Reviews (page 7 of 8)
wtf is this and why is it on this list?
so weird I like. definitely a unique sound, and it's not trying to be something else. It lives up to its own specialties. Vocals are really interesting, the most experimental bit is the pairing of the vocals with the soundscape it is in. Makes my brain itch for something a bit more upbeat. Ok such a scream is kind of scratching that itch but not in a way I expected. It's oddly jazzy. But I kind of like it. Weird, too weird maybe... It's like if TOOL made blues. But they were just high ALL THE TIME instead of at just the conception of the album.
Just not enjoyable at all !
Man this was rough 🧟♂️
Hard to listen to......terrible
Uh-oh. I guess my newfound love for Tom Waits has a limit. I was prepared to appreciate if not enjoy this, and it just repelled me, including trying over consecutive days. I couldn’t get past the voice this time, and the tunes didn’t capture me. I see there is artistry and poetry, but I’m at a 1.5 over here…
I honest to god believe that when he finished recoding this album tom waits turned to the record producer and said " watch this i swear these idiots will listen to anything"
Geen mooie stem
Surely this cannot count for actual singing
Please god let this be the last.
*A strange, but ok album
bleh
Man, why does this man have 5 albums on this list. This is my second one and it sounds like absolute garbage again. What even is the aim of this music? 1/5
poor Tom sounds like a drunk homeless person, I just can't get onboard w this.
I'm sorry but I hateee him
Dit was echt anus. 1,5
From the first cracked percussion hit, Bone Machine feels like being dropped into a rusted scrapyard during the apocalypse. It’s chaotic, tuneless, and full of anguished groans masquerading as songs. The clattering industrial rhythms and Waits’ sandpaper vocals might be “art” to some, but for me it was just punishing. I managed four tracks before tapping out completely. Awful album — more ordeal than experience.
Hot garbage.
One word. Ass.
Man whats the deal with this guy. Perfect nightmare fuel. Why is he on here so much. Aany album should not be this hard to listen to. Who even knows what the scenario would be to listen to this. One star for respect for making something so terrible. And one star because i cant give something zero.
This sounds like an SNL skit. But not even a good one with songs by Lonely Island. It’s a good thing there are alternatives to this Alternative music cause this plain and simply sucked.
Tom Waits? Yeah, I sure hope he does. Because I'd rather have him wait than begin suffering through any more of this noise. After four previous albums from the guy (with an average rating of 2.25 stars) things are looking pretty bleak. And yet, looking at the pool of existing reviews here, people seem to think he's being authentic (fine). And then take the leap to equate that authenticity with good music (not fine). I can drink eight shots of Scotch and mumble about my romantic failings into an old greasy microphone, but nobody tells me I'm a good musician. As another reviewer aptly observed, "Tom Waits is always part mediocre folk and part garbage noises with this weird muppet sounding dude trying to sing over it, but failing because he misread the label and started swallowing chewing tobacco." And yeah, let's be honest. This is definitive garbage. "4′33" by John Cage would bring me more pleasure. Does anyone actually listen to The Earth Died Screaming, hear the messy percussion and absolutely horrific vocal delivery that puts Satan's finest demons to shame, and think, "hmm, this might be okay"? I doubt it. Dirt In The Ground is better, in virtue of having a decent bluesy melody buried somewhere within the vocal part, but again it's performed so badly that I can't take any of it seriously. The first track that I could see myself coming back to is Who Are You This Time. It has a gorgeous acoustic guitar line that really shines once you've tuned out Waits's voice. (Later on the album, Black Wings warrants a similar review. A cool, mysterious instrumental part with vocals straight from hell.) Jesus Gonna Be Here warrants a shoutout for being just completely devoid of substance. Except for whatever substance Tommyboy coughed up at the end. Then we have a slew of unlistenable noise ("in the colosseum / in the colosseum / in the colosseum / (ad inf.)" before we arrive at another passable tune: Goin' Out West. Reminiscent of something from the Doors' L.A. Woman. 1/5 Key tracks: Who Are You This Time, Goin' Out West, Black Wings
Tom mate clear your throat, cough it out. I don’t get this guy and if that makes me uneducated or unsophisticated or someone with bad taste then so be it, I can’t listen to this without wanting to remove my ears
this shit is ass
5 Tom Waits albums?! Is this a fucking joke? I had to skip through a couple songs. I'm not trying to ruin my day... or week.
Just not for me.
Not for me
If you want to listen to shit than listen to this
I am so glad that I have finally finished all these guys' albums and won't ever have to listen to him again. I didn't enjoy any of them; his gruff voice sounds like someone who smokes 60 a day. I think this one is the weirdest and worst of all his albums.
Hated it
🥱
I can listen to some Tom Waits. Swordfishtrombones was ok, in parts. This isn't Swordfishtrombones.
Horrible.
congratulations, you get the honor of being 1/3 albums I literally couldn't get all the way through so far! garbage; -100/10
nahhh whats that voice
I just don't like it.
