the artists who are just pure entertainers. Tom Waits is a character but also a writer. Definitely took me for a ride. I was in that diner with him! I was in that car with Big Joe! Can't say I'll play this album much but TW gets my respect.
Somehow falls in between music and acting to me. I felt like Tom Waits was playing a role the whole album, in other words being a total poser.
Beautiful, melodic, dirty and sweet. 8.3/10 Best Track: "Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson)"
I have this on vinyl. It’s not my favorite Tom Waits record, but it’s one of my favorites for being somewhere between a stand-up album and a crooner album while falling somewhere on the vaudeville spectrum. There’s not much like it that can actually pull it off without being annoying and played out (a la Richard Cheese, for example). At least for me. I get that he’s not everyone’s thing, so I have to give this a slightly higher rating than I might otherwise to help skew the rating that much higher. But it’s still at least a 4.3/5 for me
my exposure to tom waits is fairly limited - i've listened to his first two albums on my own, but haven't explored him much further. i know his album gets a little more avant garde and challenging to listen to, but i found this one to be a fun listen. it's a fun jazz record with a live audience environment, it really gets the 'jazz club' aesthetic down. the musicianship is great but not very showy. waits' songs are fun and very off-kilter and wacky. probably not everyone's bag, but i appreciate the sort of sleazy vibe he was going for. definitely one i think i could appreciate more with additional listens.
I'm not up on the current discourse surrounding Tom Waits. There was definitely a time when it was not cool to not like Tom Waits. So I've tried. I've had a couple of his albums moldering in my library for many years and I almost always skip over them. But if I'm being honest, the more I listen to this guy the less I want to hear. I just don't need him in my life at this point.
p345. 1975. 3 stars. Great voice, great lyrics and a sense of humour, but there are no tunes to speak of and I'm not a fan of cocktail bar jazz.
Can we be fucking done with this theatre kid? Sick of gravely woe-is-me singing with look-at-how-weird-I-think-I-am clang rhythms.
Ik ben niet zo'n fan van live muziek. Ook jazz is niet mijn favoriete genre. Dus alles bij elkaar wordt ik hier niet warm van. **
A little too weird for my tastes. But a good sound overall
It’s been 10 years since I listened to a Waits record in full, which I don’t recall enjoying. However I liked Nighthawks due to its consistency and for showcasing his humorous storytelling style throughout. I just felt like it was a one-time listen.
The bassist is playing like rent is due, and I love me some bass. Otherwise, I have to admit this isn't my cup of tea. It's not grating; just boring, indulgent, and quite long. I'm a simple person who likes hooks I guess. I'd consider putting it on for background music while I'm working so I'd feel like I'm in a club instead of the office, so at least it's immersive. I kept checking to see how much time was left, which usually results in me slapping a one-star rating on an album; the most unforgivable thing an album can do is bore me. But again, the bass playing is so good that I can't insult it like that. Shout out to fellow Minnesotan Jim Hughart. I love to see a hometown hero winning. Highlights: On a Foggy Night, Eggs and Sausage, Better Off Without a Wife, Nobody
I normally like Tom Waits, but I like his songwriting and delivery. I don't care for this play acting nightclub lounge act. The verisimilitude is there, but it just crawls so far up its own ass, that I'm having trouble enjoying this. I liked a number of songs on the album, but the "intros" that were as long as the song they introduced? I don't like acts like that in real life. A couple of moving songs doesn't save this one for me.
Rough voice always takes a bit to get used to but always love the weird stories. The jazz club vibe is interesting, I like it
I flat out don't get it
Listened Before? N Tom Waits is a weird guy. Creative... but weird. This album was a cool concept and probably my favorite of the 2700 Tom Waits albums on this list so far but that's not saying much. It was just okay. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Eggs and Sausage
This trying to do something and its not workin
Unlistenable. Hated it. I dont get the appeal at all. Did nothing for me. Couldn't make it to the end of the second track. Comes off.as inauthetic and performative.
Rarely can a man sound like a chainsaw cutting through a tortoiseshell in a hailstorm and still be enjoyable. Tom Waits is a unique specimen, in the best way.
Incredible. I've listened to lots of Tom Waits but this one was a new one for me. Not as weird or as cinematic as lots of his other music. Love the kind of live, talking to the crowd vibe - matched with, as ever, his insanely good, imagery-laden lyrics.
It's a unique listening experience, but not one that was particularly engaging. Very much a product of its time and the problem with the 1970s LA based humor is that it's audience 50 years on is pretty niche. Nothing sonically negative, but feels creative just for creativity sake.
good music plus funny as fuck
I recall listening to this album a lot while I was in college. Still great to hear some 40 years later.
