Tom Waits - Real Gone

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Dying to know if anyone's heard this yet. Or, if not, here is the place for anticipation.

Mmmm, scratching.

― Simon H., Saturday, 17 July 2004 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard this is going to be a return to the blues'n'country stuff of Mule Variations. I hope not.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh come on, you've got to get behind the mule.

― Gribowitz (Lynskey), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

that was a dog of a song. the only ones i liked on that were "what's he building" and "come on up to the house". as far as i'm concerned it's his only low point since the 1983 turnaround.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 18 July 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

"cold water" is immense, no?

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 18 July 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

they's scratchin on mule v.

― bowers, Monday, 19 July 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Why do all the press releases say it's Marc Ribot's first collaboration with TW since Rain Dogs? He's on tunes on Bone Machine and Mule Variations, right?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he was on tour with him for mule variations when i saw him live, too.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Any chance of a UK tour at all?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 08:43 (twenty-one years ago)

yes please.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 10:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard that Waits'll be beatboxing on the album. Or adding, more accurately, 'his own brand of vocal percussion.' Any confirmation?

― j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard he's learning how to breakdance.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

From Billboard:

Known for refusing to conform to any style or structure, Waits is said to have combined everything from funk and Jamaican rhythms to urban and rural blues on "Real Gone." The set features such cuts as the comic, funky and instructional "Metropolitan Guide," the R&B/hip-hop inspired "To of the Hill" (featuring vocal percussion supplied by Waits) and the rock-steady groover "Sins of the Father.

No word on the breakdancing yet.

― j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

An intriguing (p)review.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 20 August 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

That sounds awesome.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 August 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

oh yes indeed.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 20 August 2004 10:17 (twenty-one years ago)

It comes out the day before my birthday! Yippee!

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 20 August 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

and five days after mine! yippee!

er, no - 33 FUCK!

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 20 August 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard that Waits'll be beatboxing on the album. Or adding, more accurately, 'his own brand of vocal percussion.' Any confirmation?

-- j e r e m y

That's a 10-4. He does these pseudo-beatbox rhythms all over the place. It's a little weird, actually, because he uses the same technique on almost half the songs. But it sounds v. cool.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 20 August 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm trying to image what this "beatboxing" will sound like - all i can think of is the beginning to "big in japan"

― dyson (dyson), Friday, 20 August 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

hmmm....sounds interesting, but i worry that dyson's right about the big in japan thing, I never really dug that song too much.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 20 August 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Boom-ch-ka-sha-ba-ba-BOOM-keh-dah...
Boom-ch-ka-sha-ba-ba-BOOM-keh-dah...

Closer to jazz scat than beatbox, except that the same phrase repeats over and over.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 20 August 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

This is the only thing I'm anticipating right now.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Friday, 20 August 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

me too. It sounds like it's going to be really good. i'm worried it might go the 6-minute blues direction of mule variations though...

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 21 August 2004 11:19 (twenty-one years ago)

oh i never liked that song "Big in Japan" either.

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 21 August 2004 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Me either. This album is better than Mule Variations; less blues, more rock.

― Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 21 August 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

But songs lengths are definitely still a problem.

― Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 21 August 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Bjork and Tom Waits back 2 back.
Paula Cole had something to do with this i think.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 22 August 2004 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I rate the Tom Waits albums I own out of 10:

Closing TIme: 3
Nighthawks at the Diner: 5
Small Change: 6
Swordfishtrombones: 9
Rain Dogs: 10
Frank's Wild Years: 8
Big Time: 4
The Black Rider: 8
Bone Machine: 6
Alice: 6
Blood Money: 9

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 22 August 2004 10:38 (twenty-one years ago)

and then i kill you

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Sunday, 22 August 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

*gasp*

*falls over dead*

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 22 August 2004 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean I'm gonna restrain myself from declaring a full on Waits fanboy fatwa on you, but only a 6 for Bone Machine? Surely you jest.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Sunday, 22 August 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

exactly what i was gonna say - have another listen DL, bone machine is incredible.

