Bone Machine

[every review about how weird, growly, jangly, and off-putting this is, but *as a compliment*]

Very enjoyable but wouldn’t be listening in my spare time

For as great of a songwriter as he is, Tom Waits sure sounds like someone taking a massive shit. That's more of a feature than a benefit.

So good. Dark. Raining fish. He even develops a lisp for one song. 4.5/5

Love Waits voice... Take a bit of listening to understand him and then the words start popping out. Some of my favorites were Earth Died Screaming, All Stripped Down, Who Are You This Time, Murder in the Red Barn, and of course, I Don't Wanna Grow Up

4/15, 27%

Oh this is going to be strange. Hey there is passion. Who are you this time is a cool contrast of gristle and sweet melody. Its perhaps not a good sign, however, that I felt very relieved when I heard the next song after the album was done. Not quite a 1, probably like a 1.7 (2).

I really don't know, turned it off in the ending songs because I was just exhausted

This album didn’t really change my very negative opinion of tom waits very much but it was definitely better than the last album. I still don’t like his voice but the production was at least varied. Feels like he went on a Leonard cohen arc when his music got darker and weirder as he got older

Interesting stuff.

Fijn om weer eens te horen

Deze plaat kwam uit toen ik nog veel CDs kocht. De naam en hoes ken ik goed, maar ik heb pas sinds kort echt eens wat gedraaid van Tom en geconcludeerd dat ik een naar haat neigende haat-liefde verhouding met 'm heb. Deze plaat is in ieder geval verschrikkelijk.

Ik sluit me geheel bij bij Arjan aan.

Ookal lopen veel mensen die ik ken weg met Tom Waits, heb ik er nooit veel in gehoord. Ik doe het vast enorm tekort, en zal op heel wat tenen trappen als ik zeg dat ik alleen maar dronken kroeggebral hoor, als Tom met z'n schuurpapierstem los gaat.

Soms mooi, soms lelijk. Ik zou graag eens in het hoofd kijken van iemand die dit in z'n geheel fantastisch vindt. Hoe die hersenen dat gekraak ervaren.

Dreadful

Tupakkaa vetänä..

Great passion and incredible interpretations by one of the greatest singer-songwriters in the history of music.

I've never been able to digest Tom Waits but I respect his artistry. I cannot give this a 1 becuase of it. Am extra star for the fact that this album wasn't completely unlistenable for me, it had some decent moments.

Kinda spooky

I’ve gotta say this is one of the worst albums I’ve heard. A mixture of the lyrics and his grumbly and crumbly voice I can safely say I would never ever listen to any of these songs again. Is this influential for avowing what not to do if you want to be a successful artist? My apologizes if you enjoy this kind of stuff- but please keep that to yourself because it’s embarrassing. 😬😬😬 #sorry

It's the vocals. If course - it's always the vocals that ruin absolutely everything. The earth died screaming and I died listening to this. Tom Waits... I can see him having some small - SMALL - cult following but there's no goddamn way this or anything else I've ever heard from him should approach any list of something I need to hear before I die. If he'd given the tracks to someone else - anyone else - to sing over this it could have been something real nice. But he didn't, and it's not. Wrecked. 2/10 1 star

Have to be in the right mood and environment for Tom Waits, which one day I will find

Sometimes you don’t know why an album has the title it has, but that’s not the case here. Tom made a machine out of bones. A bone machine. And then he plays it for you and you suffer eternal damnation.

Bruh, clear your throat.

The bones are their money

Great lyrics and melodies. Waits has a distinctive style and voice which sadly isn’t for me.

I didn’t get this one at all.

Baffling, beautiful, haunting, weird

Weird

Very interesting from the begging. From someone else's commend - dark but not depressing. Cool, raw sounds. But it just continued as more (and worse) of the same and in the second half I just got bored. Last 3 songs made it better. Hard to decide between 2 and 3 stars.

Any good faith review of this album needs to buy into the Tom Waits grovelly-voiced musical ecosystem. With that predicate, this album rocks. It’s a great mix of hopelessness, wit, vulnerability, and inscrutability. Overall very Tom Waits. Nice production too, the sandpapery mostly acoustic (and sometimes non-instrumental) sounds really add to the tangible roughness of Tom’s voice.

this was…significantly better than i expected. i havent enjoyed tom waits before, but i really liked this.

I've seen people say that you either love or hate Tom Waits' music, but I'm pretty in the middle, at least regarding this album. I know one or two Tom Waits songs, but this is my first time listening to an album of his. It was nice. I'd say that a lot of the songs could stand to be shorter, but that is the curse of singer-songwriter albums; you write so many verses in an attempt to tell a story that the song has to be at least four and a half minutes long, minimum. Still, even if a lot of them were long, the songs weren't bad. There are some very interesting sounds present in these songs. Anyway, this serves as an interesting entry point into his music. I hope I enjoy some of his other albums even more. My favourite songs were Dirt In The Ground and I Don't Want To Grow Up.

Not Tom Waits best in my opinion but it’s a gorgeous album nonetheless. Peculiar in sound and production and only a few standout songs - but it’s more of a complete record kind of thing - it makes sense as a whole.

The prior three albums to this one are my favorites; this one felt like where the schtick tipped over into almost a caricature of itself. I don’t hate it but it’s never been the Waits album I’d reach for.

estranho. curti o que ele consegue fazer com a voz e como ele combina isso com uma percussão podre e que soa como ossos, do jeito que o titulo do album propõem.

Another Tom Waits album. Not bad. Not my thing. Very specific taste to enjoy this, and I could never see myself sitting back and listening to this.

I was really hopping there were no more Waits albums on this but I guess god hates us all. I’ll say it straight: this is shit. That parody singing is borderline offensive and why would he keep with the same puking over the microphone for decades I can only guess… by this time I know he damaged his vocal cords while recording and that he did not care because there were assholes always available to listen to this shit. Please god, no more waits albums!

Upbeat it is not, but then it is Tom Waits so that is not news to anyone. It was an interesting experience but required persistence as his style really does take some getting used to before it becomes appreciated. I have not, however, been converted. I am not going to seek out more of his so called music to listen to, nor am I going to listen to this again.

"Bone Machine" is the 11th studio album by Tom Waits and was his first one in five years after "Franks Wild Years." It was noted as being rough, stripped down and percussion heavy with dark themes of death and chaos. I'll say; at times these songs could very creepy, could be beautiful and also sounded like listening to a 1920's/1930's radio show. It was recorded in a cellar in California which had very good echo. Guest appearances on the album included Les Claypool (Primus), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) , Brain (drummer) and Keith Richard's. It was produced by Waits and his wife Kathleen Brennan (who co-wrote some of the songs) and also won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album. Multiple sticks, weird percussion and Les Claypool start the album with the very creepy "Earth Died Screaming." Waits begins the song mumbling and is screaming by the end. Oh, and it's about the apocalypse. "Who Are You This Time" is a more straight-forward rock song. Hey, Tom Waits can sing. One of the "beautiful" songs on the album. Great lyrics...singing about an ex-girlfriend who was promiscuous. "They're lining up to mad-dog your tilt-a-whirl." Waits goes gospel on "Jesus Gonna Be Here." A nice echo production and sounded like a very barebones New Orleans jazz song. Impending death. "A Little Rain" is a heartfelt and melancholy song with Waits' raspy voice. Piano and steel guitar. A father is recalling his daughter's death. "Goin' West" sounds like mid-80's alternative with the creepy guitar. Pounding drum beat. A raw sound. Waits is particularly indecipherable as he makes fun of Hollywood pretty boys. Tom has hair on his chest and he looks good. Lol. Los Lobos' David Hidalgo plays accordion and violin on "Whistle Down the Wind." Another Waits' raspy delivery. He's looking back at his life before being stuck in the dust. And then the album finishes off with "That Feel." Keith Richard's contributes to the vocals and with Waits and him together sounding like two old drunks singing at a bar. Excellent. About an old girlfriend? About drugs? He can't really change who he is. This album was a fun experience. It might be grating to some but never a dull moment. Original. Experimental. I don't know if I'd start with this album if you haven't heard him before but if you like him, I'm sure probably like this.

