Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Fantastic. The song writing is unconventional and even avant garde at times, but it never loses me as a listener. Some songs are dark and grimey (The Earth Died Screaming , In the Colosseum) where others are blusey, soulful and thought provoking (A Little Rain , Whistle Down the Wind). I really love how he plays with his voice to make a unique and interesting sound. He plays with genres, especially old genres but never jumps away from a cohesive album sound. The album sounds like walking into a 1890s Vaudeville show in Los Angeles and getting the full range of weirdness and blues. Its entertaining and also makes you feel everything.
Buen músico pero no es mi estilo
Ok there’s no way this thing is random. I give Tom Waits a 5 yesterday on my first time listening to him then I pull this?????? No way. This wasn’t as memorable as Heartattack and Vine. I likened him to a scuzzy cartoon alligator on that last album. He sounds more like a slimy river eel on this one. A little more devilish and doomer-pilled, dropping the sense of sincerity from Heartattack in favor of more lofi experimentation
What is this movie that plays behind his eyes? This is a lot fun. He created such a rich atmosphere, filled with curious characters. Tom Waits is just very unique, an acquired taste. I’m glad to have finally gotten there. His music is so so good.
I'm surprised to see "Bone Machine" on this list. The album is far from Tom Waits' best. I get that the authors of the 1001 book wanted to emphasize singer-songwriters -- and Waits certainly fits into that category -- but that doesn't make EVERY Waits album something I need to hear before I die.
tom 4eva
literally as if I have a choice
Sometimes too experimental for my liking, but definitely has its moments
some of the songs were pretty okay, but i didn’t enjoy this album overall. a lot of the music i listen to could be considered strange/harsh, but i just don’t get the appeal of this.
1/5 nope, sorry Tom, but no
I liked the vocals at first, then the novelty wore off 3
This album is everywhere. Tom Waits does his best impressions of Americana and soul while talking about death and absolute chaos. There’s a method to his madness, though. He apparently worked in the back room of a studio cellar to record this album! Songs like “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” and “A Little Rain” perfectly encapsulate the feel of being around a campfire and singing a song with a couple of friends. It would honestly be an amazing album if some songs had less cringey lyrics or less gore-focused lyrics. That’s why this album gets an 4.03125 or an 80.63%.
Wtf did I just listen to
I do not like this
I freaking loved this album.
This guy's got 3 different voices and they all sound like bad guys from a Muppet movie. I had another album by him already, so I was ready for it, but it's still so rough. Like a carnival in a fever dream. Definitely unique. Favorite track: who are you
Who Are You This Time is my favorite song on this album.
One of my favorite albums of all time!
Tom Waits is an interesting fellow. Signature raspy talk-singing and creative jam-like instrumentation. I feel like he's an acquired taste but once there you can see the merit.
Some really good songs on there but as an album it was disjointed and frankly a bit weird
Hated this
Lyrically delightful. Not quite the Tom Waits sound I know from "Blood Money" and other later stuff, but good enough that I'll give it 5 stars. He's done stuff that I like even better, but on the scale of this listening project? Definitely one of the best.
# 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.
Love the room sounds. This album is wild. I feel like it doesn’t really make sense without reading through the lyrics.
i love it. the production is weird and deranged and squeaky and sets such an atmosphere. I can feel dust, rain, darkness, this sort of silence and the moonlight. It's haunted and beautiful. Tom Wait's voice is gravelly and rough and perfectly complimented by the writing and the production. There are songs here about depression, earth's demise, life and growing up, murder and so much more. It's so good. My personal favs are earth died screaming, dirt in the ground, i don't want to grow up, that feel, the ocean doesn't want me, a little rain. It's great and i reckon it'll just grow on me with more listens. It's a strong 4 to a 5.
interesting….
Not as bad as people are saying, but I probably wouldn't seek it out to listen to.
I would give this 4.5 if I could. Fascinating use of voice, gospel, lyrics, differing styles. Great.
опять пришлось с ютуба слушать (горе горе), ну опять скажу что не такой отвратительный как некоторые Томы Уэйтсы, но повторять не хочу
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.
Ah man, yet another entry in the weird, wild catalog of Tom Waits. Why does this guy get this much shine? Obviously he's unique, but he's the kind of unique you understand in one album, not five. Again, just...decidedly not for me. Waits is really quirky, and while I respect that, it's a flavor of quirk that I'm just not into. I hope this is the last we get from him, it's getting tiresome. Favorite tracks: In the Colosseum. Album art: Really cool cover, a shot of Tom screaming to oblivion with devil horns and glowing eyes. This is how Alex and I look when we wake up to find another Tom Waits album on the list. 1.5/5
Love the man. Get the concept. Appreciate the art. Unrepeatable.
If you haven't heard Tom Waits before, this might be a tough listen. It took me a few tries over a few years to soften to this sound but once you settle into its uneasiness you can get lost in the world he creates. If you're curious but not sold, try Rain Dogs and come back. 4.5/5 well actually 4.6/5 so I can round up. You probably won't listen on repeat but definitely worth a listen, (and come back periodically to re-visit) it's worth the effort.)
Listened Before? N As usual, this Waits album was weird. Not really my cup of tea but I can appreciate the art. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Goin' Out West
This album rules! I didn't realize both Les Claypool and Brain play on it! But what's better than recordings of Tom Waits multi-tracking himself with friends playing instruments and beating things in a big cement room while he sings everything from gravely growls to gravely falsettos over the top? Not much, that's what!
Love this album. Loved it before, still love it. I especially love A Little Rain (for Clyde), but all the songs are great. 4.5/5
Maybe my favorite Tom Waits? An undeniable high mark, good shit throughout A-
Creepy sounding, weird dark lyrics. I like it. never heard anything like it before but I have known of the existence of it. over all very slow and not really my style so i wont go back to it but I did not mind it as much as some of the other albums I have listened to
Album: Bone Machine Artist: Tom Waits Year: 1992 Genre: Experimental Rock Rating: ⭐️⭐️ His voice is so interesting. I didn’t like this album as much as Rain Dogs. Some of the songs were good but not amazing Favourite song: Whistle Down The Wind Would I listen again? Unsure
weird and wonderful and Waits-y. 5 stars.
I know karate, voodoo too. “Pitchy” as a feature, not a bug That one slow song… good to hear some variety. And then a couple songs that were just jamming. Can’t believe they made the album cut. Some songs I was really impressed with his singing, and others I just felt were terrible.
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.
What first sounds like someone jokingly singing in Mr. Krabs’ voice opens up into heartbreaking and actually very good songwriting. A lot of the riffs are memorable and the progression of the album works - as the last song ended I reached for my phone to turn it off, intuitively knowing the song was the conclusion. Overall, I’m extremely impressed with the songwriting, music, and subject matter. His voice is integral to the sound, but also makes it jarring and inaccessible. Make Adele cover this album and every song would be a hit, but it would be empty without Tom’s voice. I give it a three because it is compelling, but inherently flawed. I will be revisiting this album.