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 22 August 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I would rate Alice and Blood Money exactly opposite. Bone Machine would be a 10 for me.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Sunday, 22 August 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

no way nohow do i rank blood money over frank's wild years, closing time, or alice (my top three waits)(maybe)(fuckit My Top Three Waits).

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 22 August 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i will buy any waits any time.

― kirsten abbot, Sunday, 22 August 2004 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

bone machine is a tenner, definitely. as is nighthawks. dog latin's ratings are totally off the mark. i also never understood the appeal of swordfishtrombones.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Sunday, 22 August 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I Like Bone Machine just fine. Remember, I'm working on a scale of 10 being perfect, five being average/good, zero being bad. I like Alice too, but I found it maybe a bit too eerie - I appreciate the moods and subtleties but it frightens me to the core. Blood Money is also quite a disturbed album but more full on and spiteful than creepy. It has two of Waits's best ballads (Coney Island Baby, All The World Is Green) and as for Starving in the Belly of a Whale, well it's one of his best songs.

Swordfishtrombones is a little better than Franks Wild Years - the Mr Rogers-drowning-in-bourbon of "In The Neighbourhood", the twilight subterranea of "Underground" and "Shore Leave", two very affectionate instrumentals, whimsical piano ballads like "Soldier's Things" and "Johnsburg, Illinois". It's all good and it's as if Tom's character has gone through being a debauched bar-propper to the verge of insanity. He sounds like a shell-shocked veteran, the musical equivalent of the town drunk - frightening, sad, funny, moronic at points but with a twinkle of magic in his eye - on the surface, a madman but with a certain spark of twisted genius.

Maybe I should have given Nighthawks and Small Change slightly higher scores, admittedly. I'm still not that into the pre-Swordfish stuff but there are songs I particularly love off of both albums.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 23 August 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll rate what I own just for a laugh:

The Early Years: 4
The Early Years Vol 2: 8
Closing Time: 8 (for sentimental reasons)
The Heart Of Saturday Night: 6
Small Change: 7
Heartattack & Vine: 6
Swordfishtrombones: 10
Franks Wild Years: 9
Bone Machine: 8
Mule Variations: 7
Alice: 7
Blood Money: 8

― piers (piers), Monday, 23 August 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Looking at your ratings dog latin I can understand why you gave the great mid-80s stuff the highest ratings. Those albums I do believe are superior to the 90's releases, but Bone Machine does have some terrific songs on it, which has inspired me to pose another question. And I really must buy Raindogs.

― piers (piers), Monday, 23 August 2004 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

what question?

and yes, you should buy rain dogs.

bone machine has got great tracks (Little Rain, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, Earth Died Screaming) and others that are not so great. It's my friend's favourite one but for me it's like his token heavy metal album.

Oh I forgot to rate Mule Variations. I give that a "4", although it can sound good if played loud enough and I really like "Come On Up To The House".

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 23 August 2004 07:06 (twenty-one years ago)

In addition to a new album, it looks like he'll be appearing the next Robert Altman film as well: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420087/fullcredits

― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Monday, 23 August 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Real Gone=faux-Cuban dadrock is STILL the best music there is.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 29 August 2004 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

just hook it up to my veins and fucking leave me be!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 29 August 2004 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

the first song is like standing way back and looking in a shoe box where a tiny ape anda tiny giraffe are making music with in a little kitchen.

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 29 August 2004 07:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, you said.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 29 August 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

the kitchen is a new development

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 29 August 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I have Chuck Eddy on conference call for you.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 29 August 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

it's been leaked. my copy is extremely muffled, especially towards the beginning. it's sounding good though - maybe a bit like a cross between mule variations and blood money and with a pinch of bone machine. favourite track so far is "don't go into that barn". not sure about the scratching - especially that "are you ready?" sample that gets played on a lot of hiphop tracks, it doesn't sound right on a waits track.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 09:11 (twenty-one years ago)

it leaked about 10 days ago, didn't it?!