I liked Rain Dogs considerably more, although there's a darker vibe to this that I appreciate. Tom Waits is a unique artist and while I don't always love his songs, the overall aesthetic is intriguing and puts you in a different world.

Not his best work.

Okay... about one minute into the album now: I had no idea what to expect here and I would have never guessed that this would be it or that this could ever make this list. wtf. That being said, after getting over the initial shock, I really like the thick and dirty blues sound of the music. That voice though... wtf. His voice sounds like he was weaned on cigarettes and whiskey and enjoys gargling rocks in his spare time. The song In the Colosseum is a parody, right? Or a halloween song?? Wait, Is this a halloween album? Yep.That's it. Has to be. Favorite song: Dirt In The Ground.

Great curation of tones and moods. Some of the songs aren't great in isolation, but they don't have to be - it's about the atmosphere which comes through in spades

I really did think about it for a hot second, but naah. Some song’s vocals were too off putting. 1

This is the fourth time I’ve had to suffer through a Tom Waits album. If this list makes me listen to any more, I’m going to lose it.

Interesting sound. I think I like it but still need more time.

Oh fucking give up Waits, you stupid raspy hack. 1/5.

The very thing that drew me to Tom Waits in the first place is what makes some of his albums suffer a little bit - the fact that each song is so different, he's doing so many experiments and dabbling in so many genres. I don't come back to this one as much as some of the others because it's not as cohesive, and it drags, especially in the middle. Despite that, some of my favorites of his are on this album. It would actually be much faster for me to list the songs that aren't my favorites, but I won't do that. If I had to narrow to my top 3 favorites, I would say "Dirt In The Ground," "Jesus Gonna Be Here" and of course "I Don't Wanna Grow Up." And "The Earth Died Screaming" "Such a Scream" "All Stripped Down" "In The Colosseum" "Goin Out West" "Murder in the Red Barn" and "That Feel." There, I've named almost every song on the album.

This is probably my favorite Tom Waits album. I don't know if I heard this or "The Black Rider" first, but I remember listening to WAIF, a sort of public access radio station at the lowest end of the FM dial, when I was about 13 or 14 years old, and recording onto cassette anything that caught my ear in the night. Tom Waits certainly did. I then tried to get my hands on an album of his and went out and got a copy of "Nighthawks At The Diner." I was sort of confused by it though. It sounded like two completely different artists. I appreciated both modes, but definitely preferred his more experimental material. Nothing sounds quite like his unique cocktail of influences once he hit his creative breakthrough in the 80s with "Swordfishtrombones." His music ages well too because he largely eschewed the recording trends of the time, and pursued something much more timeless. He never quite fit in anyways, so when he really started embracing his inner madman, he stuck out so much it was sort of astonishing. One of the most amazing mid-career reinventions since Dylan went electric. Waits is certainly a polarizing musical figure, and I understand why his sound doesn't sit well with many, if not most, but I've had nothing but admiration for him ever since he had me spellbound over the radio that night all those years ago. Above all I'm drawn to his focus on texture and atmosphere. Whether you enjoy it or not, he has one of the most instantly recognizable sounds in music. A genre of his own. It must have been a difficult road being such an iconoclast, bucking trends, and simply being himself in the face of showbiz, but I'm glad he took the journey.

I had barely listened to this Waits album, I think the first time I was like "this is a bit much for me at the time" and I moved onto The Black Rider. This is a great reason to give it a deliberate re-listen. This is one is dark, even for Waits. Cinematic and theatrical as all hell. It's like Waits got too drunk and was locked in a basement, then was informed everyone he loved has gone away and now he has to make an album. Sound wise, this is percussion-driven with everything falling around that. It suits the album well. There may be a few tracks that don't do a ton for me, but overall it's very strong. Fav Tracks: Goin' Out West, Dirt in the Ground, The Earth Died Screaming

entertaining

Da e jo nåke for seg sjøl, men diverre ikkje for meg

This was unhinged and I loved it

Bem melhor que o anterior dele escutado. Mais rock.

4.5

rautakankien kolistelua! muistin/odotin, että levy olisi ollut enemmän kokonaisuus. ehkä kuitenkin on teemalevy? Tom Waits viehättää syksyllä, mutta en saanut punaisesta langasta kiinni tässä albumissa

Waits (vai Kathleen Brennan) on kohtalaisen kiinnostava sovittaja, jonka kokeilut tällä saralla ovat sinänsä perusteltuja. Biisintekijänä hän ei kuitenkaan ole mistään kotoisin: Waits, samoin kuin joku Elvis Costello, on selvästi opiskellut historiansa ja kuunnellut klassikot laidasta laitaan, mutta missään vaiheessa hänen kehitelmänsä eivät saavuta sitä melodista tai rytmistä variaatiota, joka vaaditaan siirtymään genreharjoitelmasta sävellykseen. Ja hienoa, sanoitukset ovat synkkiä - mitä sitten? Loppuvaikutelma: teennäistä paskaa.

This album came out when I was in college. It's the first Tom Waits album I had heard all the way through, and the first one I ever bought. Looking back, this must have been fairly grim and weird listening for college-age me. But I appreciated the darkness and the depth of it. This was grittier and grungier than anything Seattle had to offer in 1992, without Waits feeling a need to be loud about it. Waits has always done a great job of balancing between his noisier and quieter impulses, and this album is no different. As I said before, grim. There's a heaviness and airlessness to these songs that stands out starkly in contrast to anything else in music. But it's like peeking at a wound that hasn't healed. Waits paints a landscape that's hard to look away from. These songs are sometimes dirgeful and vulnerable, sometimes disturbing or just plain creepy. But they're never boring. Waits has other albums I listen to more often, but I enjoyed coming back to this one today. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): A Little Rain, Who Are You, Goin' Out West, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, That Feel, Earth Died Screaming, All Stripped Down, Jesus Gonna Be Here, In the Colosseum, Whistle Down the Wind, Murder in the Red Barn, Black Wings, Such a Scream, Dirt in the Ground, Let Me Get Up on It, The Ocean Doesn't Want Me

SHACK for PM. tom waits doing what tom waits does here. of the 3 we've had on the list this one is the best yet. i don't know if that's a compliment or not.

Still waiting

Things I learnt from The List number 74: Tom Waits is a much more challenging listen than I had expected prior to starting The List.

Didn’t excite me.

Niet mijn muziek….

