Tom Waits - Bad As Me

Another big release from one of my favorite artists. Tom Waits' first new album in seven years. I always expect big things. But what I got even exceeded my expectations.

The first thing you notice from the onset is the big-out-frontedness of it all. This is in comparison to his most recent works. The melodramatic-eerily romantic Alice; the bleak cabaret of Blood Money and low howl of Real Gone. All were presented pretty much under the vest. Bad As Me is bigger than that. Rolling Stone just shouted out Swordfishtrombones here, and while I don't want to paint that avant garde of a picture, it certainly has that brightness. For example, the opener "Chicago" is a fantastic rewind to the "Midtown" instrumental off Rain Dogs. Lots of horns and harmonicas and guitars and not the calliope drones that has been a key instrument in the last decade.

Plus, his vocals are way up and at 'em. The title track is a perfect example of that. His gruff growl is ever present as always, but it's constantly enunciated and clear here.

But the focus for any Tom Waits' review will always be directed toward the pen. As one of the most prolific songwriter in American history (not an exaggeration), Tom - and increasingly, his wife, Kathleen - have provided a tremendous amount of lyrical shelter for the emotionally homeless. They keep it clever several times throughout the collection including a new confusion epic, "Talking At The Same Time" where he observes, "We bailed out all the millionaires / They’ve got the fruit, we’ve got the rind". And a completely experimental march of "Hell Broke Luce" scissors to bits everything furthering the war machine, asking "How many ways can you polish up a turd?"

But there are also times that the duo keeps it simple, which also works. The almost-straight rockabilly "Get Lost" is about little more than getting in the car and driving. And the jazzy "Kiss Me" is deeply romantic in its simplicity of a couple whose newness is behind them.

Another great collection which will no doubt be in my best of the year. (5 of 5 stars)