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

yeh

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Tom really should have made a record with Tricky in the early 90's.

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always found the concept of "listening parties" weird, but if anyone cares:

Tom Waits "Real Gone" Listening Parties:

9/19 Cafe du Nord in SF
9/20 Knitting Factory - LA
9/20 Piano's NYC
10/4 Eleven NYC

― Thea (Thea), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Day After Tomorrow has rocketed to my # 1 song of 2004. I've posted this on three seperate threads, I'm so excited.

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Thursday, 9 September 2004 05:58 (twenty-one years ago)

is it the theme song to the movie?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 9 September 2004 06:23 (twenty-one years ago)

i am the first and only person to ever make that joke

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 9 September 2004 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

at least the listening parties are free(knitting factory one, I'm assuming the rest are too) and will also serve as bigscreenings for Big Time!

― tremendoid, Thursday, 9 September 2004 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, that's true.

So far the second track speaks to me the most but I just rushed through it before my boss had to take it back.

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 9 September 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

is Big Time any good?

― Dave M. (rotten03), Thursday, 9 September 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I say Thea and I should take over the Knitting Factory and make it an actual party.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 September 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

YEE-HAAAAAA. A grand idea. Then the Tom Waits Karaoke After-Party.

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 9 September 2004 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I do a mean cover of Bone Machine's "Who Are You," and that's despite not understanding the lyrics.

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Thursday, 9 September 2004 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

All the better. Hmmmm...what shall I warble? I must dig up my 15-year-old "Tom's Tasty Treats" mixtape

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 9 September 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll just retell the Civil War story on Big Time.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 September 2004 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah! (and Thea: Kommienezuspadt - nobody would know if you were butchering it!)

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Thursday, 9 September 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

TOM WAITS
just another
sucker on the vine

1. the black rider
2. rain dogs
3. in the neighbourhood
4. i can't wait to get off work
5. i'll be gone
6. downtown train
7. shore leave
8. silver bullets
9. the heart of saturday night
10. just another sucker on the vine
11. good old world (waltz)
12. starving in the belly of a whale
13. town with no cheer
14. come on up to the house
15. clap hands
16. cold cold ground (live)
17. i don't wanna grow up
18. innocent when you dream (78rpm)
19. that feel
20. all the world is green
21. earth died screaming
22. hang down your head
23. lucky day

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 10 September 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

What, you think I can't pronounce German?

COM-mee-en-eh-TZU-shpahdt

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 10 September 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, why should I brag about speaking German? A "harsh, spitting language", according to Donnie Delillo

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 10 September 2004 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

WTF? No one told me he records with Marc Ribot before.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

That's actually something that bugs me about the album, it's got Ribot all over it and not in a way that they complement each other. There's Tom doing his thing and look- that's Marc doing HIS thing almost like they are ignoring each other, each doing his "thing"

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I noticed that myself - but the two or three tracks I have at high quality seem, weirdly, to be more synthetic than the crummier ones, in which the guitar and vox are totally dueling. I threw on an old tape of rain dogs, and they ribot and waits' styles are oddly disparate too, but on my rain dogs cd they seem to mesh more easily. perhaps this is some argument for high production value?

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Also I just read that and it sounds retarded and insane, but it's true so fuck you allya hataz.

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm i dont agree with you guys i think this is one of his best albums. i think his voice and vocal melodies sound just exquisite. I think Ribot's arrangements compliment Tom's melodies quite a bit. Ribot has become tastier as a player since the last album they made together and i can honestly say that he's playing the SHIT out of his guitar on this one. I love it to bits. At times it seems like a "Marc Ribot(featuring Larry the Mole and Tom Waits)" album but thats when Tom is doing the percussive vocal thing which sounds fantastic to me. Seriously my favorite songs are the ones that sound like Larry, Tom and Marc by themselves. The only critisizm i have is at times the lyrics are lame and ive never felt that way about a TW album before. But when he's on.. he's fucking on! What an album!