(listened to first half) I definitely respect it and he does an excellent job at what he (presumably) set out to do, but it's weird to imagine actually listening to this. That rain song was genuinely pretty good though

Wowwy, this is actually dope. That opening is what I imagine a Bone Machine would sound like. Didn’t listen to the whole thing, but the quality of what I did listen too is much higher then a lot of the stuff I’ve listened to so far through this website. I also love this cover art. Shoutout Dan Rowan

Not bad, soulful voice

This is not a good Tom Waits album, though there are several.

So fucking bad. How is this guy rated and famous? I've suffered two albums by him now. Atrocious.

I mean, what happened to this poor soul's voice?

Who do you voodoo, bitch?

pretty OK 1.5

Can’t imagine I’ll return to this but not upset I listened once, The Earth Died Screaming was both the coolest and most disturbing part

Did not enjoy at all 1.7

I like some of his works, not this

meh. 2/5

good sound but a little same-y

Dreadful

I don’t have anything witty to say about how horrible his voice is, like all the other reviewers try to do. I just didn’t derive any enjoyment from this album, except for the times I laughed at how goofy and clunky it was. Even if his voice were good I don't think I'd care about the music. There were some good lyrics but I don't factor that in much when I think about whether I liked the music

As interesting as the arrangements and melodies are, and as good a lyricist and songwriter Tom Waits is, his continual choice to sing in that annoying, gravelly, guttural, raspy voice takes the pleasure out of many of his songs, especially here, making ‘Bone Machine’ about as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist for a root canal.

I strongly dislike some of Waits' music, but this is actually really good! It has a Southern Gothic kind of energy.

This is the second album I've gotten of Tom Wait's. He is such a weird, eclectic, unique musician. While I enjoyed it at face value, this is not something that I would regularly listen to.

The first Tom Waits album on this run. I had previously heard stuff like Blue Valentine but wasn’t too keen on it. Can’t say the same about this one though. It’s brilliant. Much has been said about the stripped back sound on this record but I think this is where Waits’ voice finds its natural backdrop. Really enjoyed this record and looking forward to giving a second chance to some other bits in his catalogue.

Pas mon préféré de Tom Waits mais tout de même impressionnant Prefs: Earth Died Screaming, Dirtin' the Ground, Such a Scream, Who Are You, In the Colosseum, Goin' Out West, Murder in the Red Barn, Black Wings, Whistle Down the Wind, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, That Feel Moins pref: All Stripped Down

Strano?

Boner madick

Being more experienced with his 80s-sound, Waits turns up the country influence, making the music at turns more touching or more demented

bloke majeans

Spooky. Interesting but not super listenable by me; more of an experience.

Not my thing

Too much hard work.

I think I’ve herd of him before… The album opens with the earth died screaming well I half hated it as the instrumental of the song is good but this isn’t even a hilariously bad voice, it’s just shit. Dirt on the ground is gloomy and slightly jazzy, he has a raspy voice on this song that actually complements it well ( but I still wouldn’t listen to this ever again). Such a scream has such a scream to his voice It’s just not my type of thing. Wow what a horrible song! Was what I thought when I herd all striped down. Who are you this time is probably the best it’s still a shit acoustic track though. The ocean is a druggie spoken word interlude, nothing bad but not a good song. Jesus gonna be here is slightly bluesy I would actually say this song is passable if it wasn’t backed by the most boring rhythm. A little rain is okay vocally he doesn’t exaggerate his annoying traits too much but the song is dull and lifeless. In the colosseum is wired his vocals work well in this song and I guess it can be appreciated as experimental music but it’s too bad to be liked. Okay now we have something that’s alright in the form of Goin’ out west a true rocker with bad arse guitars ( even his vocals are still shit). Murder in the red barn is boring just folky and dull filler. Black wings is odd spoken word over a cool instrumental I really don’t like it but it’s in the top songs of this album. Whistle in the wind is sweet it would’ve worked perfectly as an album closer it’s in the same Goin’ out west, black wings tier where I don’t love ( or even like) it too much but it’s still solid. And if his voice didn’t sound like a hillbilly who smokes tobacco for every second of his life I don’t wanna grow up would be one of those better songs too ( well I guess it’s still one of the albums best if I were to rank the tracks). Let me down up on it is an interlude that sounds like a shorter version of all stripped down. Oh and we’ve finally reached the end with that feel it’s shit but not bad. Wow this was bad; the second half was slightly better but it’s still a 1. I think if it was like 8 or 9 songs and only had the greatest songs it might’ve been higher but there’s so much shit that it’s not worth it.

5 albums in the 1001 is too many. He's ok but not that earthshatteringly groundbreaking. Once you've heard one they all merge into one grungy gruff throated barroom lowlife soliloquy. Still, they make good listening.......

Voz grave y con tono de cantautor americano. No me ha transmitido mucho, más allá de ser un disco raro y él tener una voz profunda.

Gravely voice - guitar is nice at points but just not an overall package I need to hear again

First and last Waits album I'll ever listen to. God awful.

This guy is equally as cool as his music

Torn between 3 and 4, as there are some shit songs in there, but the good ones are so effing good...

Buen disco de Tom Waits. Un 4.

Bastante raro. Pero creo que le voy a dar un 4.

I find Tom Waits a tough listen, always have. So it was a nice surprise that one of his stranger albums is his most appealing.

I dont have a personal ranking of my favorite Tom Waits albums on hand. If I actually had to make one this album wouldn't be in the top half for sure. If this made it over Blue Valentine or Mule Variations its a damn shame in my opinion. Now, enough negativity. This is still Tom friggin' Waits. A true G.O.A.T in my book. So even when he isn't putting out his best work, it's still damn good.

Two Ton Waits records in the same week? Lucky me! This one was not anywhere as bad as Heartattack and Vine thank god. The vocals are much more bearable, but hardly discernible. 5/10

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Szpile w glowie czesc pierwsza

Reading about this album I expected to hate it, but wasn't all bad. The 'experimental' tag can go either way but there was definitely some good songs.

The instrumentation on this album is so good. The groove, the melodies, the music is absolutely fantastic. Moments of pure enjoyment and appreciation for how well the band plays each song, only to get interrupted by Tom Waits. Tom Waits is the villain in this album.

not a bad album ; not a great voice

tom waits took me by SURPRISE. i have disliked other experimental albums within this list, but i am HERE FOR MISTER WAITS!!!! i admittedly haven't heard anything else by tom waits before and i'm looking forward to hearing more of him on this list. there is something about his raspy, gravely voice. he owns it and leans into it! his songs are dark with deep lyrics. he didn't restrict himself at all. i think everyone who listened to this album, whether they liked or disliked it, can agree that waits let himself create what he wanted to create. i don't know why this is listed as "experimental rock," when it touches jazz, country, rock, spoken word, and other genres i didn't catch. the album has a cohesiveness somehow. i realize this album is weird--like really weird, but i couldn't stop myself from enjoying this.

Really, who knew someone could find a million different ways to growl? My favorite growl styles were what was on display on tracks such as The Earth Died Screaming and Dark Wings. I am good with gravely vocals, but I sometimes felt like he was all growling, warbling, or mumbling, and no singing. I'm coining the term growlbling™ to identify this. Either way, I wasn't a huge fan of tracks where that was on display. Honestly, I loved a lot of the music; the minimal sound with very forward drumming, percussion, and/or morose piano made for a very dark/gothy blues vibe, something almost tribal or bayou voodoo. This album was southern gothic genre before southern gothic was cool. Goin' Out West was my absolute fave on this album; if I didn't know better, you might could have convinced me that it was from some unknown Rob Zombie unplugged session (coming soon to an MTV near you). You know that one Devil archetype -- the deep southern, prohibitionist-era, bluesy, mysterious, smooth-talking dark but not particularly evil figure? Yeah, THAT Devil's soundtrack is this album. I didn't love every song; hell, I didn't even love half the songs. But this made for a super interesting listen.