I imagine if Roz from Monsters Inc. was the lead singer of a band this is what their music would sound like. Such a Scream and Goin’ Out West are jams. The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me is creepy. I wouldn’t mind having a couple songs from this album come up on a shuffle of my entire library but I won’t be seeking out this album on its own. That being said, it still wasn’t a struggle to get through it.
This album feels like a Key and Peele sketch. Tom Waits (played by Peele) walks into the recording studio and talks to the recording manager (played by Key) Manager: Come on it. Were glad to have you here. The band is all warmed up and were ready to go. Tom Waits (speaking in a normal voice): Sounds great. Let's get started. Tom begins singing like he's being tortured during the Spanish Inquisition and is quickly interrupted by the manager. Manager: Ok..... that was great, but why don't we try it again with your normal voice. Tom (normal voice): Not a problem. I love the feedback. Lets try again. Tom sings in a high falsetto this time. Manager: Stop! Let's try that again. Remember, we're paying the piano and saxophone player by the hour here. Tom (normal voice): I completely understand. Tom turns around and fires half the band leaving only the drums. Manager sighs and looks down. Tom begins singing like McGruff the Crime Dog on crack. Manager: Fuck it. We recorded the band warming up earlier. We can just fill in the rest of the album with that and some background chatter.
This was interesting. There were creative moments that gave almost the same vibe as Pink Floyd The Wall, just not executed at the same level which were intriguing. There were also moments I thought it had to be a Mr. Krabs AI. Somewhere between a 2 and 3 for me realistically.
Meh
He's like Bob Dylan, but he's been run through a meat grinder first. Not a fan. This album gets an extra star, jumping it up to 2 only because of the song "Goin' Out West" and it's usage in the movie Fight Club.
Not my cup of tea. I'm sure this kind of thing really speaks to someone... specifically Tom himself.
Some good songs on here. Definitely seems like it'd be an acquired taste.
Favorite Tracks: Dirt in the Ground I Don’t Wanna Grow Up Who Are You
This is another way that Tom Waits has grown on me. It's raw but compelling. I might listen to a lot more Tom Waits.
Spooky tunes from a guy with a sore throat .
Let’s start with the obvious - Tom Waits does not have what anyone would consider to be a pleasant singing voice. That said, I love his music. It has such a unique and intriguing sound and never fails to draw me in. The Earth Died Screaming was such a great song to open this album with. The Ocean was like a beat poet’s fever dream and strangely beautiful. Really vibed to In the Coliseum and Goin’ Out West. This was a great album. Clear 5 for me
i respect it but i don't want to hear it
Gar nicht meins, dachte erst es könnte interessante Redneck-Musik sein, aber ist zu jazzy
Oh boy I did not like this album. His voice is unique and often annoying. Especially when he goes high. It sounds like a pubescent boy voice cracks. Honestly was a slog to get through
Has it moments for sure but an entire album of Waits get's old fast. There are times I question how genuine he is and not just an act to make money.
You have to sift through a lot of Tom Waits to find the gems. He’s a good case for making greatest hits records. Who Are You and I Don’t Wanna Grow Up exemplify the Waits I enjoy. The Earth Died Screaming, no thanks. Averaging out to a 3 between the treasure and the trash.
I don't understand how there's so much Tom Waits on this list.
Like most Tom Waits albums, I like some of the stuff, and I don't like some of the stuff. The stuff I like is really good. But I only like about half of the stuff on here.
Første gang jeg har hørt et fuldt Tom Waits album. Har en fornemmelse af at det var en god en at starte med! En af de bedste jeg endnu har hørt fra denne liste
Lyder som om det er skrevet og produceret i et andet univers. Der er intet der lyder som Tom Waits. Av av av hvor er det nice
Har egentlig ikke noget forhold til Tom Waits, så det var fedt at høre en hel plade. Den var mere varieret end jeg havde regnet med.
Rating: 6.5/10 Good album overall. Has a lot of great songs but some that I did not like at all. For better or worse, I really appreciate the emotion in his voice, he sings each song with a lot of passion. I prefer when he sings in a clean way rather than his signature raspy voice, the clean/slower songs were my favorites. Favorite songs: Dirt In The Ground, Who Are You, Jesus Gonna Be Here, Black Wings, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, That Feel. Worst songs: The Earth Died Screaming, In The Colosseum.
Tom Waits is good. These songs are very interesting, with ‘Goin’ Out West’ having particularly cool music. He also has good, descriptive lyrics that feed into the mood of the songs. Great album.
Может показаться, что это полное говно. Ну, во-первых, треки угарные. Не каждый решится весь альбом петь хриплым противным голосом, да еще и с такой удручающей мелодией. А во-вторых, музыка все-таки красивая. Это интересный опыт.
Waits's words are not, as the cover suggests, of ghosts, but certainly of the already dead. The instrumentals prickle, with some instruments which carry the whole room and others which stick to electronic plateaus.
Mix of stellar ballads and weird mindfuckery which always sends me to the most peculiar mood. All of them sung in a gravelly voice sounding like no other voice on Earth, and crafted through Brechtian, "distanciated" hodge-podge aesthetics that often hit a soft spot in me. Second-period Tom Waits is always quite fascinating, minus one rare album where the man goes too far (looking at you, *The Black Rider*). I understand this sort of music is not for everyone. Yet highlights such as "Dirt In The Ground", " All Stripped Down", "Who Are You", " A Little Rain", "Going Out West", "Black Wings", " Whistle Down The Wind", "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" and moving closer "That Feel" (with Keif, from the Stones) are as good as any other highlights from Waits' eighties repertoire (the decade right before the one where *Bone Machine* was released). And that's not even counting the other tracks in that record, which are at least interesting in their own right. Four stars, then. Number of albums left to review: 340 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 299 (including this one). Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 158 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 212
I like some songs here honestly, it's got a cool dark vibe. There's also a lot of stuff I could never listen to again and be perfectly happy. I think the 3 is fair, it's a touch over a 2.5, so 🤷
Best songs: Dirt In The Ground A Little Rain Goin’ Out West Murder In The Red Barn I Don’t Wanna Grow Up Weird but I quite like it. Between a 3 and a 4.
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.
Not my favorite Waits album
Never really appreciated this phase of Tom Waits, but I have the first half a good listen, and there’s a lot to appreciate. Interesting percussion, good lyrics, good melodies. It sounds like they just kind of pressed record during a jam session.