― big chaki (chaki), Friday, 10 September 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I got a tr00 copy today, a listenable copy, and chaki: I eat my qualms. I dig dig dig this album.

― x j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Saturday, 11 September 2004 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

wear a cowboy hat while wearing it its awesome

― big chaki (chaki), Saturday, 11 September 2004 08:14 (twenty-one years ago)

wear a cowboy hat while LISTENING to it. its awesome (im drunk)

― big chaki (chaki), Saturday, 11 September 2004 08:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I have an idea for the next FAP. Aside from the movie FAP. Which reminds me, will post more on that soon.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Chaki OTM about Ribot playing the fuck out of the geetar on this album. It has some of the dirtiest guitar tones ever, and he really pushes that teetering-on-the-brink-of-going-out-of-tune thing to the limits on here. I also gotta say the vocal percussion shit turned out WAAAAAAY cooler than I imagined. Some of the gentler moments on here are really DARK too ("How's It Gonna End"). I've only just started listening today, but this is turning out to be one of my favorite of his albums of all.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The way he says 'are you ready?' at the beginning of "Metropolitan Glide" remind me of Lil Jon.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"Circus" sounds like it could be the audio from a scene from a Tim Burton movie.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps, but "Circus" is definitely my least favorite track. He shouldn't be writing spoken word pieces about down-and-out carnies at this late stage; it sounds very much like a Waits parody.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

But totally agree re your description of Ribot's playing above.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Circus" is definitely not my favorite piece on the album, but I think it fits the emotional topography of the whole of the thing really well, it makes for a good stable interlude-ish thing between what are essentially the first and second "act"s.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I think a lot of his albums work their best if you can imagine them as the music from some sort of post-apocalyptic emo stage musical.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually though, I just realized what the chimey thing in "Circus" reminds me of - some of the incidental music from the Harry Potter movies ha ha.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I would very disappointed in Tom if he stopped writing about down-and-out carnies.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

OMG. I think I'm going to really, really like this album. It's like the gutter Medulla.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

And Marc Ribot is in full fake Cuban mode, at least on Hoist that Rag.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah its SOUNDS fantastic. although i keep getting the sneaking suspicion the songs are all waits tropes.

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Hooray!

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

full fake Cuban mode

thats one pretty fucked up fake cuban!!

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

what are the good ballads? I am undecded.

― Tous Les Garcons S'Appellent Little Lord Travolta (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you heard either of the Los Cubanos Postizos records? (you should!)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

me? no. hang on...we have the prosthetic cubans here. i'll dig it out.

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

"postizo" rocks

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Woah, you just have unheard Marc Ribot albums lying around?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

yes, so it seems. i'm glad you pointed me at it Jordan.

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm going to play it again now.

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually bought it today! So far it reminds me of Mule Variations, but I never liked that album a whole lot. I have yet to hear it properly all the way through - I'll report back later.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I read this as Waits having died.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sins of my Father" goes on FOREVER and doesn't do anything. I like Waits as a lyricist but really it's all about the music and delivery, so fuck this track. "Hoist That Rag" is ace.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

He mentions Wisconsin at least twice on the record. It keeps making me thinking of Werner Herzog's movie Woyzeck. They both have a lot of dirt, carnies, and twisted midwestern Americana.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Where have I heard of Woyzeck before? Isn't that the thing Waits based "Blood Money" on or am I barking up the wrong tree?

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been listening the FUCK out of this album. My favorites at the moment are "Hoist That Rag" (I think he got Marc Ribot really drunk before recording this), "Sins of My Father" (a very good autumn watching-leaves-turning-colors piece if ever there was one), "Don't Go Into That Barn" (which I like to think of as some kind of sick prequel to "Murder In the Red Barn"), "Make It Rain" (Ribot's solo on this is one of my five favorite parts of the whole album), and "Day After Tomorrow" (one of the sweetest songs he's ever done).

xpost ha ha that's kinda a lot of what I like about "Sins of my Father" DL

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The sound quality difference from crummy scratchy mp3 to well-mastered album version for "Don't Go Into That Barn" made a huge deal of difference in how all the kickass vocal percussion stands out.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Where have I heard of Woyzeck before? Isn't that the thing Waits based "Blood Money" on or am I barking up the wrong tree?