I couldn’t get past the first two songs.
Very wordy and long!
Loads of artists I love are clearly very influenced by Tom Waits (Eels chiefly) but I just can’t get on with him
Had to muscle through it. My friend has been obsessed with Waits since we were in our early 20s, so I've heard it all before. I'm a fan of him as an artist, but it's hard to get into his music sober, for me at least. I also remember finding out he was wasn't a drunk irl and being disappointed. I was young. Now I find that cool.
If the guy doesnt talk the songs could be quite pleasant bluesy/jazzy. But his raw voice and mostly the lyrics are distracting (together with the laughter). Eggs and Sausage is the first number he actually sings, and it is pleasant. Better off without a wife is also quite okay. I think I would enjoy this a lot more if it was only songs, and no talking/cabaret at all.
Bastante rollo, pero canta bien y el estilo jazz me gusta.
An acquired cup of tea for non-Tom Waits fans but can see the charm behind his style.
THE VOICE, SO RICH, but gotta say not my thing, maybe in a bathtub w a glass of wine just listening to it like a performance, not musical enough for meh
Awful
What a weird album, but I didnt hate it. Not at all.
Dit is weer helemaal niks
Great!
It's not for everyone, but it's got a charm that pulls you in. It's both "other" and classically cool.
This one was really interesting. I had heard of Tom Waits but really did not know any of his material before hearing this. Right away you are transported to a jazz club atmosphere, and it continues for the entire album. The songs are fine, and the instrumentation is good albeit rather safe, and his voice takes some getting used to, but overall I enjoyed it.
Some yuppie yapping over generic jazz.
I guess I have no sense of humor.
A stand-up comedy with a contrabass. Plot twist : the contrabass was funnier.
Ну а что прикольно. Блюзовый хриплый мужик рассказывает на концерте своё видение жизни, очень душевно, аудитория мега урчит. Я в принципе тоже с удовольствием послушал
i can appreciate this on the surface but it’s not for me
2024-03-16...
Great lyrics, amazing atmosphere, but ultimately a little bit boring and quite frankly not what I would enjoy listening to. But that doesn't change the fact that Tom Waits is a national treasure (for every nation, I guess).
Interesting but not a fan
Ik heb me nooit erg verdiept (of geïnteresseerd) in Tom Waits. Dit album is voor mij dan ook compleet nieuw. De introsong zet een gemoedelijke, huiselijke, jazzy sfeer neer. Wordt dit hele album een spoken word monoloog…? Het lijkt ook live. Maar na onderzoek is het toch in de studio opgenomen. Het is een album die onbetwist in de categorie ‘miscellaneous’ past. Het trekt mijn aandacht niet echt. Ik ken Waits niet genoeg om te beseffen hoe interessant/grappig dit album moet zijn. Jammer, want ik denk dat ik Waits een stuk beter zou kunnen waarderen als we eerst een ander album van hem mochten recenseren. Die tijd komt nog wel. Voor nu: 6/10 Highlight: Eggs and Sausage
“I'm so goddamn horny, the crack of dawn better be careful around me!” klinkt er vanuit het zelfgecreëerde live café van de heer Waits. Reikhalzend keek ik uit naar de ochtend dat mijn spirit animal op m'n telefoonscherm zou verschijnen, maar van dit album schrok ik een beetje. Het is één van z'n platen die ik niet zo goed ken, en hij is door het specifieke concept niet heel goed te vergelijken met het rest van z'n oeuvre, dat al van hot naar her gaat. Het is een soort Mm.. Food van MF DOOM, maar dan de barfly versie. Tom gromt het ene naar het andere dronken vertelsel aan elkaar, met als rode draad dat hij altijd dichtbij de verscheidene ongezonde versnaperingen blijft die een gemiddelde diner in de USA te bieden heeft. Je weet wel, zo eentje die ongeveer in elke Amerikaanse film wel even voorbij komt, waar altijd een paar rednecks of wise guys aan de bar hangen om een krant te lezen en een apple pie te eten. De artificiële atmosfeer neergezet op het album - waarin een authentiek live album werd geveinsd - creëert een uniek geluid, alsof het opgenomen is in een normale studio naast een rokerige jazzbar, maar met de kier van de studiodeur open. Dit pakt aardig uit, maar het voelt ook wel een beetje alsof er een publiek zit die geforceerd interactie met Tom en z'n band zoekt. Hulde voor de eigenzinnige aanpak, maar had hem ook wel graag écht live willen horen. Of de mensen in de studio echt geforceerd meedoen valt te betwijfelen, want de humor en woordspelingen van Tom Waits zijn on point. Allemansproblemen en ludieke ervaringen worden gedeeld op komieke wijze, waardoor het vaak zelfs aanvoelt als een stand-up komedie, die ook echt wel het publiek op sleeptouw had genomen in een jazzclub in downtown LA. 