Used to listen to hardcore music while falling asleep, but listening to this at home in the dark morning = terrifying.

Gruffly sung blues, industrial rhythms, but the highlights to me are a handful of tender beautiful ballads. Almost worth the rest of the rough-edged noise.

Digerible, y muy bueno hablando en escalas de Tom Waits

So very, very 90s. A man screeching over a drum.

I love Tom Waits and this is a great album. This one is delightfully grim. I would also say that I know there are at least three other albums of his that I prefer, that this one felt a little long, and that I had more trouble finding a song I really connected to. But those are nitpicks.

The sound of the tracks on this album are what first come to mind when someone mentions Tom Waits. I enjoyed listening to the album on my walk today and I am happy that I am getting more exposure to Tom Waits through this project.

This is the third appearance so far by Tom Waits in this project (we're about 25% through). This isn't an album I've listened to before and the first time through, I wondered why this one? He's got so many albums, why choose this one over any others? And what's it adding that the other included albums haven't already given us? It wasn't clear to me at first what made this one different. After two more times through the record, the answers to those questions didn't matter. There's room in my heart for as much Tom Waits as you want to give me.

The first song I did not enjoy. The second song was rough. The third song… rough. Oh boy… are there really 13 more songs to listen to? Fourth song: Nope. Fifth song: The best so far? But still quite rough…. Is “Jesus Gonna Be Here” an old blues song? Hmmmm… “Little Rain” is a bit better with its country tinge… OK… halfway there. Not enjoying this much. But maybe this is a turning point… “Going Out West” was a little… just a little… more appealing. But I’m still waiting for it to be over. Then six more songs that I did not enjoy… Am I having a bad day? After this completed, I went back to two earlier Tom Waits albums I enjoyed, swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs. I still like them. I did not enjoy this album. I’ll give it extra 1/2 point because there is Tom Waits creativity, but I would only expect to return under duress.

Didn’t enjoy it. Not a fan of the music comp and it’s hard to enjoy Wait’s voice at times

I didn’t get to listen to the whole album but I liked what I heard. 3*

I love 70s Tom Waits. Less enamoured with later stuff.

My favourite Waits album, bar none!

The first time I heard I don't Wanna Grow up, loved that track then I saw the video and was sold. Tom Waits may not have that conventional voice but he is the guy who makes every weird note just a little more awesome, every word, and oddity is his own thing. I don't have anyone to really compare him to...but awesome album.

There's something about Tom Waits that I still totally can't wrap my head around. His vocal range goes from anger to an almost Bruce Springsteen-like crooning. I imagined that when Springsteen got older he was going to sound a bit more like Tom Waits. I think my first impression of Waits was on Primus' "Tommy The Cat." The scat-like voice he used was just so... bizarre. (Makes sense since Claypool is on this album.) Listening to this album, he went from songs angry to almost Beefheart-like. "Who Are You This Time" and "Whistle Down The Wind" were both very haunting. I guess my point is I'm still not sure of his work, like Beefheart. It's something I may have to listen to numerous times. It's just so... odd. So I'm going to give it a 3. Hard to believe this is album #200. Really?

I don't know. I'm just not sure an artist like Tom Waits should get more than one entry on this list (if he gets any). But maybe this is it. I could not stand the opening track (The Earth Died Screaming) and it reinforced my belief that his work is just strange and his voice is awful. But I quickly found myself enjoying other songs - nice musical arrangements, lyrics I could actually hear (which I admit are fantastic), and vocal styling I could tolerate. Dirt in the Ground has a soft sad jazz feel made even more despairing by his lyrics. All Stripped Down feels like a Dr. John kind of song - cool funky sound, although In the Colosseum felt like a far inferior version of this. Who Are You This Time might be his most beautiful song on the album - plays like a sad country song. A Little Rain and Whistle Down the Wind are close seconds - similar feel but each with more piano and guitar secondary. Jesus Gonna Be Here is a strange blues song but it might be his best vocals. Goin Out West felt so familiar - it is his coolest, funkiest, and rockiest musical arrangement. Knowing the Ramones version of I Don't Wanna Grow Up, I was eager to respect the original - not bad. With how bad a start this album got off to, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I almost gave it a 4.

Another great Waits album. This one seems a lot more percussive than some of the previous ones on the list. It gives it a raw mechanical sound and that mixes well with his voice. We still get those Waits ballads like “A little Rain” and “Who Are you” in between them. This gives the album a strange light/heavy vibe. “Goin’ Out West” is just insane and probably my favorite track on here. This album doesn’t hit me a strongly as Rain Dogs or Swordfish Trombones but it’s still a solid album.

I feel like I shouldn't like Tom Waits as much as I do. Dude's weird. But I dig it. This is an all-around very cool album. Lots of dark references to death in the middle of some really catchy but odd music. Favorite tracks: Earth Died Screaming, Dirt in the Ground, Such a Scream, All Stripped Down, Who Are You, Going West, I Don't Wanna Grow Up (I also like the well known cover by the Ramones - also check out the cover by Priscilla Ahn - thanks YouTube for that suggestion!). Too weird to call a 5, but definitely a solid 4.

This is another 5 star-er for me. I like the world Tom Waits comes up with. His albums are one of a kind. And this one is a favorite. Goin' Out West is an all-time great song.

Waits has carved out quite the niche, playing rackety, gothic shaggy dog tales from the demimonde on a bunch of instruments that feel like they're on the verge of falling apart. And I love it!

No just no

Really strong songs, and I like industrial junk Tom so much better than crooner tom.

5.0 - Another masterpiece, this time drawing cues from the American songbook. There are blues dirges like “Jesus Gonna Be Here” and vaudeville-style ballads like “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up.” Themes of sin, life, death and redemption. This one demands repeated listens and I’ll be happy to oblige.

Mad as a box of frogs, and about as much fun

It's a Tom Waits album, what else can you say? You either like it or not. Well I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule because I kinda like but I'm not a fan. One TW album sounds pretty much like the rest. For me, in small doses I can find enjoyment. 3 🌟

I don’t love Tom Waits, mainly because if the voice. Definitely some cool songs, messages and attitude, but I find him hard to listen to.

The music: 🪨🦴🐵 The atmosphere: ☠🌑🗻 The lyrics: ⭐🌟✨ The album as a whole: 😲😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😐😲😴😲😴😲😴😴 What a ride.