No, you're sort of right, that must be why it popped into my mind. Blood Money was the score for a play called Woyzeck which happens to be completely unrelated to the movie.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

It may grow on me. You're totally OTM about Don't Go Into That Barn though - do you know that actually happened in Luton?

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Woyzeck (the robert wilson/waits play) isn't based on the Herzog film?

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Money is based on the socio/political play "Woyzeck," originally written by a young German poet Georg Buchner as a spare, cinematic piece in 1837 and inspired by the true story of a German soldier who was driven mad by bizarre army medical experiments and infidelity, which led him to murder his lover. Waits and Brennan wrote songs for an avant-garde production of "Woyzeck" directed by Robert Wilson. "Woyzeck" premiered in November, 2000 at the Betty Nansen Theater in Copenhagen and went on to win Denmark's version of the Tony for Best Musical last year.

I don't know, maybe Herzog based his movie loosely on the play?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't know about that Woyzeck production! As far as I knew, the only Waits/Wilson production so far had been The Black Rider! Must investigate.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

It's also an Alban Berg opera. Both the Herzog film and the opera were based on a play from way back, I believe...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I think "How's It Going To End" is my favourite so far.. I'm sure I can hear some kind of tuba or trombone in there but it must be the bass.

I hate that "Are you ready" sample on Metropolitan Glide, it sounds totally out of place on a Waits record.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

As far as I knew, the only Waits/Wilson production so far had been The Black Rider!

they also did Alice, based on Alice in Wonderland.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG THERE WAS A PLAY FOR THAT!?!??11!?

I swear I am the worst informed #1 Tom Waits fan ever.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll take the Berg opera in a heartbeat.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I think "How's It Going To End" is my favourite so far.. I'm sure I can hear some kind of tuba or trombone in there but it must be the bass.

It does sound like a random tuba note everything now and then. Maybe bowed upright bass?

I can't remember which track it is right now, but one of them has what really sounds like a trombone or trumpet melody, and I have to assume that it's vocal.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate that "Are you ready" sample on Metropolitan Glide, it sounds totally out of place on a Waits record.

Dude, that's Tom!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Or do you mean that 'are you ready' way in the background...huh, hadn't noticed that before. :>

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Woyzeck is maybe the most important modern German play ever, so it's fair to say the Herzog movie is almost fully inspired by/based on it. Saw The Black Rider in London this June with Marianne Faithful, although I believe it's a revival of an older production. The Woyzeck I thought was a more recent prod., in Steppenwolf, right? Anybody seen it?

― drew, Wednesday, 6 October 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, the original production of The Black Rider was in 97 I think.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

This has grown on me so quickly! I even like "Sins Of My Father" despite it having all the ingredients I don't like about some Waits songs! OMG!

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

listened to this just a couple of times all the way through but the stand out track for me is "Green Grass".

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

It's become the default background music in my apartment.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

(in a good way)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I need to fucking buy this motherfucker. Any US tour news yet?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Nope. Canada, but nothing about the U.S. so far.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, except for Seattle.

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't that in Canada?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

where in seattle and when?

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Oct. 16th. ONLY AMERICAN TOUR DATE, THE ASSHAT.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

My friend got two tickets for $350US which I would consider a fucking STEAL.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh hey, so that's SATURDAY huh? Time flies etc.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like this. I've heard things before but never listened to an album on my own. I don't think that Ribot's part seems out-of-place at all - I think the interplay between Waits and Ribot is great, that somewhat loose dialogue quality. I guess I never realized before that Tom Waits can get that noisy and sonically adventurous at times. I sort of have to try not to hear his voice without provoking my Leonard Cohen allergies. When I can do that, I think it's really good.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Leonard Cohen????????