Not for me
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
Different style but nice things to take in this album
Beautiful, emotional, spare, direct. My first full Waits album. I'm familiar with his gravelly voice and his reputation for strangeness but they're unmistakable. Waits is, arguably, actually a subtle artist but the rough nature of his voice and the dark feel of his composition are not. It's the loveliness of his melodies and chord progressions that are. This use of his weary-sounding voice deepens the pathos on display. Something about the natural inclination of our voices toward vocal fry when we tire lends a gravity to Tom Waits that isn't easily replicable in another way. He sounds like he has traveled continents but simply must sing you one song, give you one message before he can rest. It helps that his pitch and dynamic control are excellent in spite of what seems initially to be a classically naive voice. Make no mistake -- the gravel is natural and his skills as a singer are practiced and genuine. Both are a rare combination (though admittedly, more common as I write in 2023, thanks to specialist vocal coaches). A diverse and extraordinary album.
Best Song: The Earth Died Screaming. What a ripping way to start off an album. A song that feels like it's in perfect accord with the album art. Worst Song: All Stripped Down. Dips a little too far into the "noise rock" genre for me. Overall: Love me some Tom Waits, so I love a lot of what's here. Definitely deeper into his experimental stuff (which I prefer), but there are still some duds floating around that make it less cohesive than his greats (e.g., Rain Dogs).
אחלה אחלה אחלה של אלבום יש לבחור קצת קול מוזר אבל הוא עושה אחלה מוזיקה
AJ: picture in a frame is all I need. Man’s a poet. A dark gollum growling poet. Just… Just give me picture in a frame a hundred times.
From the howling monstrosity pictured on the cover to the haunted and twisted songs lurking within, “Bone Machine” is an unhinged record of beautiful, terrifying chaos. Released in 1992, it’s the culmination of the direction Waits began moving in from 1983’s “Swordfishtrombones”, inspired by his wife and writing partner Kathleen Brennan. The natural conclusion of this journey? The death rattle of the end of the world. Here’s how to pitch it: open with a cacophonous bluesy track named “The Earth Died Screaming”. Follow it up with a funereal musing on how everyone and everything you love will end up as “Dirt in the Ground”. And then spend the rest of the album switching between terror and tenderness on a dime. Perfect. Waits and Brennan’s production is muddy and earthy: vocals are a distant howl, grunt, snarl or moan and the instrumentation is more chaotic and homespun than ever. Theres a whole junkyard of percussion here: listen to how it bristles against each other in “Such a Scream”, creates a living slaughterhouse in “In The Colosseum”, or adds to the sheer menace and magic of “Goin’ Out West”. These tracks are cluttered and crowded, but feel so lived in with such distinct characters: it’s impossible not to be swept away. But my favourite aspect of “Bone Machine” is the bruised, barely beating heart beneath all of those bones. From the very beginning of his career, Waits has done aching and yearning ballads like nobody else, and this record has some of his very best. “Who Are You” is a downtrodden ode to a tortured relationship. “Whistle Down the Wind” personifies terminal weariness, a soul consigned to roaming purgatory in his tiny corner of earth. And “A Little Rain” is absolutely beautiful, with one of the most gut-wrenching gear shifts I’ve ever heard in its final verse: “she was fifteen years old, and she’d never seen the ocean; she climbed into a van with a vagabond; and the last thing she said was ‘I love you, Mom’; and a little rain never hurt no one.” I’m tearing up just typing it out: incredibly powerful storytelling. The two very best tracks, though, come right towards the end, summing up each of these distinct approaches. “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” is a clattery, defiant ode to youth and stubbornness: surprisingly catchy and all the more poignant for being delivered by a gravelly 43-year-old. It also has the rare distinction of being covered by both the Ramones and Scarlett Johansson. Finally, “That Feel” ropes in Waits’ old collaborator Keith Richards for a sentimental, barroom style singalong. After the ordeal of the earlier tracks, it feels uplifting, life-affirming even. The day breaks and another sun rises, and Mr. Waits goes home to take some very strong cough medicine. A superb album.
love this guy's voice and his songs are awesome!
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.
This a 2.5 stars but im going to go up to 3. It feels like I am on a raft in a never ending swamp pushing through the muck with a long stick. If I ever want to change careers to be a nocturnal aligator hunter/guide that says strange things to tourists, this will be the soundtrack of that life. My biggest issue with Tom Waits is that the lows are incredibly low, ear bleedingly low. but when I imagine myself on that swamp it makes me enjoy it quite a bit
Bonkers The instrumentals sound like a blind man parading round a scrapyard with drum sticks. Tom sounds like a deranged lunatic. Tough one to rate for me, I didn’t really like it bar a few tracks, but I give it some credit for just being so weird and singular. 2.6/5
I fucking hate tom waits
I came to the realization, after listening to this, that it's just a sideshow and each song is a different freak. Points for attempting to be entertaining. Tom Waits is the emcee/barker. This is not "rock" music however, and should not be categorized as such. If I think of it as an attempt at being folk-adjacent, it makes more sense. But I get the feel that Tom Waits is simply aping some persona, perhaps a troubadour William Burroughs? To my ear the music not really sincerely felt by the singer or has much of a folk soul. Waits is just a kind of guy that got stuck writing high-school level poetry (one laughably typical example "Oh, when the moon is a cold, chiseled dagger/ And it's sharp enough to draw blood from a stone") and little stories about murder and bad people (that he imagines are out there). I don't get the gravelly voice affectation, I suppose it adds to the persona Waits is attempting to create. All of these little creations are deeply disturbed or whatever, and I'm not interested in meeting them or getting to know them, thank you very much. Keep them in your "closet of dreams" or wherever they came from. This album is not something I would purposely play. I understand what he's trying to do and I respect it, it has artistic merit definitely. But it's just unpleasant and darkly weird. And some listeners really like the darkly weird. I do not, really. Please stop yelling, Tom.
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.
There’s definitely some parts to like with the instrumentals, but I can’t get past Waits’ vocals. It sounds like he’s TRYING to have the cigarette smoking blues singer voice, but it doesn’t land well. Not my style, DNF.
For me the voice is extremely unappealing, but there is some decent music in here.
Just not my cup of tea.
Awesome album, one I'd never heard of before, loved the general sound, all of the drums. Something about it really resonated with me, will definitely revisit
Struggling to come to terms with the idea that people like this guy's music and that I've listened to two albums now. 1.5
I gave the last two Tom Waits albums four stars each. This one, though, does nothing for me.
Wow I hate this. Sounds like a dying cat
Bone Machine gives you the feeling of being in a dark room listening to the musings of an old man. There is a strange mix between a more traditional rock sound, but then there are parts where it feels like you are truly listening to an unhinged man wailing country sounding songs at you. I'm not sure if I really enjoyed the album or I was just intrigued because I didn't know what was going to come next. Best: Goin' Out West Worst: I Don't Wanna Grow Up Note: Had to listen to "That Feel" on YouTube Music as it was not available on Spotify.
Great voice, interesting tunes
Cool Voice and songs
I think my favorite from Mr. Waits. Such grit!
All of this found percussion and natural recording remind me of Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Love this one.
art
This album is a journey. Some beautiful songs and some painful ones.