'Emotional Weather Report' is een meteorologische analyse van een mislukte affaire, ronduit briljant. En 'Eggs And Sausage' is instrumenteel m'n favoriet, die glijdt zo lekker voort. Hij zet de scene - die gespeeld wordt - effectief neer, en is de definitie van cool. Maar de vele grappige segmenten worden meer dan eens onderbroken door prachtige melodieën, waar je West Coast barhanger Waits wel voor kon bellen. Ik ben uiteindelijk net iets meer fan van de avontuurlijkere East Coast Waits, maar arrangements als 'Warm Beer And Cold Women', 'Better Off Without A Wife' en 'Nobody' raken wel een gevoelige snaar. Al met al denk ik ook wel dat dit album, ondanks z'n onconventionele aanpak en ietwat eendimensionale vormgeving, een goed beginpunt zou zijn om West Coast Waits te ontdekken. Na z'n debuutalbum, dat leent zich daar nog iets beter voor. Minpunten zijn wel dat ik tijdens het luisteren steeds minder ging voelen voor het fake live idee als ik het publiek hoorde lachen, en ik denk dat z'n meest jazzy album (wat dit absoluut is) het juist qua instrumenten heel goed had gedaan in een realistische setting. Daarnaast denk ik dat het kort maar krachtige 'Nobody' een waardige afsluiter was geweest. Het had het album goed gedaan om zich aan een uurtje te houden. Deze periode werd nou niet echt gekenmerkt door Tom's vocale diversiteit. Het is nu vooral 75 minuten op één grommende toon. Al met al, zijn minst bekende album voor mij levert in ieder geval weer Waits ten voeten uit: Eigenaardige doch herkenbare verhaaltjes, intelligente woordspelingen, ontroerende melodieën en uitstekende instrumentele begeleiding. 7/10 Highlights: Eggs And Sausage Emotional Weather Report Warm Beer And Cold Women
Tom Waits live in een Late Night Jazz club. Tjonge daar zou ik toch graag eens bij zijn. Van de atmosfeer van deze plaat kreeg ik zin om een heel pak peuken op te roken, mijn eigen woonkamer blauw te zetten en een fles bourbon achterover te tikken. Toch maar niet gedaan, om 10:00 heb ik een teams-call... De vraag is natuurlijk of een dergelijke atmosfeer eigenlijk wel bestaat in "real-life". Kletsend publiek, klinkende glazen in een benevelde kroeg waar de zanger toch verstaanbaar is en de (jazz)show steelt. Waarschijnlijk niet, maar het spreekt zo onwijs tot de verbeelding. Daarom doet het het altijd zo goed in films. En Waits is zelf de grootste sucker voor dit sfeertje. En het werkt bij mij ook wel. Tom die alle nummers introduceert met een verhaaltje en soepel over gaat in de het nummer. Zijn stem is weergaloos en de rauwe tonen voegen voor mij iets toe aan de jazz waardoor ik het veel interessanter vind dan veel andere jazz-platen. De nummers zelf zijn niet zo spannend en verschillen weinig van elkaar. Maar daar gaat het ook niet om. Tom Waits zet -mede door dit live op te nemen- een sfeer neer waar je prima 1 of 2 uurtjes in wilt vertoeven. Meer Tom Waits graag! 7/10 Highlights -
Great “live” album. Fun listen
God i love this mans voice. the vibes of this album are so good
The instrumentals are fire Saved eggs and bacon
Some okay stuff here. But mostly gibberish
What a douche... but this is the most enjoyable of the waits albums I have had to endure for this list. Please, no more! As usual, hope he damaged his vocal cords while recording this.
Not bad but way to long for me
Tom waits has a beautiful voice but I didn't much enjoy the stand up aspects of this album. There was a lot of crowdwork
I like Tom Waits. Fun to listen to. Not great for work listening though. Can't listen to his commentary in between the songs.
Tom waits. Tom Waits joins the list of full sentence names. 3/5
No thanks… not for me.
I’ve really enjoyed the Tom Waits songs I’ve had so far, so I’m excited to hear today’s album. He’s got a voice from another planet and I can’t get enough. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Better Off Without A Wife This was a really pleasant experience. It felt very much like sitting in a smoky jazz bar - something I’ve never done in my life but definitely feels like a cool thing to do. There is a lovely banter with the crowd, but once the music starts the crowd is silent and you can hear how focused they become. It’s hard not to, as Tom Waits’ music and voice is spectacular. I’m not usually a fan of jazz, but this was really pleasant.