― bulbs (bulbs), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

When he's not barking or howling but doing more of his low-key reciting kind of thing. It's not a really close comparison but it's a deep, throaty, not-that-melodic old-white-man voice, that's all.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

And he sometimes 'sings' slow sort-of-folky-or-bluesy songs.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

That should have been "I need to try to hear his voice without provoking..."

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I know a whole set of people who listen to Tom Waits/Nick Cave/Leonard Cohen and sort of class them together. The difference is that Tom Waits is crazy.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Mark Lanegan is the closest to Wait's in his sound. Nevermore so than with Bubblegum.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hoist That Rag" REALLY reminds me of another song from this year, a single by some American group I think. It's the regular guitar hook and the drus that go beneath it that reminds me. The song it reminds me of is quite angular but still very pop, possibly by an indie band, possibly a more dancey crossover. wtf is it? Everytime I hear that guitar hook I want to sing this other song but then "Hoist That Rag" takes over again quickly and I'm left wandering wtf it is that I'm half-remembering. Can anyone help??!

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

"You're totally OTM about Don't Go Into That Barn though - do you know that actually happened in Luton?"

Hold on, I'm a Luton lad. Can you elaborate on this? It would be kind of weird if Waits' red barn turned out to be the one used to live down the road from. Although fairly unlikely.

― Philip Alderman (Phil A), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I love it: just can't understand why it's been getting so much lousy press.... or maybe, I can - because it's the most dangerously "out there" album he's released since Swordfishtrombones!

So glad to be seeing him on this tour, expecting great things - I think the only tour I'd rather have seen him on would have been the Big Time one.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

lousy press? i've only seen good reviews. where's the negative stuff been?

― Pete W (peterw), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Does no one know what song it is that "Hoist That Rag" reminds me of?!

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

"lousy press? i've only seen good reviews. where's the negative stuff been?"

Mojo / Q / Ucunt - all lukewarm to poor IIRC.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought the mojo review was quite positive. not seen the other two but i was told a while ago the uncut review was going to be a bit of a downer. wire gives guarded praise.

i agree, though, it's a fantastic album.

sorry nick, no idea what song it reminds you of.

― Pete W (peterw), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

southy - i know what you mean - it reminds me of something too but I can't place it. "Sins Of My Father" reminds me of "Since I've Been Loving You" by Led Zep for some reason.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hold on, I'm a Luton lad. Can you elaborate on this? It would be kind of weird if Waits' red barn turned out to be the one used to live down the road from. Although fairly unlikely."

"Murder in the Red Barn" was the title of a Victorian melodrama. Based on a true incident IIRC. Maybe even in Luton?

― Soukesian, Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/redbarn-intro.cfm

― Soukesian, Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sins Of My Father" reminds me of "Since I've Been Loving You" by Led Zep for some reason.

Holy shit - the album totally made me think of LZIII, that track particularly, and I've been listening to them together. Maybe something about bluesy and folky dirges perverted by noise, improvising guitarists, and scratchy voices. (Not that straight blues voices aren't scratchy to start with or that trad songs can't be noisy or improvisatory.)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Mind you, I compare everything to Zeppelin anyway.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

also setting a precedent w/ intimate protest politicking of "Day after Tomorrow"(beautiful song, overlooked til today due to superficial resemblance to other recent Waits ballads). Can be construed as a general "warrior's lament", and I assume that's what Tom would say if asked, but the timing suggests otherwise, has he done anything remotely this direct before? I can't think of anything (without jumping through metaphorical hoops)

― tremendoid, Wednesday, 13 October 2004 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Um. I can't help thinking the verse section of "Hoist That Rag" is some kind of Destiny's-esque power ballad pastiche... it's great.

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Friday, 15 October 2004 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

oh dear.

This is the first Waits album I don't like. Well, I might grow to like it, I've only had it for a week, but uhhh... it just isn't very compelling to me at all. I've never had a problem with his whole I-do-the-same-thing-each-time schtick before but there just doesn't seem any need for this album to exist.