Love Tom waits, not my favorite album but definitely a solid album

Tom Waits is nothing if not authentic, a veritable machine of authenticity right down to the bone. He lives, bleeds, drinks, sings, howls… and one day will die… authentically. Not necessarily pretty or polite. But bona fide. And I’ll take a real ‘sinner’ any day over an artificial ‘saint.’ Billy Joel was wrong, incidentally, about the sinners having much more fun. It’s not that they don’t sometimes experience pleasurable things (one of the reasons people self-medicate with alcohol and drugs is partly due to how good it feels, at least until it don’t no more), but the sinners that populate 'Bone Machine' (and every other Waits’ album I can think of) are more often than not wounded and suffering from life situations. Jesus tells my favorite story from his collection about two brothers, the younger of which could easily be counted among the many outcast, unclean characters Waits writes about. The older is morally perfect; except for his feeling of entitlement, as if he has earned and deserves his father’s blessing. The younger screws it all up, suffers the consequences of his actions, then becomes very self-aware and goes back home seeking forgiveness, of which his father, thankfully, is only too happy and eager to give. One of the many take-a-ways in this story is that those who pursue meritocracy in their relationship with the Creator and the Creator’s creation, sadly, may never know the joy of grace. Waits’ characters may be dissolute, but they are also in a perfect position to be the joyful, grateful recipients of grace. Would you rather be inside the house in Jesus’ story, a symbol of heaven, with all the other happy partying forgiven sinners, or outside by your own refusal because you feel as if you've earned an invitation while the rest of the losers have not? Furthermore, if you refuse to participate in heaven, standing outside, then where exactly do you find yourself? Another way to say this is to ask the question: are you giving more power to the sin that closes doors or the Father’s grace which opens them? Your free choice. I only bring the Bible into this because Waits does too. Like Dylan, his songs are infused with scripture. Real scripture, real people, real God, real songs. Very different from the Amy Grant ‘Jesus is my boyfriend’ kind of religious songs (no disrespect intended to Grant, nor am I suggesting that she’s not authentic, too.) It’s just that I much more identify with Waits’ creations- drunks and whores and people contemplating homicide or suicide. Demons, too, perhaps the devil himself. (Good Lord, didn’t the hair on my arms stand straight up when Waits sings in ‘Black Wings’ that ‘… he has risen,’ but rather than the crucified One it’s the one doing the crucifying.) Tom concludes that chilling number with, ‘One look in his eye, everyone denies ever having met him,’ and then whispers that several times to fade out. Brr… Or, the hellish ‘In the Colosseum,’ where ‘we call ‘em as we see ‘em,’ or the ‘Murder in the Red Barn,’ that goes unprosecuted, or worse, unknown at all, or the deceptively playful ‘I Don’t Wanna Grow Up,’ also covered by the playful Ramones, except when Waits sings it is loses any seeming playful innocence of youth and sounds as if the youth is a victim of abuse. I happen to find the crazy, clunky music and Waits’ gravely, booze and cigarette vocals rather enjoyable; but, then I also like that kind of stuff. I’m sure a lot more probably will argue that he makes Joe Cocker, by comparison, sound like Tony Bennett, but that’s ok. Music is pretty subjective to begin with, to a certain extent. You like what you like. I like anchovies and green olives on my pizza, so there. Waits can play a gorgeously melancholy piano, keys soaked in booze, and then turn around and strum a filthy, dirty guitar that probably sends forth a plume of dust when it’s set to rest in its case. Wonderful pedal steel from David Williams to accompany those piano songs. And wherever Keith Richards pops in (on the final song, written by Waits for him) can Waddy Wachtel be far behind? Les Claypool and Brain, from Primus, ‘nuff said. David Hildalgo from Los Lobos coaxes a coyote out of the violin on ‘Whistle Down the Wind.’ But the predominate sounds on this intrepid LP are all the percussion, many of which Waits plays, and I’m not talking about just drums, but an interesting variety of other things, including one Waits invented himself that he names the ‘conundrum,’ a metal instrument ‘with a lot of things hanging off it that I’ve found- metal objects- and I like playing it with a hammer.’ That said, the real draw on 'Bone Machine' is not the music, but the lyrics. And I’m not about to begin quoting them all. I simply can’t. There’s too much. He creates little worlds within each and every song, mini-novels. I know of almost no other artist who does this as/so well, save Bob Dylan. It’s an outstanding gift- God blessed, not earned- despite the pitiable inability, perhaps unwillingness, of the so-called morally upr(t)ight to look beyond his red-rimmed eyes and down into the man’s heart. By the by, that story I referenced before, from Jesus’ discography, was told as a direct cause of the religious professionals in his day grumbling about his keeping company with the kinds of folks Waits witnesses in his songs. Waits’ criminals and outcasts are treated by Jesus as friends. The religious professionals have rendered themselves criminals and outcasts to God, and not by God’s choice, but by their choice. While googling the lyrics to assist with my listening to 'Bone Machine' I ran across this little anecdote from a fan: ‘I saw this homeless guy singing a couple of summers ago. I told him he sounded just like Tom Waits. He said, ‘That’s because I am!’ I couldn’t argue with him about that.’ You can argue with me about the merits of this LP, but not it’s grace. You just can’t. You really can’t. Please don’t even try, for Jesus’ sake.

First time listening to a Tom Waits album, this is fun weird and wonderful album that makes me want to listen again.

To weird

too much tom waitz.

Too strange for me.

Hullu viikko! Ihan parhaita levyjä ja yks hirvee sonta. Mitäs tästä nyt sanois. Tää on mun lemppari Tom Waitsin tuotannosta. Yksi kaikkien aikojen lempi levyistä! Hullunkurinen, pelottava ja järjettömän väkevä. Minimalistisuudessaan jotenkin todella raaka ja anteeksiantamaton. Tää voitti kai Grammyn vaihtoehtomusa-genressä julkaisuvuonnaan. Ei toki turhaan. Todella hienosti nyrjähtänyt levy! Sillai just oikeella tavalla pois paikaltaan oleva nivel tjs. 5/5

Hyvin onnistunu koherentti teema saundien, lyriikoiden ja levynkannen välillä. Mutta en kyllä voi sanoa että tykkäsin musasta muuten.

Sama kuin Rain Dogsiin, eli upeaa ja voimakasta, paikoin jopa hyytävän vahva tunnelma, mutta vähän liian outoa, että kuuntelisin useammin. 3.5/5.

Tykkäsin kyllä enemmän Rain Dogsista kuin tästä, mutta en oikein osaa sanoa miksi. 3/5

I respect Tom Waits but that doesn't mean I like his music. Very grating and absolutely not for me. I had to break this album up over a few days because I couldn't take more than a few songs at a time. Never going to listen to this again.

Not for me ..

His voice takes some getting used to but I like it

No

I'm a huge Tom Waits fan. I'm least familiar with this era of his (early 90s), so that probably factors in to me not loving this album as much as some of his others. His voice can be a bit much even for a seasoned listener and this album features some of the more trying aspects of his vocal stylings... I get why some people loooove this album, but I feel like he's done better versions of this style of his. I suppose that's only because I have the knowledge of his future albums, though. If I were taking this one in when it first came out, it woulda probably blown my damn mind.

Did not love this. Some of the songs were really good, like "Who Are You This Time." But for an entire album it was sort of a tough listen.

Very good

weird ass shit 2/5

I think people will either think he is an absolute genius or he is complete garbage... So I expect a lot of 1 and 5-star ratings here. That being said, I'll give him 3 stars to contradict what I just said and comply with the craziness of this album...

yea, like discussed, its too weird for me

the best!

Rock. Extraño. Deprimente

I don't really get the appeal of albums like this in general and Tom Waits in particular. It wasn't purely awful but it was not good at all. Can't imagine listening to this again.