Blimey. What was that? Just a cacophony of noise. Didn’t he write ‘Downtown Train?’ What went wrong??!
Unsettling. Did not finish.
can't stress how boring this cunt is
My ears! My poor ears!
nope
not my thing
CONGRATULATIONS this is my new most hated album on this list!!! I feel bad, because my uncle who gave me my first guitar liked Tom Waits, and he was a very talented musician, but even my familial connection cannot save this artist. If there is a second Tom Waits album on this list, i will have to quit the project altogether. I can't subject myself to more of this droning.
Did not like this at all… Loved him in Robots tho
This was bad. I wish I can give 0 stars.
A playground full of energetic kids skipped less than I did on this album. It was pretty unbearable.
Szinte hallgathatatlan volt
Scared me at the first song
This should be on a list of 1001 albums to avoid in your lifetime. No idea what the appeal is of this kind of music. Just a bunch of grumbling over some bluesy and folk instrumentation. Kudos to the fans who like this stuff
The highlight of The Earth Died Screaming (great title, admittedly) is the last few seconds, when he stops "singing". Dirt In The Ground would actually be a great instrumental, or maybe a good song, with a different vocalist. I just can't deal with this. He sounds like he's smoked two packs a day since the Korean War ended. Such A Scream is weirder, but not in a good way. I don't even know how to describe this, and it's track 3 of 16... "Who Are You" is moderately acceptable (M.A.) and I would put The Ocean Doesn't Want Me in the category of good instrumental backing. Curious to hear Goin' Out West since this was a single, and it's M.A. Every time I think he's put together a decent blues tune, despite the generally unlistenable voice, the next track will be spoken word vocals over random background noise. This is a bad dream.
this was so painful...
brent waits for the album to be over
Don't care much for this side of Waits discography
Just can’t get into something like this, gotta go 1 star
Strike out
vsy tgl
När jag en gång kom in på kontoret och möttes av att min kollega Johan lyssnade på det här albumet bröt jag ut i stort skratt, tyckte det var den gubbigaste skiten jag hört i mitt liv. Kom in med ett mer öppet sinne denna gång, men jag har svårt att ta rösten och bluesigheten seriöst. Harkla dig förfan.
girl the voice was not it
this aint it chief
I'm fine with not liking this. I don't like Leonard Cohen either. Or, it seems, a bunch of other stuff that experts like. That's cool. There are occasional moments on this that aren't terrible. But it's really not great.
what the actual fuck is happening? am I being tortured? is this hell? I'm so confused, what did I do to deserve this? This was put on this list as a prank, right?
Voice aaaaahhhhhh
Avant-Garde Lo-Fi Experimental-Rock Blues-Rock! In my opinion, the opening track, "Earth Died Screaming", barely qualifies as music. This seems to be one of those albums that critics rave about to be clever and edgy, when they're really taking the piss. Fortunately, not all of the tracks are as bad as the opening track, but some come close; best track on the album is "Goin' Out West". Tom Waits is not for everyone, especially not for me.
I don't know how to describe this music, way too random for me
Really not a fan of this guy’s voice and style.
Like with taking acid, the mindset in which you approach listening to Tom Waits has a significant impact on the outcome…
It's for someone. Not for me, but for someone.
I have the flu currently, and this is literally the worst album I could think to have gotten at this time. I put it off for a few days, but Bone Machine sat there, lurking over my illness, watching me die, like a circling condor. Even though I still don’t feel well, today I felt like I was strong enough to persevere. My ocd won’t let me skip any album here, even though I already know that I hate Tom Waits. The result is that my throat hurts even more than it did before, due to unavoidable empathic tendencies. I may have written this on my last Tom Waits review, but I immediately judge people when they tell me they’re a Tom Waits fan. I don’t have this judgmental reaction, at this extreme level, with any other artist or band. I think that’s because Tom Waits fans are hardcore. They REALLY want you to know how awesome Tom Waits is. They also tend to be kind of creepy, too weird for their own good types, like my upstairs neighbor (who has the Tom Waits discography on vinyl) who hasn’t had a shower in years. Please, no more Tom Waits after this. Please, God, have mercy. Please, nobody try to convince me he’s some kind of genius. Please, nobody mention his name to me again.
Excruciating
You will never ever convince me that Tom Waits isn't a decades long practical joke/Bob Dylan satire.
Not a fan. Music had a dystopian ominous tone
Vabbè la voce di tom waits è inascoltabile, veramente non ce la faccio
OK songwriter. Terrible performer.
Saying this was rough to get through would be an understatement.
👎🏻
Just not for me. Never liked his music personally.
I thought I couldn’t hate anyone’s voice more than Bob Dylan’s until I listened to this. Which is a shame because some of these tracks could be pretty cool and fun to listen to if not for Tom Wait’s horrible, grating voice.
Got better as the album went along but that’s not saying much
That was rough. I get that he’s got his own style and shit and I see why some people might get into it but that was kinda grating. Stuck through the entire album and boy was I happy when it was over.