Also his voice is mixed way way too low.

At least he's not actively embarrassing like Nick Cave though.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

it's pretty hard for me to listen to. He's channeling some inner demon or something like he mostly always does, and to tell the truth he bores the shit out of me. I find something maudlin in what he does these days. I still like "Bone Machine" and a few of his Beefheart ripoffs OK, and have grown to like his earlier stuff better. But it's nothing that really compels me.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost
I probably feel the same way but w/o disappointment, strangely.
there's plenty of reason for the album to exist, just not as much overwhelming reason to listen to the whole album w/ any regularity, which has never been the case before. Doesn't seem tossed off, but doesn't seem lived in/bled on like his other releases(since Swordft).

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 23:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm only disappointed because I loved everything he did up til this, even including Mule Variations which a lot of people seem to hate, so I figured he was a rare example of a singer-songwriter managing to stay good and relevant (to me AND generally) into old age.

But bloody hell, all the songs are EXACTLY THE SAME here and - I'm listening to it right now trying in vain to find a way in - oh my christ here's another spoken word exercise which there is no excuse for.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The production ruins it.

― Chris Rda, Tuesday, 30 November 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Also his voice is mixed way way too low.

B-b-but it's ALL his voice!

It is true that they didn't mix his vocal percussion like drums so it mixes with the melodic vocal parts and gets a bit muddy, but I don't mind it so much.

I still really like everything on it except the last track. Marc Ribot just shines.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

it takes a few listens definitely and i must admit some tracks are a lot better than others but i kinda think that about all his 90s releases - hit and miss.

Sins Of My Father, Hoist That Rag, Don't Go Into That Barn, How's It Going To End are all top notch though.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

At least he's not actively embarrassing like Nick Cave though.

the new Nick Cave album is great, though (I admit the last two were not). As for this Waits album: I can't get into it. I keep trying, but it slips by and nothing sticks in my memory.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Lay your head where my heart used to be
Hold the earth above me
Lay down in the green grass
Remember when you loved me

Come closer don't be shy
Stand beneath a rainy sky
The moon is over the rise
Think of me as a train goes by

Clear the thistles and brambles
Whistle 'Didn't He Ramble'
Now there's a bubble of me
And it's floating in thee

Stand in the shade of me
Things are now made of me
The weather vane will say...
It smells like rain today

God took the stars and he tossed 'em
Can't tell the birds from the blossoms
You'll never be free of me
He'll make a tree from me

Don't say good bye to me
Describe the sky to me
And if the sky falls, mark my words
We'll catch mocking birds

Lay your head where my heart used to be
Hold the earth above me
Lay down in the green grass
Remember when you loved me

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

Revival time! And to do the job, useless Real Gone trivia. For some reason I plotted the stops of that 'flat boat' at the end of "Don't Go Into That Barn" into Google Maps and asked it for directions. So if anyone ever wants to make a ridiculously unneccessary road trip, here ya are. Or just rent a canoe.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dover+Indiana&daddr=Covington+to:Louisville+to:Henderson+to:Smithland+to:Memphis+to:Vicksburg&hl=no&geocode=CUq2D7K0tNWfFa3GVgIdvszv-iFS580sMx6L4Q%3BFZdeVAIddoD2-imbJWzUq7BBiDGr4rDrV8nmLg%3BFZ62RwIdUWrj-ikR1VuzGgtpiDEy_XEgKLTT1A%3BFXpVQQIdg3vH-inB6Ektf99viDHjLDU873apmg%3BFQGyNgIdVBK7-imbw3-1IXJ6iDF_Kp0SPHMXdQ%3BFd5WGAIdLPah-ilFl0PqHn7VhzH-thpgFfOT0Q%3BFYap7QEdRlCV-im5EbH2J-AohjHAe08HaSpCdw&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=36.615528,-86.418457&sspn=8.708652,19.753418&ie=UTF8&ll=36.297418,-86.835937&spn=8.744308,19.753418&z=6

― the Dirt, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 02:39 (sixteen years ago)

I wonder if I still have this. I thought maybe I made the mistake of buying Real Gone while I was feeling pretty burned out on Tom and that was why never got into it, though this thread's got me feeling I may have been right. I feel like I could start listening to the guy again, but I'm wondering if all I really need is like, The Black Rider, and Rain Dogs, and one or two others.