Shite
Seems not everyone is able to appreciate Tom Waits, and that's fair enough and not unexpected. I'll just count my blessings of what I get from this lovely album. Equally sinister and gentle, the lyrics are fabulous as usual, and it contains both I don't Wanna Grow Up and That Feel, two of his loveliest ever songs. All drenched in dirt. Other highlights for me, Dirt in the Ground, and the almost beat poem, The Ocean Doesn't Want Me.
Such a interesting voice and style but not my fav
I'm sorry Tom Waits, I just simply don't care.
This is the second Tom Waits album that I've been assigned, the first being Rain Dogs. I was completely unfamiliar with his music before starting this list, but I've quickly become a fan of his. I really enjoyed this album. I loved the melancholy lyrics, the piano playing, and the percussion. I know Tom Waits's voice isn't for everyone, but I really enjoy his singing. His gravely and gruff singing is absolutely perfect for his lyrics. I thought the pacing of this album was really good too; I liked that the majority of the album was slower and more melodic, with some more chaotic and experimental songs popping up every so often to change the pace. As much as I enjoyed the changes in pace throughout the album, the more experimental songs were not my favorite. I'd just rather hear Tom Waits be slow and gravely than disorderly and wild. Still, this was a great album, and I can't wait to listen to more of Tom Waits's discography.
Oke
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.
The piano, sax, and other instruments are good. His voice is pretty annoying, and feels like it takes away from the otherwise good music. On "Who are you this Time" he sounds like bad Bruce Springsteen. I just really DON'T like his voice - I don't really listen to lyrics, but I do hear voices and they very often turn me off from bands/musicians; this is one of them. "Black Wings" has the vamped music behind someone telling stories, which is something I'm not a huge fan of. It's kinda Western which is neat, but the novelty does get me passed the fact that I don't really like it. None of these songs particularly struck my fancy. It's fine, but it's really not something I liked listening to. I feel like there's more enjoyable music that sounds like this basically anywhere you look.
Interesting but ultimately not something I would choose to listen to
As someone who's reviewed 4 of his other albums, I can't really say he does much innovation on this one. What I can say is this is probably the most coherent of his discography. He's mature in the mood he's going for, which is Southern Gothic altering between heartbreaking, depressing ballads and unpredictable, unsettling mechanical tunes. There's more of an emphasis on the old Western atmosphere and harsh membranophones. I also like some of the song transitions, like "In the Colosseum" to "Goin Out West", or "Such a Scream" to "All Stripped Down." I found it to be less memorable than his other albums. Not just due to the lack of innovation, but also the lack of any major highlights. "Goin Out West" is probably the most accessible song on here, especially that sick riff, and certainly fitting for Fight Club. After that, my personal highlights were "Jesus Gonna Be Here", "The Earth Died Screaming", "Murder in the Red Barn", and "I Don't Wanna Grow Up." I've never been a fan of ballads, and I personally found all but "Dirt in the Ground" to be boring. The biggest issue is the length, not just of the record, but of the individual songs. There's a stretch in the 2nd half where 4 out of 5 songs are 4:30. With how slow the songs are, they don't keep my engagement. And if I don't care for the song, it feels like torture waiting for the next song to appear. The only entertainment is the lyrics in the stories or poetry he tells, but sometimes that doesn't do it for me. For example, I couldn't find anything redeemable about "Whistle Down the Wind." Why does "In the Colosseum" need to go on for almost 5 minutes? Cut a few songs, and cut the lengths. Strong start, but a very weak closing. The last very 4 songs are a bit of a mess, losing that consistency, and "That Feel", although an appropriate closer, wasn't that interesting.
I'm not the biggest Tom Waits fan but I think this album is remarkable. It shows Tom the way I like him the most : dark, twisted but vulnerable at times. This has to be my favorite of his.
When the cowboy gets tired of booze and starts getting into meth.
The blend of folk/americana style with dark and gothic vibe is strangely wonderful. Tom Waits delivery is also unique, emotive and powerful.
Nar, fuck that noise.
A bit rough for me
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.
Don't know why this one is on the list. 2 Stars because there's worse...
Unique sound and instrumentation. Prime Tom Waits channeling Beefheart territory. Not as accessible as some other Waits albums but worth sticking with
Grotesque, primal, and laced with doom. Classic Waits!
Il est rare qu’on entende un homme expérimenter avec sa voix (autrement r que pour sonner agressif). Et, outre ce souci, on joue sur les textures et les arrangements. Un vrai original. 4,5
Not the biggest fan of Tom Waits
Not for me but I was expecting worse
There is something about Tom Waits, that just make his music so appealing, no matter how weird, or unorthodox it is. He could just wail for 45 minutes (which he often does) and it would be still a good album. Same with Bone Machine. Different to anything I've heard before, but still working really well, both with lyrics and instruments. Really solid piece.
Not my favourite of Tom’s
Really fucking good
Not really my vibe.
Many will find this difficult. I like it, give it a try. A few tries.
Je pense que j'ai mieux aimé que son autre album que j'ai eu de lui. J'aime le côté vraiment plus expérimental de celui-ci. Je suis toujours pas complètement séduit par sa voix et son style très typique blues, mais je comprends parfaitement le statut de cet album. 7/10
Super trippy, I went from hating it to loving it over the course of an album. Not for everyone though
Eh. Not really a fan. I think you love him it hate him.
hated it, weird noises lol
Having listened to one other Tom Waits album before today, I’m quite excited for this. I remember being quite blown away by his voice and how unique he sounded. Here’s hoping for more of the same today. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: The Earth Died Screaming, Who Are You I may have said this about the previous Tom Waits album, but I could completely understand if somebody loved this or if they despised it. It is as unusual as I’ve come to expect, with Waits’ voice being a gravelly baritone in the foreground with odd bluesy rock in the background. For me, I did enjoy this but I didn’t feel to be my favourite album of his so far. It wasn’t bad, but also wasn’t amazing.
Awful voice, musically not so bad but TW can't sing so ruins the whole album
Raw, broken, and dirty. That's how I'd describe this album. Interesting too. Unique. Not sure if I really enjoyed it, though, but maybe I'm not supposed to?
More gospel sounding than I remember but still some good tracks including the Fight Club song and 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up'
Not my thing but glad to finally have a chance to hear a full album
I don't get it.
Soooky in a good way.
Som bem peculiar, mas sofrível pra curtir o álbum inteiro
It was alright! Liked some of the songs.
It’s been on my ‘to listen’ list for a while and the 1001 finally gave me an excuse. Very much enjoyed. Earth Died Screaming, The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me, and Goin’ Out West were highlights.
Jotain ehkä perversillä tavalla mielyttävää tuon miehen äänessä on. Kuuntelin kolmesti läpi ja viihdyin.