This is awful
Abysmal
What the actual fuck? The mad world of Tom Waites. I remember reading the review of this in the NME and steered well clear. Now I've finally listened to this, it's not for me. The best I can say is it lacks refinement.
This was like listening to a man who smoked 10 packs a day try to speak along to melodies. The music wasn’t terrible, but as a whole I just didn’t enjoy it. I felt like this album couldn’t end soon enough. Had quite a hard time taking this album seriously.
so shitty, had to skip most o the songs
Some of the absolute worst music I've heard since I had to listen to a previous album from this muppet.
apparently i hate tom waits
Seriously, who listens to this bilge? Please 1001 album generator, send me some music next time.
Tom Waits is best when someone else covers his songs. (Go listen to Gov't Mule cover "Goin' Out West")
sounds like a muppet with throat disease
Really rough listen. I don’t see anyway I could recommend this to anyone.
Like listening to recorded gravel.
DÉCALISSE TOM WAITS, PERSONNE T’AIME, T’ES UNE HONTE POUR LA FAMILLE, J’VEUX PU TE VOIR MON PTIT CRISSE
Never a fan really. He can’t sing
I went into this not really knowing Waits but thinking I might enjoy the album. Well, the first few songs are hot garbage. The lyrics are cringeworthy and the music barely has a melody. And even the melody that is there sounds awful. I find my toe kinda taps, but my brain is confused as to whether this counts as music or not. And I can't help but wonder what the fuck I am listening to? Overall, this album is making me try to work harder so I can ignore it. So that's a sign that it stinks to high heaven. I was genuinely relieved when this album finally finished. Excuse me, I think I might go bleach my ears.
I hate Tom Waits. This album at least had some interesting rhythmic stuff that made it slightly more listenable, but I still hated it.
Not fir me. Dreary rubbish
Is this a Kaufman-esque joke?
This offends me.
Second album proposé après 'Rain Dogs' que j'avais détesté (noté 1/5, en particulier à cause du chant que je n'aime pas du tout). Le chant n'a malheureusement pas changé dans ce second album ... le premier morceau m'a paru interminable, alors qu'il ne dure moins de 4 mn. Ses hurlements ratés du second morceau m'ont fait sauter les 3/4 du morceau. J'ai jeté l'éponge au 4eme. En plus je viens de m'apercevoir que je vais avoir encore 3 autres albums à supporter. Au moins ils seront vite notés. =>1/5
I didn’t know anything about Tom Waits before this album but what I do know now is that this album is rubbish!
L'écoute de cet album a tourné à l'exercice masochiste. Tom Waits a un certain nombre d'albums dans la liste mais est-ce qu'ils sont tous comme celui-là?
I just can't...His voice is not my cup of tea. Although he is now in movies and there is a good one coming out with kylo renn
This is the first time I've been unable to even listen to an album all the way through. Not interested in this at all. Pitchfork: 8.9 Rolling Stone: Best Songs
Just fuck off Tom Waits
What do I need a Bone Machine for? I can see how Sex Machine is a must for the list even though I am one anyway. Love Machine by Girls Aloud is essential even though that’s a single and not an album. Then there’s Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple even though I am a little sceptical of its claim of extraordinariness. I guess I do want to make some bones with a bone machine after all because Tom Waits is a terrible artist with way too many albums on the list. More like a ‘1’ Machine.
Man, I don't get it
As a lover of bad music I can't u derstand what the fuck this is.
Sounds like a prank. Not a particularly amusing one.
Somehow I'd managed to get well into my 6th decade with no knowledge of Tom Waits. How I wish that remained true. This is... terrible. 1/5 but only because I can't give it 0. Really, we need a '0' star rating on here.
Fuck Tom Waits and his "soundtrack for serial killers in an Eli Roth movie" music. I mean I know it's his "thing" but why does he sing like that? The few times he sounds like he's trying to sing somewhat normally are the songs I kind of liked. "Who Are You" was decent, and I liked "A Little Rain" until the "German dwarf" line took me out. "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me" sounds like Waits' is about to commit an actual murder, and "In The Colosseum" was just a complete mess. "Whistle Down The Wind" and "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" sound like a constipated RFK Jr. trying to pass a turd. This was a 53 minute assault on my ears, and I think my life would have been better without it. Lyrically this made me think of Nick Cave's Murder Ballads, which was superior in literally every way. I can't believe I have more Tom Waits albums to listen to from this list. I believe I said the last album I had from him sounded like "demented circus music" so I can't wait to describe the next one.
Meh
Is this a joke? Do people really like this? This could possibly be one of the worse things I have ever heard and I only made it 4 seconds of 3 tracks before i had to stop and wash my ears out. Awful. How do I give less than 1 star?
