Tom Waits

[karohemd]

Listening to his new album (Real Gone) I was trying to find a way of describing him to someone unfamiliar with him and his music. The only thing I could come up with was "Townes van Zandt on crack with issues" which doesn't help as not very many people know TvZ, either.

Maybe "Raw poetry and raw music".

D'oh! He's playing on the 23rd of Nov at the Carling Apollo, and it's sold out. I really need to actually read my listings mails...

Rating for Real Gone: 4/5 (no full marks only because there's nothing really new just more of the high quality tracks we're used to, by no means boring)

Comments

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

The Apollo gig sold out 10 minutes after tickets opened.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised, it's been ages he was in Europe or the UK last.

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

Tom Waits has been my god for more years than I care to remember. I can however recall with crystal clarity the first time I heard 'Closing Time'. his first album, and almost fell over with how wonderful it was.
'Real Gone' is alsmot diametrically opposed to his earlier stuff, but I still love it. I bought it at 9am the day it came out, and have listened to little else since.
I do see your point, there's little revolutionary on this album (for him, anyway!) but it's still amazing.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I do see your point, there's little revolutionary on this album (for him, anyway!) but it's still amazing.

Agreed.
I really need to get more of his back catalogue, I've only got the anthology CD Used Songs (73-80)
I'm playing a singer-songwriter/Americana set at the December Octaine, that will definitely feature some Waits.

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

If you wish to borrow anything I have pretty much everything he's ever released from about 1973 onwards, up until the late 90's. My collection since then has been a little patchy.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Cool, I'll come back to that, thanks. Currently, I'm a bit too busy with various things.
*goes offline to do laundry and shopping*