Bone Machine by Tom Waits (1992) Ya gotta love Tom Waits. With uninhibited, poetic lyrics surrounded by God knows what musical inspiration, each song is wonderfully discomfiting and attractive. There’s just enough rhythmic and melodic convention to keep it from falling over the edge—which seems to be just where Mr. Waits wants us. I, for one, am content to sit there with him and enjoy the auditory panorama. It is reported that when Waits was informed that he won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album for this record, he replied, “Alternative to what?” (Uh, pretty much everything, Tom). One wonders what kind of natural disaster caused the uniquely sour baritone timbre of Waits’ voice, but it’s worth celebrating. And his fascination with sticks (yes, sticks) on an album that is fixated on bones leaves the listener with an aural theme that’s unmistakable. If you only listen to one track on this album, try “The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me”, to get a sense what it must sound like for a guy who yearns for death by drowning, but who’s foiled by an uncooperative body of water—an excuse, of course, which is a mask for some other unexplained something that is, if nothing else, hideously humorous. Three cheers for the “strangels” and the “braingels” and the ocean which will all still be there tomorrow. “Goin’ Out West” is a must addition to your road trip playlist, especially in the ‘annoy the bejeezus out of the passengers’ mode. And special appreciation is due to Keith Richards for co-writing, guitar accompaniment, and backing vocals on the closing track, “That Feel”. He sounded old thirty years ago, and will likely sound old thirty years from now. Give this album a listen when you’re tired of everything else, or oftener if you please, and I hope you do. 3/5

Some good songs mixed with strange vocals but overall quite enjoyable. Favourite songs: - Jesus gonna be here - in the Colosseum - I don’t wanna grow up

Not a fan. Goin' Out West sounds familiar, but the album isn't my thing.

Not bad, Never knew he was so unique. Serious gravel and alot of 'Experience' in both that voice and those lyrics.

surprisingly good album, from the title and cover I was expecting something more grungy like Dust by Screaming Trees but I actually really liked this nice acoustic, bluesy kind of album 8/10

This dude's weird. How did he know there was a market for this? Reminds me of Leonard Cohen. I admit, this album seems like a joke. I am sure there is something punk going on here. I just don't get the progressive element. I get the examination of death and the stripped down nature of the album as a motif for sure.

Every Tom Waits song reminds me of the Wire, but I dig his voice and moody tunes.

Det kan noget. Voodoo-blues med rygerlunger

champ

Poetisk, minimalistisk, alternativt, blues

Wel bijzonder maar niet geel luisterbaar

I don't hate the idea of experimental music, I think it has an important space in the overall musical landscape, I also think it's unlistenable. The work that it inspires will be great, and with that in mind, it's not a 0-star album but I would never listen to this by choice

70 pack year smoker sings the blues

not as good as some of the stuff from the 70s and 80s but still ... Tom Waits

When he's good he's great but when he is bad he is fucking terrible. This album has a lot more good than bad though.

Nope.

First album that I'm not looking forward to hearing. I'll give it a crack. Despite knowing precisely zero about this album or Tom Waits in general, it turns out that my apprehension was entirely justified. This is a falsetto cacophony of meritless free form jazz leading to bad blues. I'm pretty sure that for "Who are you this time" he was singing with his eyes closed because the music is just so damn moving. Can this pish end soon please?

Definitivamente no es el tipo de música que escucho ni que suele gustarme, pero "Such a Scream", "All Stripped Down" e " In The Colosseum" me parecieron muy buenas (!). "Goin' Out West" mi súper favorita, y mención de honor a "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", que va directo a mi playlist autobio!! "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me" es bastante rarita; siento que se parece a "Untitled" de Mylène Farmer (quizá se haya basado en esa canción, quién sabe...). También siento que hay momentos en que puedo reconocer algo de influencia de Johnny Lee Hooker en la música del álbum (?), especialmente en "Jesus Gonna Be Here". Muuuy buen álbum, le doy un 8.5/10, sólo porque no es mi estilo.

Merkwürdig abstrakter Gospel. Wirklich meistens nicht schön. Bezeuge die Intention und Intensität; Gefallen leider gen Zero. Fun fact: fand irgendwie immer Frauen sexy, die dieses Raubein verehrten - for the night, for the dram, for the fuck. 1.7

Puh. Give me Helge Schneider anytime, aber das hier halte ich wirklich nicht gut aus.

Not my jam, I think. I didn’t not enjoy it, but it’s not something I’d miss if I never heard it again

Iskreno sam se iznenadio koliko mi zapravo nije sjeo ovaj album. Volim ga, odličan mi je, i s obzirom da ovaj album ljudi stavljaju većinom u top 3, očekivao sam da će i meni biti tako, ali et, nije kliknulo, nažalost.

Po meni ima Tomica boljih.

Really enjoyed the instrumental musical elements of this - and has huge potential. But his voice just ruined every song for me.

Not my favourite Waites album, but one I enjoyed nonetheless.

Waits starts off with the screeching and the junkyard percussion and you can’t imagine a whole album of this- but then he sings a love song of such exquisite beauty and tenderness it knocks your socks off. Nobody makes music like Tom Waits. A unique artist.

May be it is interesting in its concept, but I don't feel this music

I bought this when it came out in 1992 - a very strange but compelling album which rewards multiple plays.

Good but lacking in variety. A bit Tom Waits by numbers.

The sounds of a nightmare. The songs here have been stripped down to their bare bones leaving only gristle left. You'll either love or hate this. I personally love it. Best Tracks: Goin' Out West; Murder in the Red Barn; I Don't Want to Grow Up

I feel like my favorite team just got bageled at the Superbowl. Tom Waits is better experienced in person in a small venue preferably a dark dive bar in east Los Angeles in the 90s... It's really hard to translate the persona of Tom Waits anywhere else. Hopefully things will come full circle, but the digital age has no use for a lounge-y spoken word performer.

I like Tom Waits. I definitely have to be in a certain mood to listen to him, and I don't often find myself in that type of mood. I appreciate his unique sound and voice.

"The Earth Died Screaming" - yeah, it did, Tom. Because you started singing. "Bone Machine" is at its best when the vibe is spooky, and the restrained percussion surrounds you subtly. It still doesn't make it my cup of tea, or what I would listen to for funsies, but to each their own? My college roommate, Frank, loved Tom Waits. And heavy metal. I never understood it. Still don't. Personally. But it totally fit Frank, a big guy who can be equally cuddly teddy bear and slightly frightening brooding darkness. Waits' voice is cool for specific purposes. I can see it being used to set the tone in some kind of dark, macabre show or movie. In fact, his songs have apparently been used in 29 movies or TV shows. "Peaky Blinders" and "12 Monkeys" make sense. Multiple times in "Gilmore Girls" was a surprise though.

A voice to crush rocks, but a poetic soul to reflect our humanity.

I can’t take Tom Waits in any more that very small doses, a whole album is too much.