Really weird and boring
I still don't get Tom Waits and I probably never will
Genuinely unlistenable. His vocals are terrible, I got to Whistle Down the Wind before I gave up
Guy in his basement clanking pots and pans together and calls it music. lmao
Just another hacky trash album from Tom Waits. Baffles me that we needed even more than 1 album of this waste of sound.
Not so much
this was crazy i feel like listening to this at 9 am wasn't the proper time for this but insane this won a grammy???
Strange voice. Good music.
5 stars for the endurance it took not to claw my own ears off.
I don't like tom waits
This was very painful to listen to, I hated it. Some of the songs were just sounds with maracas and occasional guitar. The songs that were "songs" still had terrible singing.
Tom Waits’ Bone Machine is like being trapped in a dungeon while a drunk scarecrow tries to sing you bedtime stories about death. Critics call it “genius,” but it’s just abrasive noise dressed up as art. His voice sounds less like music and more like a demolition site with emphysema. If this is innovation, I’d rather listen to an actual bone machine grind me into dust. There are 5 Tom Waits albums on this list - un fucking believable
I am so sorry but Tom Waits is so unbelievably boring i cannot stand his music
What the hell did I listen to? Weird as hell and really dumb. 1/5
I never understood why Waits was so adored by critics. His voice is annoying, the songs are generally dirge-like and not interesting. An easy 1.
What. The. Hell?
another no likey
No bueno
Fuck Tom Waits. This shit sucks ass. Would rate it zero stars if I could
I knew I wouldn't like this album, I can't get on board with Tom Waits, but I thought it was only fair that I gave it a fair shot. I was right. I didn't like this album. Terrible.
Hate the vocals
Did not enjoy
I hate Tom Waits. I can't believe he was still kicking in '92 to write another shit album and continue to terrorize humanity with his lack of musical skill.
Absolutely fucking not. A third one of these pieces of shit?
Tom Waits, but what is he waiting for - no one knows. But apart from that, the whole album was very weird and I guess I should've known from the album artwork, but it's just weird sounds, not great singing and it's a bit all over the place.
Awful music and signing.
Not really sure what everybody sees in this. He can be as authentic as he wants, but that doesn’t make his music good.
I know he's a great songwriter, I just can't get past his voice. It's like nails on a chalkboard for me.
Wtf is this
Meh
In a nutshell: you only get one chance for a second impression. Good thing I listened to Nighthawks at the Diner beforehand. It gave me an idea of how Tom's style has evolved. Which it has. The sound is definitely avant garde blues. The mixing decisions are atypical. Vocals have more range, reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and Frank Zappa (bravo!!). The percussion is louder on some tracks (is this what's called "mixed forward"? I hope I'm getting the terminology right?). Yet his arrangements lulled me to sleep. Why do you have that power over me, Tom. How??? Definitely not my thing. I won't go back to it in a hurry. But this album reinforced something to me- Tom Waits is one strange cat. Overall: 2/10
Yuck. Hollering. Gibberish.
Talentless drivel
i don’t know what to say. i’m just…. i don’t mind weird stuff. i enjoy some weird stuff as long as it’s interesting and doesn’t make me feel like i want to scream into the void.
2/10
No thank you
this one REALLY freaked me out. like the lyrics and the vibes…. ugh. some songs were better than others but “dirt in the ground” scared me enough to make this album a 1/5.
Absolutely not
why do you hate my ears?
I’ve tried so many times… I just can’t enjoy this
does this man need help?
Nooooooooo ick
[1.5/5] Final impression: If Tom Waits could get a different person to do vocals, these tracks wouldn't be bad. Unfortunately, I can't stand his voice. Sometimes his voice works, but most of the time it doesn't. Instrumentals are generally solid, but sometimes weak. Listened to on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/4VNqy9FUAFCvwE6XqrtlOn]. The Earth Died Screaming - I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. Not sure if I like it or hate it. The instrumentals are fine, but if the vocals are the same throughout I will not survive. Sick instrumental at the ending though. Dirt In The Ground - The vocals are just so strange. Sounds like he just got done with 25 packs and then walking into the recording studio. Such A Scream - The more upbeat energy of this track works better with Tom Waits' voice. Instrumentals are good. All Stripped Down - His high vocals are AWFUL. The low vocals have an interesting grit and sinisterness to them that actually kind of works. But wow. Who Are You - Not sure if its Stockholm Syndrome, but his voice doesn't sound that bad here. Kind of works. The Ocean Doesn't Want Me - Slam poetry night. Interesting. Jesus Gonna Be Here - It's decent. Do you think that cough at the end cleared out his throat enough for the rest of the tracks to be listenable? A Little Rain - Just okay. In The Colosseum - This one's interesting. Kind of like it. Second favorite track so far. Goin' Out West - Eh. Fine, I guess. Murder In The Red Barn - His voice works in this one. *Black Wings - This one's good. Whistle Down The Wind - Don't like this one. Sounds like I'm at church. I Don't Wanna Grow Up - Good. Probably liked Black Wings just a little better, but this one's classic. Let Me Get Up On It - Rough. That Feel - Also not good. Overall notes: Melancholy and desolation, carried by a gritty, rough voice. Unique, at least.