Ei ollu ihmeellinen
This is the Waits era I feel most at home with. I'm glad I have better understanding of his earlier catalogue now; but his grittier stuff here is what made me fall in love with him.
A darker and gritter Tom than usual, and I love it of course.
The Eath Died Screaming is a haunting track. This album is such a workout. Waits is determined to go under every rock to scratch the holes. A Little Rain is so totally out in left field. In The Colesseum is a killer, ramshackle dirge.
Excellent. Would be even more excellent if someone else was singing.
The voice of a rusted hacksaw
This is Tom’s biggest contrast between his hellish and beautiful songs. The duality of his artistic nature is on full display here
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…
He sounds like a baddy in a Disney film
this is so good! thought i wouldn't like it but i did
This album is very odd but I actually quite enjoyed it
5 stars
Digger tydeligvis tom waits
Dude has the same voice as your alcoholic, chainsmoking uncle after three shots of a spirit at your family function.
Meh. Not really into Tom Waits.
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.
Paras näistä Waitsin albumeista mitä tähän asti tullut. Annan kyl miinusta nyt siitä, että kolmas albumi ko. herralta jo.
Joo paras Waitsi tähä mennessä, mutta ois voinu olla ainoo Waitsi tällä listalla.
The man knows how to make a racket.
objectively good but not so playlist worthy
In his initial years he was a charming barfly and was likeable for the same reasons Bukowski was. By the time of Bone Machine he was still charming but not in the barfly way. He was an ecclectic musician taking his story telling lyrics on a new journey accompanied by a strange assortment of things that he turned into instruments, distorted vocals that range from creepy to longing and haunting guitar playing that fits in no particular genre. We would be pissed off at most successful musicians who made an album like this but Tom makes it work. “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” is exactly what we expect from an early 40s Tom but the song that follows it is equally enjoyable as he makes noise work.
After the five-year break that followed Swordfish Trombones and Raindogs, it seems like Tom picked up where he left it off, continuing on his journey into the depths. As with the prior LPs, there are a few songs that I connect with, like “Jesus Gonna be Here”. The overall sound on this one is more stripped down, less interesting, and within the context of the prior two albums, it’s not offering anything new. I’ll round up to the score that I probably would have given it if it was the first LP we were offered.
You gotta hand it to Tom Waits he’s a real American original. This album is much darker than the previous offerings that we have received. Most of it is bereft of any melody or harmonies that we typically hear so it’s an album that demands repeated listenings but that’s easier said than done.
Inte helt oävet.
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
it's strange but I fuck with it
Ok ig
1/5 Best: Goin' Out West Worst: The Earth Died Screaming
Some good, some bad
wow, even worse singer than Dylan, can't stand his voice, rootsy backing tho
fine
OOOH love a Tom Waites album, and this is one of my preferred TW albums. It's so dark and dramatic in a very cool and interesting way. Love the use of rhythm and percussion. It sounds like a film soundtrack and actually the track Whistle Down the Wind, is it named after the film? I can't find any info about a connection anywhere but that is an absolutely excellent film. Loved the variety of more and less melodic tracks and range of sounds. I love his voice but I understand it's a marmite situation. I LOOOOOVE the story-telling style and will listen again soon.
Agh Tom Waits. I feel like I should, by prestige, like Tom Waits but I just don't get it. There would be snippets where I'm into it then it would quickly go somewhere I was not into at all. His voice shifts bug me. I dunno what to make of it all!
It's good stuff. I can't even start to think how you'd sit down and go 'yeah I'm gonna make an album like this'. He's so different in so many ways. Really enjoyed this.
I like Tom Waits for being an innovator, pushing the boundaries of music, not repeating himself. The Bone Machine is one of the records that polarises opinion. It ain't an easy listen! It has a very industrial sound, percussion heavy and the production is cold and raw. Thank god for artist like Tom Waits however, music would be bland without him.
Tom Waits is one of the most consistent songwriters I know, and one of the only ones whose joy in playing in the art is communicated through his output. Even if the lyrics are dour, there's an ineffable quality that says, "I love this medium, and this is my playground." When I want to connect with that concept of joy, I pop on some Waits.
I like Tom waits a lot but this was a rough one for me. Maybe I’m more of an “early Tom waits” fan? I appreciate the stripped down nature of it. It sounds like recorded it with one mic in his living room, which is endearing in a lot of ways. The stories and lyrics are still what I’ve come to expect, but he just kinda sounded like he needed to clear his throat the whole time.
Bone Machine is the eleventh album by American singer and musician Tom Waits. This critically acclaimed experimental rock album performed moderately well on the charts around the world and won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. It features a stripped-down rock sound, heavy on percussion, and with dark lyrical themes. This was an interesting album. At moments it had me bobbing my head along to the drum/bass beat, and at other moments I was lost in a soundscape of dismal sounds and weird lyrics about death and/or religion. Not the type of album to play at a party, but it can be appreciated for its experimental nature if one is in the right head space.
The swampy blues has a vibe. 3.5/5.
El Tom Waits que va néixer amb 'Swordfishtrombones' és digne d'estudi. La reinvenció a què es va sotmetre no té equiparació en el món del rock, com a mínim amb el seu nivell d'èxit artístic. 'Bone Machine' inaugurava els seus '90s donant una nova volta a la rosca musical de Waits. Més fosc que mai, fangós, complicat, però amb un resultat brillant, que en aquell moment era ja gairebé habitual en ell
Exhausting Listen
Tom Waits gets weirder. Lots of percussion, raspy vocals, some unconventional production choices. Sometimes it sounds like Waits is just messing around, with no structure or idea in mind. Sometimes it actually sounds like a fully-realized song. There's no doubt that Tom Waits is an accomplished and excellent songwriter, it's just that Bone Machine indicates a certain willingness to dive into whatever idea Waits had at the time. It just turns out that a lot of his ideas are really good!
Cannot get into Tom Waits
Silly. Didn't hate it.
Heel erg experimenteel. Het gevoel dat het in een kelder is opgenomen is alleszins aanwezig.
decent album, liked it better than the other one on the list.
Buen disco de Tom Waits. Un 4.
I like Tom Waits when he’s in Blue Valentine mode, but this is just too much for me. I find it hard to follow when it’s tuneless and overly melodramatic when it’s tuneful. Not my bag.
Another Tom Waits collection of songs. This album is a good one of his for someone looking to investigate his legendary tone.
I gotta say, after a few of these albums, I'm just not a Tom Waits fan.
I said what I said about Tom Waits already, twice before. It’s getting tiresome repeating myself. This is the best album cover of his by far, this photo with the title and font is perfection. Dark ruminations here, it’s a very philosophically intense album, but he needed to let that all out. I hope he feels better now.
Well, I didn't hate this like the previous two Tom Waits albums. I'm not calling myself a fan but perhaps the gravel in his voice has filed down my hatred a smidge.
