I haven't listened to Bad As Me in a long time, but I remember liking it. I like The Black Rider but I would agree it's very uneven. I think my least favorite Tom Waits album is probably Alice, which is weird because I like Blood Money a lot.

It's not his greatest now really is it? I think I liked, was it, "The Last Rose of Summer"? But I haven't listened to it since the one or two times after I got it, and once for review. I feel his last great one is probably Real Gone or Mule Variations.

I listened to The Black Rider a lot when it was new. "November", "Just the Right Bullets", "The Briar and the Rose", "Russian Dance", "Gospel Train/Orchestra", "Oily Night", "Lucky Day", and "Carnival" are all great tracks IMO. "The Last Rose of Summer" and a few other tracks are decent as well. My only real complaints are that it's uneven and that "'T' Ain't No Sin" is one of the worst songs he's ever released.

I love T' Ain't No Sin. The instrumental part is great and the fact that Burroughs is plainly not a very musical person is part of the charm. He's William S Burroughs!

Bad as Me is a fine record with lots of great tracks. The title track and Hell Broke Luce above all for me but lots of others

Bumpety bumping the thread. I'm a long time Waits fan and just noticed this thread on the forum, so I thought I'd add my .02. This album gets an 'ok' vote for me. My favorites are still Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, Mule Variations, Alice, Blood Money, and Nighthawks. Real Gone and Bad As Me are ok, have a few tracks I really like, but overall, haven't hooked me as much as his other albums.

This is one of my favorites from Bad As Me and you can't deny the video clip. Must be seen to be believed. This, folks, this is what the internet is for! :thumb:

I'd give Real Gone another chance. One of my all time favorite albums not just by him.

I'd agree Bad As Me was something of a disappointment, though I do like "Last Leaf". I'm so-so about Real Gone too. Personally, I don't think Waits released a truly excellent album since maybe Bone Machine. I still can't get into Alice or Blood Money, and The Black Rider generally just leaves me confused. So my favourites would be (not in order): Small Change, Blue Valentine, Rain Dogs, Heartattack and Vine, Bone Machine, Mule Variations, The Heart of Saturday Night and Closing Time, with honourable mentions for Foreign Affairs, Swordfishtrombones and Nighthawks at the Diner. Heresy, perhaps, but I can live without Franks Wild Years.