He shouldn't be recording
even if you somehow like this melodramatic, caterwauling doofus, i don't know what could possibly be gained from having FIVE of his godforsaken, unlistenable albums on the list. shouldn't the point here be to provide as broad and varied of a selection as possible? I'd argue there shouldn't be ANY repeats, even of the Beatles or david Bowie or whatever other artists have been canonized, but certainly not of this insufferable show-tunes-for-people-with-donnie-darko-tattoos garbage i like no wave, i like experimental music and weird jazz and stuff, hell, I've given good reviews to captain beefheart and pere ubu and throbbing gristle on this very website! his voice makes me want to never listen to music again, i get and am thoroughly over his stupid fucking shtick, and i eagerly look forward to receiving his fifth album from the generator and finally being free of this unbearable pretentious idiot
Usually I like Tom Waits. But this is just taking the piss. Voice is worse than even. He might enjoying hitting things, but it doesn't make good music.
It's slam poetry over a Americana Blues / Coal Miner Blues backing track. This album was not for me, though there was 1 song that was a stand out. Goin' out west was a decent song.
At this stage of the 1001 albums, I've given up on thinking "let's give Tom Waits another chance". I'm a few tracks into this album and I don't know which way is up or down anymore.
This is the third tom waits album and I think he will be on a cumulative 4 points for me
Shite
I suppose that his commitment to the bit is admirable. Unfortunately, the character that Tom Waits has been playing for fifty years gets stale for me real quick.
Wenn dä das innere Bar wörd spele wördi mi secher froge was a god aber chuum welle go. Aber als Studiuoalbom chammer halt ergendöppis lose wo fascht besser mues si. Es esch eifach dä Typ met sinerer heisrige Raucherstemm ond es bez basic Hendergrondmusig wo aber au ned wörk speziell esch. Ech verstoh das albom ned wörk.
This sounds like an album that someone would use to torture someone with. It’s incredibly bad. I have no idea how the hell this made the 1001 list. By far the worst one of the list so far. I think my ears are still bleeding a day later from listening to it.
Felt like I was around a mates house and his dad got his guitar out and sang badly.
What the heck is this? Tom should have waited a little longer!
Really really dislike this one. I appreciate it is experimental and creates dark soundscapes etc etc but I found it not enjoyable to listen to and make no apologies for this.
Horrible
I really don't enjoy that goofy voice. I can see some definite talent here otherwise and some solid songwriting and whatever, but I can't honestly say I didn't despise listening to this
I use the word 'dreadful' quite lightly but this was DREADFUL. I mean unlistenable.
Not particularly good.
I've never gotten into Tom. I've really tried, it's just not for me
Certified 1/5 album, complete and total ass with literally no redeeming qualities.
Not a fan.
Not for me
I do not get the appeal of this guy. Growling for an hour and the instrumentals aren't even interesting. Each song kept getting worse and worse. This shit better not ruin my music algorithm. 1*
Music is interesting, but then the singing starts. I am not the audience for this. (Who is? Does anyone listen to this and just love it? Really?)
This is absolute dogshit
This is absolutely horrible so far, I can't believe this exists. Who would've listened to this and thought, "yeah let's release this". Why does this exist. Why is this in this list. What a terrible first impression of this website. I don't know who this is but this would be the result of putting a homeless drug addict in a studio with musicians. A 2/10 on my rating scale: SkeepHeads Rating Scale/Chart 1/10 = I've never heard anything this bad before so idk lmao 2/10 = Garbage 3/10 = Really Bad 4/10 = Bad 5/10 = Below Average 6/10 = Average 7/10 = Good 8/10 = Great 9/10 = Amazing 10/10 = Unreal/Out of this world
Anstrengend.
no more
Unfassbarer Schwachsinn
I liked Swordfishtrombones a lot better. Not sure why Bone Machine was on the list. It was also experimental but unpleasant.
I can’t finish this. I don’t understand why anyone wants to hear this
Fucking terrible.
So one of the meth heads living on the street at Hollywood Blvd got a record deal. Good for him!. I can almost smell a delicate mixture of pee, feces and weed while listening to this album.
Not for me 1/5
It sounds like it hurts to be Tom Waits
Did not enjoy
Not again Waits
Is this a joke?
This is really bad. I can’t believe it made a list of anything that doesn’t suck. But it actually won a Grammy? I don’t believe it. I couldn’t hit the skip button fast enough.
01) Earth Died Screaming - 6,0 02) Dirt in the Ground - 5,0 03) Such a Scream - 5,0 04) All Stripped Down - 4,5 05) Who Are You - 5,0 06) The Ocean Doesn't Want Me - 3,0 07) Jesus Gonna Be Here - 4,5 08) A Little Rain - 5,0 09) In the Colosseum - 4,5 10) Goin' Out West - 5,0 11) Murder in the Red Barn - 4,5 12) Black Wings - 5,0 13) Whistle Down the Wind - 4,0 14) I Don't Wanna Grow Up - 4,5 15) Let Me Get Up on It - 4,0 16) That Feel - 4,0 TOTAL: 4,59 (46/100) Current ranking: 415/433
His voice drives me nuts.