I prefer the sound of this album to Heartattack And Vine. It’s more rustic, raw, feral, in a way that really suits Waits’ voice. Especially the drums that sound like bones. The songs aren’t always as good as the general atmosphere is, but there are some corkers on there, and the second half of the record is pretty consistent (kudos to his wife, who appears to have co-written most of the second side, as well as the excellent ‘Dirt In The Ground’). 3.5
I guess there's something in it, but I don't get what. Just a little bit too much for me??
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!
When I was at university I attended a Tom Waits film showing. I can't remember what we saw, some documentary with Tom Waits providing the music, it was arty. After the first five minutes people began to stand up and leave, soon it was a mass exodus. The people leaving seemed almost angry, as it they had been here under false pretences. There was also a mild disgust directed at the people who weren't leaving, as if they were only remaining in their seats to be annoying. In hindsight, I think it was more likely that the people leaving felt threatened by those staying, as they must see something in the music that the people leaving couldn't appreciate. About fifteen minutes in, we were down to around a third of the original crowd, but notably, nobody else left before the end. As for this album, I found it imperfect, but still enjoyable, and very much an interesting listening experience. I have a few Tom Waits albums, but earlier ones. I hadn't ever heard this before, but it was a great mix of howls, shouts, the odd melody, and more howling. Easy 4 stars.
Mjög gott. Ekki hans besta en mjöög gott.
This is a wonderful introduction to a modern version of Tom Waits. I don't think it's near his best work, but there are several songs on this album that stand up to (and surpass some of) his classics. The Earth Died Screaming, I Don't Want To Grow Up, and Black Wings are among his best recordings imo. Overall the album is a bit long for me, but I'm still going to play it through time and again in the future.
Tom Waits is weird. Some of his music have great melodies and jazzy vibes, others are just bizarre.
Genres: Experimental rock Formed: Los Angeles in 1972? Run time: 16 songs, 53 min, 29 sec The eleventh studio album. The most popular is track 10, “Goin’ Out West” with almost 13M plays on Spotify. There are seven other tracks with over 1M plays and the remaining eight tracks have over 600k plays. I’m not familiar with Tom Waits’ work but I guess his deep, gravelly voice makes him easy to identify. His lyrics often reflect the darker side of life and that is the case with this album. Although lyrically quite different, Waits sounds very similar to Van Morrison. If you just catch a bit of him singing you might mistake him for a rambling drunk. It requires some concentration to understand what he is singing and what the song is about. That said, he bangs his own drum and follows his own path. He is a trailblazer, but it’s not to my taste. Listen Again?: No My Rating: ***
Tom Waits revient une énième fois pour essayer de nous prouver qu'il peut obtenir plus de trois sur cinq sur un album. Encore raté.
Tom Waits vient nous vomir dessus pendant près d'une heure, et autanst de vous dire que je rêvais d'un peu mieux pour entamer ma semaine.
Not for me. I tried
dark, chaotic, apocalyptic, and disturbing. the voice takes a while to get used to, and i admittedly never really got used to it. not really into it.
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
Tom Waits is a legend. That gravelly, road less traveled voice, soaked in bourbon and cigars, it has an allure all its own
Not sure Mr Waits is for me, it fine, just mo chance I'll listen again
Sorry, just not a fan
Wonderfully unique.
It's was fine. I just can't seem to get into Waits though. Voice seemed extra scratchy on this one!
Tom Waits' Bone Machine is one of his albums that I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I'm familiar with his works and know the more popular albums. Bone Machine was a first listen and won't be the last. 4/5.
I have such a weird relationship to Tom Waits. I feel like I should like his music, and lots of people with great taste in music like his stuff, but it always leaves me wanting to listen to something else. I did really enjoy Nighthawks at the Diner, which I got on this list a few hundred albums ago. And the music that I make keeps getting compared to Tom Waits (generously, of course, I'm nowhere near his level of talent and skill). Individually, I like some of these songs, and I find most of the others interesting. As a whole, they start to grate on me when put into the context of an album, since it feels like a lot of them are similar in weird ways. Or maybe I just don't like his voice, idk. Regardless, I continue to feel about Tom Waits the way that I've always felt about him, which is that I feel like I should like him, but there's just so much stuff that I actively enjoy listening to more than this 3/5 I can see the merit in it, so I don't think it deserves a sub-50% grade, but I also can't justify anything higher, since I'm feeling pretty glad right now that the album is over
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't really what I got. Waits has a very deep voice and a lot of the songs have a sort of spooky underworld vibe. It occasionally moves away from this (e.g., Jesus Gonna Be Here is more of a blues rock song, A Little Rain is a folksy piano ballad), but that mostly makes it feel more disjointed to me. There's a few redeeming qualities here, but it generally is just not really working for me. Favorite song: Who Are You Others: A Little Rain, That Feel
I was dreading, and I mean DREADING listening to this album given my prior experience with Tom Waits on the list. Found myself shocked that Waits opts for a less growly and more melodic vocal approach here, one that allowed me to focus better on the creative instrumentation and melodies building up each track. While I don't know if I would return to this LP, I did not hate my experience with it and that's much more than I expected!
Cacaphony
lol bone machine
This is definitely not the easiest album to listen to initially, mainly due to the crazy vocals. However once you get used to it it’s actually very rewarding. There’s a lot variety here with some ballads mixed with more experimental bluesy music. It isn’t as “out there” as you would think though, there’s catchiness there and it’s really not that experimental. The hardest thing is the vocals which are so weird for someone not used to them. Great album though.
Raspigt, skramligt och ljuvt. Funkar helt ok.
He growls! He croons! He funks! Roll up! Roll up! One night only folks!
if a junkyard got hold of the karaoke mic
I know Shane loves him some Tom Waits, but I've never been much of a fan. I've listened to a song here and a song there, but just never been able to get into him. The only song of his in my collection is "Goin' Out West," which just happens to be on this album. After listening to the album in its entirety, I've come to appreciate him a bit more. It seems I favor his bluesier stuff, like "Dirt in the Ground," "Jesus Gonna Be Here Soon," and "Murder in the Red Barn" over his kookier stuff like "All Stripped Down" or songs like "Whistle Down the Wind," which is kinda ballad-y, I guess? The exception here seems to be "In the Colosseum," which is definitely on the kooky side of the spectrum, yet still does it for me. One thing's for sure: the guy can tell a story. His lyrics are unique and evocative. I'll need to make time to give this album another listen. As it stands, I feel like this is a 3.5, but I think I'll round up to 4 out of respect for his total disregard for music industry conventions. Gotta respect that.
I totally understand Tom Waits' following, but this album didn't do much for me. 3.5 stars. On a side note: I barely learned that he played Redfield in Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1992. I feel silly for not knowing that because it's very obviously him.
This was not actually my introduction to Tom Waits. I first heard Closing Time which is what I like to call his "piano player in a smoky bar at midnight" stuff. But Bone Machine was a huge eye opener. I always enjoy pulling this out out to listen to.
