Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1113909)

It's also interesting to me that, after about a quarter century of progressively getting dirtier and dirtier sounding with each album, this one has the cleanest production since Swordfishtrombones. I was a little surprised by this but it actually sounds great.

Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1113909)

I'm digging it a lot, especially the first few songs. I could do without a few of the draggy ballads in the middle of the album, but that's an ongoing disagreement Mr. Waits and I have been having for many, many years. It's also interesting to me that, after about a quarter century of progressively getting dirtier and dirtier sounding with each album, this one has the cleanest production since Swordfishtrombones. I was a little surprised by this but it actually sounds great.

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1113910)

Interestingly, this is my only contention with the album. I love the dirty production of his albums, especially on Mule Variations, and it's absence here takes the album from Perfect to Great. The production still has that signature post-Swordfishtrombones Waits album sound though, and the songwriting is incredibly strong.

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1113910)

I half agree about the ballads, but I've always liked the ballads of his post-James Taylor clone days. The ones on Mule Variations are his strongest, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1114372)

Ah, you know I haven't heard Alice. I heard that it wasn't worth getting so I never did.

Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1114380)

I suppose it's worth getting. I mean even a bad Tom Waits album has some redeeming features but Blood Money, which came out at the same time, is definitely the far superior album.

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1114400)

In general I think I've just avoided his material that was written for plays. I don't know why, I guess I assumed it wouldn't be as personal or quality, but listening to some of the songs on YouTube I think I've probably been missing out.

Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1114485)

Yeah, Blood Money, Black Rider and Frank's Wild Years are all great albums. If you haven't heard them, they're definitely worth your while.

Originally Posted by The Monkey (Post 1114412)

You people are insane, Alice is his best album since Bone Machine. I think the ballads in his 70s and 80s album are of filler quality, but since the 90s they have been excellent.

Originally Posted by The Monkey (Post 1114412)

As for the new album, after two listens I'm loving it. "Hell broke Luce" is probably my favourite track at the moment. The lyrics are a bit hard to hear throughout the album as is usual with modern era Waits album, but I usually pick up on them on further listening.

Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1114765)

So you disagree then that the weakest songs on this album are "Pay Me" and "Last Leaf"? Those two are definite skippers for me. Some of the other ballads are good though, like "Face to the Highway".


I like "Hell Broke Luce" a lot too. I don't have any trouble understanding the lyrics though, never have with his songs in general. Maybe it's just the faux-southern accent on songs like that make him harder to understand if English isn't you first language?

Anyway, yeah, "Hell Broke Luce" is great, as you say one of the heaviest songs he's ever done, and it's hilarious to hear him swearing so much in a song. My other nomination for best song on the album are the first four tracks, "Chicago", "Raised Right Men", "Talking at the Same Time", and "Get Lost".

Originally Posted by 10thLineStudio (Post 1144915)

Got the album, paid for it of course, but still can't get around "Glitter and Doom". That live album is gonna be hard to beat!!!

Originally Posted by guest_star (Post 1145312)

reLLY COOL

Originally Posted by TheBig3 (Post 1145317)

It is really cool. I also don't plan to buy anything, read any reviews, or contact anyone. Sorry for that non sequitur, just hit me right then.

Originally Posted by eurochild (Post 1145333)

Definetly the coolest album of 2011. Love the clean, but un-polished sound. I really like 'Raised Right Men' and 'Talking at the Same Time', but the whole album is great. Got the deluxe edition for Yol, with artwork and lyrics. Love it :)

Originally Posted by TheBig3 (Post 1145334)

It just felt like almost all of the songs were the same, there was no real musical experimentation, no style change-ups, no arrangements worth noting, and while I've only given it a few spins so far, not really the writing I was looking for. (Lyrics wise).

Originally Posted by Unrelenting (Post 1146634)

I dunno, in Chicago using the horns as rhythm instruments was pretty interesting, and maybe it's just me but Hell Broke Luce had really good lyrics for me.

Originally Posted by eurochild (Post 1146888)

Yup. And I don't think all the songs sound the same. They have the same atmosphere, but it gives it a very cinematic feeling. Everytime I listen to it, I feel like I'm joining Mr. Waits on a long journey (to Chicago?) But I understand what you mean, TheBig3, though I do not fully agree with you.

Some of the songs in the middle of the album could've been excluded, though.

Originally Posted by TheBig3 (Post 1196495)

i think it was a slicked-up blood money, as interesting as any other sinner who's become born again - which is to say not at all.

I liked 2 or 3 but they wouldn't be in my top 25 songs I'd imagine (haven't really done that chart though.)

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1196504)

Personally, I f'ing loved Blood Money. This one seemed to fall short of that album for me. It was great as a whole, there just weren't many memorable moments in particular, like God's Away On Business or Misery is the River of the World from Blood Money.

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1196965)

I couldn't get into "Blood money" or "Alice". Must give them another shot. Worth it?

Originally Posted by TheBig3 (Post 1196551)

But thats what I mean. Slicked-up wasn't a good thing. I think Blood Money got its personality from its ragged, shambling presence on songs where the protagonist had those qualities. Even songs that were incomplete from BM like "Another Man's Vine" were carried by the production value and vocals adding an extra dimension.

BAM strikes me as someone faking it. Or not that interesting to begin with. There are songs, few strike me as mattering, and its like Blood Money's kid brother tried to get in on the act and ride the last name to stardom.

Originally Posted by Conan (Post 1196972)

I could see that. The production of Waits albums has always been one of my favorite things about his career, as they seem to have character all their own and certainly for me are a big part of his appeal. I suppose the production on Bad As Me is a lot more slick, even his growl seems a little glossed over.

As far as getting into Waits for the first time, a lot of people will say Swordfishtrombones, but as a newbie I found Mule Variations the most listenable. From there it was Bone Machine, and from there everything else.