It took me a few listening sessions to get through this. Some of the instrumentation is solid, but his voice is grating enough to make it difficult for me to listen to this. 1.5
# Album Name: Bone Machine # Artist: Tom Waits # Rating: 1/5 # Comments: BREAKING NEWS, Tom waits is the new face of Strepsils!!!! Jesus wept, what has this man put into his body to sound like this. Stay off the bensons mate. Im dumbfounded by this man. I see comments on here saying its a "masterpiece" or "work of art" or "one of a kind". It blows my mind. WHAT AM I MISSING HERE. Im not going to lie, this was bloody close to being a 2. Some of this album is absolutely bollucks. I do appreciate its something a bit different, raw, edgy. But that doesnt mean its good. I dont think i'll ever like Tom waits at this rate. # Top Tunes: Going out west # Would I listen to it again? No
Another too weird album for me. I also don't like the voice and the singing. I ended up skipping a few tracks.
weird as shit
Shite. Turned it off halfway through.
So nice that we let the senile and elderly express themselves. I think I could make an album of this tier. Basically just make a bunch of noise with random objects and scream nonsense in the a microphone from across the room. 1/10
I cannot stand listening to this man's voice.
It’s not for me.
Music for try hard wankers
I think I was able to get completely through only 3 out of 16 songs on this album. Please, please, please, for the love God, no more Tom Waits albums. I just don’t get the dude or his appeal.
Couldn't make it through more than a few seconds of the first few songs. The vocal style is NOT for me.
Anyone who pretends to like Tom Waits is a masochist.
Excentric, experimental and more made for Tom than anybody else which is fine but as a listener it don't invite the listener. You can challenge your listener but some tracks are almost alienating the listener(at least for me). some tracks are standard bar songs which are okey others are people banging on pots and pans while Tom sounds like a goblin. What also hit me is the awful sound quality, atleast the other albums where mixed. sounds like Tom is standing in the corner of some songs. Probably the worst of the 3 i had on this list (yeah... if i think unbiased i don't think no artist has 3 must listen albums)
I said I never wanted to listen to this man again, and hear I am being tormented The screaming sounded like an exorcism The other album I heard of his was just talking, so I'd never actually heard him sing. Is this satire?? Dirt In The Ground - I was blown away by how BAD the singing was. Sounds like a chain smoker about to cough up a lung It's bad enough this guy is on this list at all... but twice?! 1 ⭐️
Didn't find anything interesting to this.
folk experimental. FOLK. EXPERIMENTAL. vai tomar no cu. paia demais. fui de peito aberto mas sérião, se eu curti mais de 5 minutos foi muito.
Trout Mask Replica for film majors who believe liking Gus Van Sant and Jim Jarmusch makes them ✨not like other film majors✨ ***AND/OR*** Fetch the Bolt Cutters for men with a lot of opinions about Alcoholics Anonymous and how the 12-step program is✨problematic✨ (they would benefit greatly from attending an AA meeting or two). This is where Tom Waits loses me. There’s 3 moments where his sullen, chain-smoking bar singer shines through the cracks, but they’re all pretty bad versions of that shtick. Otherwise, this is just an annoying series of obnoxious bangs and grating blues-based bashes. You can claim experimentation all you want, but you can’t outrun the truth of a terrible song, and Bone Machine has 16 truly god awful songs. I can’t imagine anyone actually enjoys this record, and suspect that the only people who do listen to it are doing so because they are contrarians, teenagers, incels, or man-children — or, sadly, possibly all four.
WTF this shit is bad...why do I not get it? Tom Waits has to be one of the most overrated dudes of all time. 1/5
One of the worst things I’ve heard in my life.
Like a night before Christmas soundtrack sung by a hobo. Shit
Tom better stop waiting because I will never find his music interesting
My first album by Tom Waits as part of this challengeand I am not looking forward to this. No matter what he’s doing musically, I just can’t get past his voice. It completely takes me out of the album. I know it’s distinctive and part of his appeal, but for me it’s really grating, and it made this a tough listen from start to finish. There may be good songwriting in here, but it’s hard to appreciate it when the vocal style just doesn’t land at all. Favourite tracks: None that stood out Least favourite tracks: The whole album didn’t click for me Album artwork: The cover pretty much sums up the mood of the album
Bone Machine is what happens when an artist mistakes chaos for genius and noise for depth. Tom Waits leans so hard into his gravel-throated, junkyard prophet persona that the entire album collapses under the weight of its own forced weirdness. It's not raw — it's sloppy. It's not haunting — it's grating. Listening to *Bone Machine* feels less like hearing music and more like being trapped inside a rusted-out oil drum while someone bangs on the outside with a wrench. The songs meander without structure, the percussion sounds like it was recorded in a scrapyard, and Waits’ voice — once evocative — now just sounds like a parody of itself. There’s a difference between being experimental and being unlistenable, and this album doesn’t seem to know the line. Critics called it bold and visionary, but bold doesn’t mean good. It’s an endurance test disguised as art, and one that I have no interest in repeating. If this is brilliance, I’ll happily stay in the dark.