Tom Waits to me has always been 80% pretentiousness and 20% art (as in: good music, especially beautiful ballads). On this album, however, there is hardly any of the latter. Whistle Down the wind is decent, but I've heard better on his other albums. I respect the man, but can't get into his art. Perhaps it's just not for me. Perhaps it's for the hipsters. Who knows? 2/5
I love Tom Waits. But this feels like a fuller version of what he's done before on Swordfishtrombones and Frank's Wild Years and such. It feels like he's gone from a broader pallette to just sticking to mutant blues. I think the Grammy win has deluded the author here.
What a voice! And what great songs too. He's like a much better Bob Dylan, with Springsteen energy and Leadbelly vocals. I loved it!
I'll be honest, sometimes it's a bit of a strain. But then again, some tracks really land. Listened to half of this before. Have precious memories about The Ocean Doesn't Want Me because I heard it first on Gorillaz Pirate Radio. + The Earth Died Screaming + All Stripped Down + The Ocean Doesn't Want Me + Jesus Gonna Be Here
I don't listen to this one as often as other Waits albums, parts of it are a challenging listen for sure and it requires your full attention. That being said, the percussive nature of the more challenging tracks pull me in, Goin' Out West is a monster groove. And songs like Who Are You and Jesus Gonna Be Here keep me coming back. 5/5
Dark and brilliant.
Sometimes he overdoes the deep, dark, gravelly voice, and it just sounds silly; when he reigns it in, he sounds awesome. I like the really stripped back bluesy ballads of murder, murder ballads if you will, like 'Murder In The Red Barn'. Not bad. 3 / 5 stars.
I used to have this album on my iPod and listened to it at uni . It makes me feel any to smoke cigarettes and drink red wine from a paper bag . Was so good I listened to it twice.
Just not for me eh
This album is quintessential Tom Waits in the style of the first trio of albums recorded with Island Records. The music feels organic, as if it’s cobbled together from whatever is laying around. Tom Waits creates scenes, and feelings such that his world feels like a darker more self aware version of our own. I prefer his earlier records to this one, but it still a phenomenal records.
I fucking hate tom waits
still don't like tom waits
On Bone Machine Tom Waits lets go of everything and is no longer limited by anything. This results in an intense album with primary music. Rhythms that sound like they're making use of anything that can be hit on. Strange vocals between screeching, growling and just singing. But it's also a beautiful album, although you have to put in a little bit of effort for it. This, to me, is one of the best records of all time. A sample card. Moving (Whistle down the Wind), Romantic Dark (Black Wings) Existential (Dirt in the Ground), even poppy sometimes (I don't wanna grow up). And all on bordering between genius and madness. Dark but not depressing. A masterpiece.
While this wasn't really my style, I really enjoyed parts of this album and it really surprised me. It was incredibly well written and created a setting/mood just as good as any album I have ever listened to. Some of the songs were truly chilling, some felt like if you made a Wes Craven movie into an album. This is definitely not an every man's album and you really would have to be in a specific mood to listen to this but the artistry is undeniably great. This was my first time hearing Tom Waits and something about his vibe made me immediately think of New Orleans like he sounds like he is into voodoo. The storytelling and writing on this album is incredible and really made this a treat to listen too. His voice is definitely grating but in the same way as a Louis Armstrong or DMX to me which is a good thing. I think the best songs on this album were "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", "That Feel", "Black Wings", "The Earth Died Screaming", "Dirt In The Ground" and "Such A Scream". "Dirt In The Ground" was probably my favorite track, the instrumentation on that song was incredible with the low Sax and piano, it worked beautifully with his overstrained vocals. I was not a huge fan of "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me" (a little too slow, dull and boring for me) and "In The Colosseum" (a little basic compared to the rest of the album) but that is about it. Definitely not an album for the people who only likes happy/pop-y music. I would give this a 9/10 but definitely not an album you can just throw on.
One day I’ll appreciate Tom’s dying cat sound but today is not that day
Han mistet meg når det plutselig ble Mikke Mus-stemme. Albumet er for eksperimentelt til at jeg gidder høre det
Always has been my favorite Waits album. Not a dud on here.
Two Tom Waits albums in about a week is a lot. As cool as it is that he recorded it in the basement of the studio, it seems deliberately challenging to whoever is trying to listen to it, and I wasn't feeling it.
My first TW album and I'm sure there will be more to come. I understand that TW has a consistent groove thing and I admire that, but it doesn't mean I like it. It puts me on edge and I suffer for his art. (Mostly because of his voice)
In het begin vond ik de stem wel een beetje te veel maar uiteindelijk sloeg ik toch om voor de mooie en bijzondere nummers. Kan ook niet anders als een Bob Dylan en Leonard Cohen fan
Tom Waits only makes great music. Print it.
Tom Waits is a living legend and this album is one of many testaments to that fact. 10/10
It's good. Great even, but his voice put me to sleep
Si Tom Waits so’ essere un figo, ma qui canta da ubriaco. Ne tengo 3 da riascoltare ma farò fatica a tenerle
To the esteemed Princeton University Admissions Committee, Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to review my admissions essay. Becoming a student at Princeton would fulfill a life long dream and I am honored to be able to apply. It’s certainly uncommon for someone of my age, with an established career, to be applying for college into their 40’s, but I believe I am uniquely qualified to attend your university and after regaling you with this true story, I think you’ll agree: Several years ago, while shopping for records at the nearby Princeton Record Exchange, I was asked by a student from your University (easily identifiable because of his Princeton University hooded sweatshirt, backwards ball cap and worn out Sperry’s), if I knew “where they keep the Tom Waits records.” “I checked the ‘T’ section….nothing there,” he added. “Try the ‘W’ section,” I suggested to him. “They sort artists by last name.” “Oh, wow”, he sighed, with a sense of overwhelmed exasperation. “I wouldn’t have thought of that”, he said, making his way to the W section, where a likely treasure trove of Tom Waits on wax awaited him. As he searched through the W section and I continued my crate digging, a sense of pride washed over me: “Holy fuck,” I thought. “I could have got into Princeton.” Hence, my reasoning for writing this essay. As I wrote earlier, I think my qualification for admittance into your fine school speaks for itself. I have a solid grasp on alphabetical sorting and categorization and a keen ability to help others solve their problems in a quick and efficient manner. Plus, I’m not half-bad at math. I look forward to my inevitable acceptance to your school and hope to provide forward thinking leadership amongst the students. Thank you once again for taking the time to review my application for admission. Go Tigers!
I’m not a fan
No good
I pity the person whose first interaction with Tom Waits is Bone Machine. It is abrasive and challenging, and if you're not in the right mindset to process that it will bounce right off. But if you are receptive to this sound (and conditioned by some of Waits's other albums like Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones and Mule Variations) you'll find a harrowing beauty in it
You would have to do a lot of convincing to make me believe Tom doesn't just make this shit up as he goes along. His entire career is an attempt to be a drugged up Sinatra. It's not working for me.