I’ve never watched The Walking Dead. Shocker I know. So I don’t know where the zombies live. In my head they live underground, kind of like trolls. If there were a club for the zombies in this underground world I imagine, I also imagine it looks like a club I went to in the French Quarter one time. The Dungeon was a place that did not open until midnight. All the walls were covered in bones…fake ones…I’m pretty sure. To get to the bathroom, you had to go through a hidden bookcase (?) door that led to a geometrically awkward hallway. There were also stairs up to a sitting area that was a half a floor up. However, there was also a ladder built in to the side of the bone wall the stairs were on so you could climb the ladder or take the stairs. Trust me it sounds even weirder to me as I unpack this memory. Anyway, this album sounds like the house band for The Dungeon if it were a club in my underground zombie world. Tom Waits’s voice is haunting as is the music. Tom Waits sounds like he’s already dead and his voice reminds me of the last 20 years of Bob Dylan. It’s like decades on the road, partying hard is bad for your voice. Tom Waits’s voice is terrible, but strangely it works at times here. There are nuggets of interest. I like Earth Died Screaming and Jesus Gonna Be Here. I appreciate the unique percussion used throughout. However, a lot of the album is borderline unbearable.

Grew on me. At first it sounds like a rewrite of Rain Dogs by an old man past his peak (which to an extent is undeniably so) but there are some real gems: who are you is great. Jesus gonna be here (Blind boys of Alabama version) has been a favourite of mine for years without me knowing it was his song.. though their version is definitely better.

In generale ho trovato quest'album molto interessante, a tratti dissonante, imperfetto, sperimentale, e Tom Waits un artista e interprete geniale, a cui piace giocare con la sua voce (e la sua tosse). È stata un'esperienza talmente ricca che a un certo punto è diventata pesante. Ho provato ad ascoltare l'album una seconda volta, ma ho abbandonato perché stremato. Il discorso è che, per me, prese singolarmente le tracce sono molto interessanti, ma messe tutte insieme trasformano l'album in qualcosa di troppo difficile da ascoltare. Dopo le prime due tracce, ero partito con un "minimo 4", ma a malincuore scendo a un voto più basso per via dell'ascolto indigesto. Forse me ne pentirò, forse avrei avuto bisogno di più tempo. Voto 3

Questo album mi ha totalmente spiazzato. Conoscevo Tom Waits come attore, sapevo che faceva pure il musicista e godeva di ottima fama e forse proprio per questo ho deciso di non ascoltarlo. L'avevo liquidato come l'ennesimo attore musicista. Gravissimo errore! Questo disco è fantastico, non c'ho altri aggettivi. Sicuramente fa capire bene la differenza tra realmente impegnativo e palloso. E' un disco impegnativo sì, ma ad ogni pezzo, se hai un minimo di aspirazioni artistiche, non puoi non rimanere a bocca aperta davanti al livello di libertà espressiva di Tom Waits. Ogni pezzo non mi arriva come una canzone ma come una sorta di diorama che descrive delle scene, scene incredibilmente precise e da cui è difficile non essere catturati nella loro stranezza romantica. Veramente questo album per me sta su un altro livello di genio artistico e penso che avrò bisogno di molti più ascolti di due per comprenderlo bene. Per me Tom Waits è veramente quello che Leonard Cohen vorrebbe farci credere di essere. Grandissima scoperta!

Molto difficile da valutare perché non si capisce bene se siamo davanti a un'opera con profondità o no, a tratti sembra come se musicalmente non ci sia molta sostanza però in altri momenti ho la sensazione opposta. La sua voce è un pò la gioia e la condanna di questo disco perché accentra l'attenzione, il tono è efficace e complesso, ma di conseguenza confonde enormemente l'ascolto che fa fatica a concentrarsi sulla parte musicale che sembra nascondere cose interessanti. Alla lunga la teatralità mi stanca però mi l'espressività del disco non mi sembra finta.

I don't wanna grow up

You know, Tom Waits. It's cool if I'm in the mood, but sometimes I like his earlier stuff better.

Didn't love it. Too grating.

First Listen. I have heard of Tom Waits before and may have heard a song or two of his, but basically, I am new to his sound. It is interesting. I think I like it. It is hard to listen to. Back in the 80's there was a song by Robbie Roberton called, "Somewhere down the crazy River" that I love. I think Robbie was channeling Tom Waits sound in that song. Because of that, It gives me great hope that I will come to love Tom Waits over time. That being said, as a first listen to this one, I'm giving it a 2/5. I am sure this will go up after I am more familiar with it.

We've been through that already: Tom Waits works at a different wavelength to mine.

Ehhhhh

Mostly not very enjoyable to listen to. Spotify recommends a “dark, theatrical cabaret music” playlist alongside the album, and that is an apt description. Funny enough I didn’t notice that the album is almost an hour long. In the Colosseum and Goin’ Out West (the only song I already knew) were the stand out tracks.

When it hit it was kinda good. Too much boring stuff tho.

I appreciate how weird it is, but it’s not very pleasant to listen to.

This is my 3rd Tom waits album on this list and I have accepted by now that I will never understand it. I like a lot of music that can be dissonant, weird, borderline unprofessional, out of tune, not on beat, etc. But 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 I can't

Possessed, he vomits up the lyrics as an exorcism is banged out in the background.

Bone Machine's sound is certainly well-crafted, but I just don't like it very much. There are times where I didn't mind the gravelly near-mumble of Waits—it certainly beats his country blues impression on Jesus Gonna Be Here, a title I'm surprised wasn't accompanied by "(feat. Dusty Rhodes)"—but those fleeting moments came when the album got out of its own way and shifted from its morbid focus. Goin' Out West's takedown of Hollywood and macho bullshit features the best music to be found here, and for as dark as the writing can be, the palpable bitterness of Who Are You hits the heaviest ("are you pretending to love / well, I hear it pays well"). Everything else runs too long and treads waters too similar (oh boy, more songs about death where the drums are recorded from the next room over), ending up sounding like the long-lost soundtrack to some animated film that'd sell a lot of shirts at your local mall's Hot Topic. Key Tracks: Who Are You, Goin' Out West

I love Tom Waits but this one is honestly a very middle of the road album for him. still, about half the album slaps so I suppose you could do worse.

A slightly darker and huskier Tom than I’d choose to spend time with. Though the ‘back 9’ is an absolute joy.

So far Tom Waits has accounted for 3% of the albums generated in this here group we’re in. Now I’m not saying he doesn’t warrant it - manifestly he’s a singular, extraordinary, influential voice in storytelling songs - it’s just *interesting* is all. Now: to the album. I enjoyed it. There’s more creativity and exploration in any single track than most artists manage in their whole careers. Here is an artist who gambles on weirdness like a man at the tracks where all the horses are called Weirdness. And it works: it’s inviting, obtuse, odd; the voices Waits conjures here are fantastic - a few featuring a high-pitched departure from his usual concrete-mixer grind. But (isn’t there always a but?) I didn’t feel this had enough to delineate it from Waits’ usual offerings to truly stand out. Perhaps if I’d heard this before Rain Dogs, or Swordfishtrombones I’d be talking about it differently. To me this just sounds like a fine Tom Waits album, rather than one of the 3% of albums that I absolutely must listen to before I die (or else!!!!).

Third Waits album of this gig, taking my total up to five. Might not be my favourite overall but on first blush contains his most eviscerating vocals. Sounds like he's singing half these songs after being shanked in the guts, his voice forcing its way through the blood rising in his throat. Pretty gruesome, and perfect for his grotesques, as is the lost and found instrumentation. He probably did stuff just as weird before this, but true to his reputation (with me) of getting better in his mid to late career, he's found a way to assemble his spare parts into a functioning vehicle rather than a rattling heap. Hence Bone Machine, not Heap of Bones.