I only liked 1 song
No. Thanks. Listened only through half of it, because i just couldn't take more.
Man. Dat gerochel in het begin. En dan in het volgende nummer een raspende nare stem. Ben dan al helemaal klaar hiermee. Zo gek als deze nummers maakt Tom het niet de hele tijd. Maar fijn om te luisteren maakt hij het niet. Dan helpt de doffe muziekklank ook niet.
It took me 3 attempts, but I made it through this album. Musically, this is about as terrible as it gets. Instead of writing up a bunch of negative shit about this dude I decided to spend a few minutes checking out his background. Did you know he has made over 25 albums? I hope to never hear another one. Did you know his net worth is estimate to be between 10 and 25 million? Holy shit. I'm not sure I'd would listen to another song from this guy without getting paid. And I want the money upfront. In conclusion, good for you Tom Waits. I may hate your music, but you appear to have done damn well in your life, at least moneywise. No more though. Please, no more.
2.5/10
No
Ugh, I forgot there was more of this garbage to come.
This is the worst kind of experimental music.
I'm choosing to believe this is satire.
I am not a fan of the gravelly low voice Tom Waits has and the style of the music isn't really for me. A few songs do sound ok though minus the voice.
Refused to listen by the cover
1. earth - 1.5 2. dirt - 1 3. zcream - 1 4. ztripped - 0 5. time - 1 6. ocean - 1 7. jezuz - 1 8. rain - 1 9. colozeum - 0 10. uuezt - 1 11. red barn - 1 12. uuingz - 1.5 13. uuind - 1 14. grouu up - 0 15. let me douun - 0
Someone take my boy to the doctor.
If a friend recommended this album to me, I'd assume they were a secret serial killer
Difficult to listen to. Did not enjoy.
one more tom waits album and i'm gonna do it forreal
Good grief is Tom Waits awful
What I said before about his voice. I can't listen to it.
Despite his creativity it just is genuinely dreadful if you actually have ears.
Please god make it stop I can see some decent songs buried somewhere here. But they’re made obsolete by some questionable mixing/producing and his strange voice. Clear your throat man!
Awful
Wie soll ich sagen, war wieder mal schwierig. Habe dann nicht fertig gehört, darum nur die Hälfte der ursprünglich angedachten 2 Punkte
Surprising that music with little melody, no harmony useless rhythm and a bad voice can make it here.
Respectfully, fuck this man’s voice.
Sounds like he’s intentionally trying to make a funny voice.
Nope. Not for me.
I swear Bone Machine is some practical joke or listening experiment because it's not music, it's fucking awful. I then looked back at my previous reviews of Tom Waits and got "Yeah I'm not having this as music, fuck off." so I'm really not sure how this guy ever had a career.
This guy has an atrocious voice. Some of the songs are terrible. It could've been an improvement if Tom sung better. There's an occasional good moment here. Tom Waits has 5 albums on this list. Why? I think I'll have to give it a single star.
Was this a joke? I knew 2 seconds in that this wasn’t for me.
No ❤️
This is the kind of shit theatre kids cream their jeans to and pull lines from for their yearbook quotes.
Awful. Why would anyone finish listening to this. I had to turn it off.
This is a flaming turd slapped on top of a pile of throw up.
No no no
A lot of weird songs on this album.
Can't listen to that.
This is too 'stripped down' for me. Voice is grating. Not my cuppa
Preferred him in mystery men. I'm sure people in dark clubs smoking French cigarettes would love this but not for me I'm afraid. Wonder what Joy's await us next?
Personally found this one to be a difficult listen, just sounds very messy and incoherent - a shame.
Couldn't get past his voice. What a waste of a les claypool feature
I have to stop listening to this. I'm not sure there's much redeeming value to this one.
I appreciate he is a legend, but this just does nothing for me. I couldn't wait for the album to end. Sorry, but not even going to pretend that I thought this was a good album.
Sounds like a bloke I met in Piccadilly Gardens in a sleeping bag
Struggled with this one…
I really, really, really want to like a Tom Waits album. I hear the odd track in a film and scramble for Spotify to listen to some more....only to sigh three tracks in and move on......
This is ass. 1.
Terrible
I’m glad I’m aware this music exists, but I am so ok never hearing it again. It’s cool to see what other artists have drawn inspiration from - but it should not be it’s own album.
Wtf did I just listen to
I do not like this
Hated this
# Playlist track - I don't wanna grow up # Notes - It's one of these albums that people need to explain why they like it. It's hard to listen, it's exhausting. Not my cup of tea for today.