Tom Waits has a wonderful gift for songwriting, composition and storytelling, not so much so for singing. He's for sure an acquired taste and won't be everyone's cup of tea. I enjoy it his music, albeit in spurts and small doses. Great record, but not one I'd listen to in regular rotation
Not for me
I wish I had discovered Tom Waits at a younger age. I only got into him in my mid-twenties, and I feel as though I'm not as well-versed in his stuff as I should be. That said, I'm starting to gain some level of familiarity with his stuff. Enough to know that this isn't my favorite album of his. But it still has the captivating, clangy feel of his middle-period records. He's a great songwriter, and his uniqueness is felt here.
it was kind of like primus with worse singing and worse music. very difficult listen.
What the fuck is wrong with people who like Tom Waits!
A pretty rugged and uneventful album by Tom waits. He has probably the raspiest voice and to listen to a whole album of it gets dreadful towards the end. I feel his older years are better spent acting than singing. The authentic and earthly nature of his songs don’t save this album from being mediocre. 4.3/10
kind of funny Waits
A high-impact, but slightly uneven, work by a singular artist. Moodier and less theatrical than some of his canon. One prefers the sweeter cuts ("Who Are You This Time," "A Little Rain" "Whistle Down the Wind" and "That Feel") to the grittier, more raffish and most discordant cuts, the most effective of which are "The Earth Died Screaming" and "I Don't Want to Grow Up." The husky rough vocals are near heartbreaking when TW goes tender. Though it's emotionally and psychologically stripped down it doesn't seem musically so. Holds up really well for being 30 (!) years old. And well worth a grammy.
Waits will always be a pleasure to have on the list. You never know what to expect. This album is a return to form. His classic growl and storytelling, mixed with some great ballads and a classic in Grow Up. I enjoyed it and will push it to a 4.
Tom Waits is always an adventure, this time was no exception although it was just a decent adventure
Eu ja ouvi a discografia toda do Tom Waits e nao sou fa, musica de bebado em bar.
It is a weird album and I did not care for it. I don't know this album is on the list or why people like Tom Waits. The album is better than a one but not really a two. A couple of songs were alright but Waits cannot sing. I am going to round down to a one but it is better than some of the other ones.
Believe it or not I'm actually a big fan of Waits, have been since I first heard his vocals in Shrek 2 (little drop of poison). There are some great moments on this album. Stand outs: dirt in the ground, who are you this time, a little rain, goin' out west, whistle down this wind and that feel. This really feels like music for the apocalypse, either that or for the orcs of mordor or from some travelling circus in the mid-west in the thirties... In fact, I can't properly place it. It's chaotic, scratchy and raw. Lyrically Tom is pretty entertaining, it gets both absurd and vivid after a few listens. There are some numbers that don't quite hit imo, but there are also some worthwhile additions to his overall catalogue here. 3.5
If this is music then bring on the chatGPT age
Skipped through and listened to bits, after being burned by the previous Tom Waits album we were served. It’s just dog shit. Boycotted the album and listened to Gorillaz - Plastic Beach all day instead, with the knowledge that Bone Machine is on this list and zero Gorillaz albums are on it. I can’t SPAKE
Rating: 6/10
2.5/5 - Just don't understand some of the songs. There are gems in this album, but overall, it's not great.
I live that Tom Waits gets stranger as he gets older. Is usually the other way around. Although this album is - ouch - 30 years old now. And thanks must go to Kathleen Brennan for introducing Tom to Captain Beefheart, as it really shows here. A classic set of songs, that are just weird enough. Or is it just normal enough? There's not a duff track on here, and it all works together as an album which ebbs and flows beautifully, which isn't always the case. Goin' Out West and Grow Up make me chuckle every time. And being able to call in Keef for your closer can't be bad.
This had a carnal sound to my innocent ears. It reminded me of some of the early work by The Creatures. The rhythmic pounding wasn't something I was expecting from Tom Waits. He has so much soul in his voice to balance out the beats. That's all I ask for in any album. Waits is at his best when he is ballideering. The gentle sax touches are soothing in relation to the harsh lyrics. This was a great find. The CD has been snaffled up.
Tom Waits is certainly one-of-a-kind. I find him to be an acquired taste, and I'm not sure whether I have quite acquired it. I usually appreciate his work, but I only like listening to it in small doses. When I read that this album was recorded in a cellar with "just a cement floor and a hot water heater" that made perfect sense. While I think cellars with cement floors and hot water heaters are interesting to poke around in, I'm not sure I want to spend a lot of time there. 3 stars.
man, i have TRIED with Tom Waits. really. and I don't like him. sorry not sorry!
One of Tom Waits' best albums, and that is saying something! From the opening of "The Earth Dies Screaming" you know you're in the presence of greatness.
I heard Nighthawks a week or so ago and found it boring. So I approached this one ready to hand out 1 or 2 stars. After the first song I was thinking 3, then as I immersed myself in this odd sonic experience, I was thinking 4. By the time I'd run through Murder in the Barn, Black Wings, Whistle Down the Wind and I Don't Want to Grow Up I had to go 5. He takes you on a journey through weird, wonderful, scary, and hilarious. Each song uses a different voice. Each voice should grate on the ear but he's like Dylan. His voice fits the songs. He even sounds like Dylan at one stage. Bloody brilliant!
Debería volver a probarlo con un whisky en la mano. Las letras un puñal al corazón como siempre
BOOMCLANKPOW
Tom is the carnival I always want in the background and this album is no different.
Is this dude ok he sounds like he crawled out of a gutter. He’s probably friends with Janis Joplin. This is full goblin mode.
Que bosta. Fala sério!
Albüm tuhaf başladı, daha farklı bir tuhaflıkla bitti. Not to my liking, genel olarak bir artwork olduğunu gördüm ama benim appreciate edebileceğim bir türden değil. Overall: 4/10
This is the Tom Waits I know and love. I think on on the bandwagon with loving Goin' Out West and I Don't Wanna Grow Up is classic.
Weird Waits is best Waits. This album directly prefigures "The Mule Variations", which has been a long time fave, so I definitely plan to come back to it more. There's even a mention of the Eyeball Kid! 👁️ Fave track - "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me" is clearly a prototype of "What's He Building In There", so I love it for that reason. "Earth Died Screaming" and "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" were also standouts...
1.75
This is the 3rd or 4th Tom Waits album suggestion in the last 3 months. Too many. I'm not a fan to begin with and this volume of his work has only solidified that.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to do, even after I read the stories of how this album was recorded. I think I’m a sucker for unconventional percussion. That probably makes me a sucker for Tom Waits.
Love me some Tom Waits. Not as ambitious as Rain Dogs but still solid