I remember seeing the album cover back in the 90's (definitely a memorable cover) but I never listened to this. Some wild stuff in here, lots of weird noises and fun (sometimes funny, though I can't tell if that's on purpose) singing and playing, and a lot of interesting things going on. Each track seems to stand on its own stylistically. I have heard other Tom Waits music (I love the album "Closing Time") and whenever I've seen him in a movie, if a scene includes him I always know it's going to be good. I don't know much about him, and I have a feeling I should. Glad I heard this.

Liebe Tom Waits, aber das ist schon sehr experimentell… deshalb keine 5

Waits ist immer zwischen Genie und Wahnsinn. In dem Fall eher Wahnsinn

Una vibra muy fuerte de pantano encantado donde conviven la población whitetrash con las regiones gringas del vudú. Chido, sus toques darks me gustan. Favs: Such a scream, in the coliseum, going out west. Mood: The bible gone wrong

Not for me but can see why it's on the list. Who Are You This Time nest track

I do not hate Tom Waits, but I do think he is overrated. There is some great stuff in here, overshadowed by how overly long the album is, and by the affected singing style Waits employs.

Powerful songs with beautifully melancholic moments, as is the way of TW's music

I can respect it, but most of it just isn't for me.

Fantastic. Excellent mix of Tom's classic 70s sound and his more experimental stuff

A pedigree of Wait's sound!

Tom Waits' Bone Machine is something I would never consider putting on. Every track is too bleak, morbid, and Tom's grating voice makes for a very annoying listening experience. 1/5.

Funky and primal

not 4 me lmao

I'm still new to Tom Waits, and I'm not sure if I should like him more than I do. This album is getting 3 stars because of rounding - and an assumption that the album might grow on me a little after a second listen.

This album sounds like a demon escaped from Hell and started a band with reanimated skeletons.

This album is tight!

another one I've never heard of. I'm trying , but I would not buy it. Maybe 80 is to old to be listening to new stuff not!! I love new music and motown too. keep sending and I will keep listening

Tom Waits is quirky, weird, and does not follow any rules. His music always feels good.

No one can argue about Waits lyrical chops, but his voice can sometimes leave something to be desired. This album is hell-bent on having him sing in a more aggressive and almost spoken word format that does little to welcome the listener in. Which is a dissappointment given his more sullen and quiet efforts throughout his career. Instead it sounds like a homeless man singing on the street.

A voz de Tom é o ponto mais elevado da sua música, uma voz cansada e pesada que cria uma ambientação melancólica Nem tudo me agrada neste álbum mas a voz carismática do compositor não me permite dar uma nota inferior a 7. Nota:7/10

Pretty much what you'd expect from Tom Waits. Intense singing, quirky instrumentation. Not pleasant, but interesting.

I'm very open to Tom Waits, but this is not my favourite album

TW is iconic — can’t deny that. But I do not enjoy his music.

Bro.... I fuckin hated it.

As the only person that seemed to like the prior album by him on this list, his voice when he got older makes this almost unlistenable.

Wouldn't be surprised if he was thrown out of a bar in Kerry for singing this

Fucking odd but interesting

tribal funk

4/10

demented, dark, growly and percussive. Sounds like it was recorded in a nuclear bunker 3 days after the last of the rations ran out. Not an easy listen by any stretch.

Like nothing I've heard before (only Electro-Shock Blues by Eels comes close, which I'd guess this influenced). A dark and demonic quality created by it being rhythm and percussion led, which is evocative of ungulate creatures. The latter parts of the album has more instrumentation with actual notes, which seems to imply a journey - I'm imagining someone arriving in hell and growing to accept their lot over time. I like this a lot. Dark but not depressing. Unique, evocative, interesting. 4.5/5

6/10. I really wish I didn't dislike how Tom Wait sounds so much, because I like his songwriting. That said, this album sounds a lot more chaotic and unpleasant right off the bat than Heartattack and Vine was, and the songs are more all over the place. "Who Are You This Time", and "A Little Rain" are pretty good though. If there was anything that would justify how bad some of this sounds it would be the lyric "In the colosseum, we call 'em as we see 'em". Honestly this is growing on me as I listen through it. "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is nice too.

Might be a little too 'experimental' for my tastes. Not a pleasant listening experience. 1/5.

Abandonado

Bastante raro. Pero creo que le voy a dar un 4.

Fuckin A, dude. 4

Horrible. Skipped all throughout. Would give 0 stars if I could. Worst album yet. 1/10.

Tre bon album, je suis tomber sur un autre album de tom waits apres et je vois qu’il y en d’autres plus mons tyle. Quand meme ca vaut la peine. 4*

Mare like 3.5 but extra points for trying something different.

Strange.

my dude needs a throat lozenge and some bed rest.

A bit too weird

I think there’s art in here somewhere??

I find some of the songs more enjoyable than others. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of gravelly voices, so it’s not my favorite, but it’s okay.

Delightfully weird and twisted

Not my stuff

Después de tres discos sigo sin agarrarle el pedo.

Can't beat Closing Time

Production: 14/20 Songwriting: 13/20 Innovation: 16/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 8/20 =56 Interesting and enjoyable Tom

- Was surprised by this album, I know Tom Waits' voice can be pretty hit or miss for me, but largely connected with me all album. I liked the instrumentation all over, from the weird percussion to the sax parts - I didn't know that "I Don't Want To Grow Up" was a Tom Waits song. I think I had only heard the version by the Ramones. - This came out the same year that Tom Waits was Renfield in "Bram Stoker's Dracula", hard not to imagine him just randomly eating flies during the recording of this album

This album came as a surprise. I knew what I was getting into with Tom Waits, but it might’ve just came at the right time

Bringing back the memories on this one

Very rough, grumbly vocals - is it singing or spoken...who knows? My vocal cords hurt listening to this. Not sure if this is on purpose, but this music makes me viscerally uncomfortable. I want it to end. Some later songs are less discordant. Couldn't finish it.

I'd give it more but it makes me want to cough the whole way through. Great songs, great lyrics, great atmosphere. Waits' voice is just a tad too much for me though.

Not me

It did have something creative and it could be something that I would explore more in the future. But most of this album is not for me.

There were some songs that I liked and others that were not it for me. In my eyes there are definitley a couple of good melodies and beats on this album. The way he was singing was sometimes destroying it a bit for me though.

ja best vet, super rauw en anders maar wel comfortabel om naar te luisteren. gekke gast wel 3/5

Rugged album

Te gimmicky, vond dit echt niks. Kon er niet doorheen komen.

Strange, but an interesting listen.

There has never been a more apt album title. The music is indeed stripped down to its bones. Tom sings his existential angst over percussion that sounds like it's just Tom Waits banging on shit with whatever he can find (because it is). It's all so very Tom Waits, and so very 90s (check out that album cover, complete with font that looks like a cross between the espn2 logo and anything produced by Tim Burton), and it works. Best track: That Feel

The first words to pop into my head were "voodoo blues". A bunch of my favorite artists love Waits, so naturally I enjoyed this. Waits sounds like a man possessed or heavily intoxicated. Very apocalyptic. Favorite tracks: "Jesus Gonna Be Here", "Goin' Out West", "Murder In the Red Barn"

I have to be in a certain mood for Tom Waits. This album is good, but not great, in my opinion. I like quite a few of the songs, but it seems really disjointed. But definitely a 3.5 star more than a 3.

Crazy album in all the right ways

Definitely an acquired taste, but I listened twice and was pretty into it.