And I thought that Bristish Steel was the worst thing I heard on this app... This feels like mediocre folk and weird garbage noises with a guy with a sore throat trying to sing over it. Terrible, boring, annoying.
Oh god do I have to listen to another Waits album? But hey, I can two days early and get this over with. Sorry, could only make it through two songs and I skipped them both. Tell me why the opening track scares me more than Slipknot? Is this man a serial killer? It’s funny because he plays the part of Renfield in Coppola’s Dracula, and every album I’ve heard of his sounds like he recorded while he was playing that psychotic insect eater inside the insane asylum.
Can someone get this man a cough drop??? Jesus Christ. The Tom DeLonge/Ben Folds award for worst vocalist goes to this poor man. I could barely get through a minute of each song. Maybe I’m still a little hungover but I highly doubt that is the root cause of my dislike. I miiiiiiiildly enjoyed some of the steel guitar/country vibes in a few songs but then the vocals came in and it was ruined. Maybe that one song at the end of the album that wasn’t available to listen to on Spotify redeemed the whole album, but unlike the Steelers ability to cover the spread, I would not bet on it.
Gar nicht meins, dachte erst es könnte interessante Redneck-Musik sein, aber ist zu jazzy
I don't understand how there's so much Tom Waits on this list.
I actually can't listen to it, it's unbearable
"One man's trash is another man's treasure . . " but, damn, this was awful. I kept waiting for some redeeming quality - some hook that would draw me back in - but nope. It's terrible.
His voice hahaha! It can't be real. Sounds like a voice you'd do when you prank call a pizza hut. This was hard to get through. Mainly because of the vocals. Maybe 2 songs I'd listen to again, Jesus Gonna Be Here and Goin Out West, probably because they were more blue-sy and soul-ey. The rest was a chore. I've never heard of Tom waits or any of his music, but apparently there's a few of his albums on this list so we'll see how those go. This one was a miss for me
Pumba s'il n'avait jamais rencontré Timon
This guy’s voice is just horrible. Not a fan at all. Seems like he belongs as a disgusting villain from a bad 80s movie. Some of this music was just too twisted and zany for my tastes. Like his other album we reviewed, this isn’t entirely repulsive, but many songs were. Some songs were half good, but got ruined by utter weirdness, grossness, or Tom Wait’s strangled, half-dead zombie voice. One and a half stars, rounded down.
I fucking hate tom waits
Every time a song ended and a new one began I groaned. I kept praying the album was almost done, only to see multiple songs left in the queue. I was so happy I will never have to listen to this album again. I don't think it's the artist Because I like other songs of theirs but this album is NO.
Wow I hate this. Sounds like a dying cat
Tom Waits is an artist who I want to love; he's always so much fun when he pops up in a movie, but I just can't get into his music. The whole throwback troubadour thing is cool, but just not for me I guess. Also, that album cover could not have been made in any decade besides the 90's.
I don't know why anyone legitimately likes listening to this guy, and am even less sure on how I'm gonna make it through 3 more albums
Yeah I could not finish this one. I kinda liked Rain Dogs but no.
hated it, weird noises lol
I don't get it.
Tom Waits has a serious frog in his throat, someone get him a menthol sweet or tell him to not sing first thing in the morning, sounds like he’s gasping for a cuppa…
Dude has the same voice as your alcoholic, chainsmoking uncle after three shots of a spirit at your family function.
I wondered when I'd get this album. I've already been forced to suffer through the other FOUR damn Waits albums (not to mention all the Waits-adjacent albums) on this list. I was dreading this but thought to myself, "you managed the others, you know what to expect. It'll be fine." Was I ever wrong. This may be the worst Waits album on the list. I mean, it doesn't contain a monologue about masturbation like "Nighthawks" did. At least, I didn't notice one but who knows? Waits's voice is so garbage, I might have missed it. What lyrics I could pick out were super tryhard when they weren't just stupid. I'm just going to say it: I hate this man's so-called music. It's a waste of breath, time, and energy.
These vocals are a joke he took too far, I expected it to only be a gimmick for the first song. Mostly unlistenable, but In The Colosseum somehow works for me
1/5 Best: Goin' Out West Worst: The Earth Died Screaming
Tom Waits' music is like someone who thinks they are being "creative" and "artistic" and "different" but have no actual talent to back it up. Distinctive? Yes. Good? Absolutely not
I tried, I really did, to get through this album but there was just no way that was happening. This was the musical representation of a meth head with a knife running straight at you. The only thing to do is run away as fast as you can.
This is one of the ugliest and most unpleasant things I’ve ever listened to. Thanks, Tom Waits!
Not for me. I tried
This is not John Waite. This is bad. I tried man, i really did. But I couldn't make it more than a minute into any of the 8M songs on this album. Someone listened to this and was like, "This guy's a star". That person should do less cocaine.
I just can’t with that voice.
The more I listen to Waits the more I don't want to. Make it stop