Tommy w-nice to hear real jazz of his 3/5
This album was described as giving the feeling of a night in a jazz club and delivered that excellently
Reminds me of going to local open jams at jazz clubs. Good vibes.
I ended up quite enjoying this album. The atmosphere works for me, the humor and rambling nature of the songs evokes a storytelling feeling. Favorite track is probably "Emotional Weather Report."
I admire the dedication to the bit, but the novelty wore off very quickly.
Nope
I can’t imagine ever wanting to listen again, but there were several clever turns of phrase in the lyrics and a consistent vibe.
4.25
I need to scrub my ears after this album,.
BL: Familiar with some of Waits' other work however I have never listened to anything on this record. So it'll be a blind listen. AL: this album reflects an anger which was rife within American society within the 70s. The idea of straying from the path and being present at the gig of a man your parents told you to worry about. The spoken word poetic jazz really strikes strongly here. The lyrics combined with the simple loops and interpretations and improvisations really change this into an astounding record, Waits is a showman - and completely deserves a standing ovation for this one FT: "Spare Parts I (Nocturnal Emissions)", "Better off Without a Wife", "Spare Parts II & Closing" 5/5
Fantastic. Very fun and cool listen
I listened to this six times last week
No thank you. 1/5
Gefällt mir überhaupt nicht.
as of the time of this writing this is (checks notes) the third time a tom waits album has been on the challenge. while i don’t really “get” his music, and that hasn’t really changed. but this one was a little different. he has very specific references that clearly his crowd finds amusing and i would be lying if i said that i wasn’t entertained. the man clearly has a knack for storytelling in a sort of “beat poet” sense and that really comes across in a live setting. however, i just can’t with that voice.
I don’t think I can take anymore of Tom Waits
Tom Waits rules. Super unique voice and style. I love the conceptual nature of this album. It's goofy and weird in his very distinct way.
3.0
Tom might be a great fella in private but his public hepcat affectation is intolerable. This is an entire album of affectation from the fake jazz club canned audience to the contrived, "Hey look, that rebel nighthawk doesn't care about your 'no shirt, no shoes, no service policy,'" album cover.
Great personality, wonderful band, but I just don't like his endless droning.
I thought it was a really cool idea. Tom waits has an amazing voice, and the playing is really impressive. Some of the songs are really groovy
I've been a big fan of certain Tom Waits records for some years now. I've already given five stars to two of his albums in the 1001 group, the peerless "Rain Dogs" and "Bone Machine". And yet, something about his early-mid period (pre-Kathleen Brennan, pre Kurt Weill influence) has always evaded me. After listening to "Nighthawks at the Diner" a few times, I'm not entirely convinced I'm missing much. This third album is a monstrous 73 minutes packaged up as a "live" recording, each song receiving a rambling intro narrated by Waits himself. It's dense. It’s confounding. And in its own twisted and warped way, it's occasionally cozy and romantic. The intros run steadily into the songs themselves, which tip over into singing almost imperceptibly. "Emotional Weather Report" sets the pace with its lolloping jazz, ambling bass and noodly piano. The lyrics are mostly spoken word sprinkled on top, with some wryly amusing analogies to be found, but not a barnstorming opening. As we progress, all the hallmarks of Waits' early music remain up-front: a grouchy and winking sense of humour, gently twinkling ivories, and an iconic voice gargling cement and absinthe. He was in his thirties here, but sounds at least double his age. The ambience of the crowd - a "live jazz bar" recorded in studio - is a nice gimmick, but quickly wears thin, particularly when there's more audience laughter than an average episode of "Mr. Bean". Try and sit through the intro to "Eggs and Sausage", or the admittedly amusing ode to masturbation that is "Better Off Without A Wife"'s opening, without wanting to yell at them all to shut up. To be clear, there are gorgeous moments- "Better Off Without A Wife" is a swooning, misanthropic ballad in the grand Waitsian tradition, and "Warm Beer and Cold Women" is a lovely track too - but these sit hand in hand with meandering jazz non-sequiturs like "Putnam County", "Spare Parts I" and II, or the eleven minute "Nighthawk Postcards (from Easy Street)". When I'm in the mood, it will all be divine: this album may be best enjoyed in the lamp-light, home alone, with a whiskey. In any other circumstance, I fear it just radiates the smugness of a party happening across the street, where nobody's invited except Tom Waits and his band of laughing brothers.