― retrovaporized nebulizer (╓abies), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 03:03 (sixteen years ago)

i really love this record but it would have benefited from being a lil shorter

― myndbloom, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 05:09 (sixteen years ago)

No, dig it out, this is a great one!

― Soukesian, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 11:44 (sixteen years ago)

It is! Love the stripped-down sound, that incredible guitar, and some of the lyrics are among Waits' best in my op: Just check out "How's it gonna end", "Make it rain" and "Day after tomorrow", which I'm sure has already been discussed to death.

― the Dirt, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 13:31 (sixteen years ago)

One of his most rockin' albums IMHO. The call-and-response section of "Don't go into that barn" always raises the hair on the back of my neck.

― Soukesian, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 13:59 (sixteen years ago)

Great album, not a bad track on it.

― I am flesh and blood. You are software and circuitry. (chap), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 14:09 (sixteen years ago)

Probably his most solid since Rain Dogs actually.

― I am flesh and blood. You are software and circuitry. (chap), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 14:13 (sixteen years ago)

Loved it when it first came out-have not listened to it lately

― Pinto Basin, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 18:10 (sixteen years ago)

This is one of those albums that I liked when it came out but I didn't love it. Took it out the other night and for some reason it hit home and now I would rate it one of his best.

― Jim, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 21:32 (sixteen years ago)

this album rules. Ribot's guitar solo in Hoist that Rag kills me every time.

― black lightning light (herb albert), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 22:39 (sixteen years ago)

New live album is tons of fun, even if it is a heavily bootlegged date.

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 23:09 (sixteen years ago)

Is the new album one show or a comp from different places? I have the NPR show from Atlanta that got bootlegged so I haven't bothered to check the official disc out.

― EZ Snappin, Thursday, 12 November 2009 02:14 (sixteen years ago)

One show, the Atlanta one, I believe. With a second disc of banter!

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 12 November 2009 02:47 (sixteen years ago)

That's cool - thought it was a comp from different places with a typical show's setlist. Actually, it can't be the NPR show as the Atlanta concert is over two hours long! Must be from somewhere else.

― EZ Snappin, Thursday, 12 November 2009 02:54 (sixteen years ago)

new live one super cheap at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Glitter-Doom-Live-Tom-Waits/dp/tracks/B002QJX33O/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

― tylerw, Saturday, 14 November 2009 16:39 (sixteen years ago)

Amazing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUhWuPTBIfo&feature=related

― I am flesh and blood. You are software and circuitry. (chap), Saturday, 14 November 2009 17:23 (sixteen years ago)

he is *great*, isn't he? sometimes when I think about his schtick, it seems a little tired, but then I hear/see something like that and am amazed all over again.

― tylerw, Saturday, 14 November 2009 17:51 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Why are his albums so long?

My only real problem with them. By the time I get to track #16, I've forgotten what the first 5 songs sound like.

But yeah, I like this one.

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 13 October 2011 00:51 (fourteen years ago)

You'll like his new one then, it's a tidy 45 mins. And it's great!

― Simon H., Thursday, 20 October 2011 05:23 (fourteen years ago)

from the pitchfork interview:

My wife Kathleen wanted to do 12 three-minute songs. Get in, get out. No fucking around. Because people don't have a lot of time. The way I think is more like, "Oh, you got time for 19 songs on there? Put 19 songs on there, baby." She says," No, no, no. Twelve." Like the eggs, 12. You can do a lot in two minutes. So I'm starting to get more economical as I go. Don't overstate, don't restate.

― encarta it (Gukbe), Thursday, 20 October 2011 06:03 (fourteen years ago)

Dug the new one as well, having only heard it once. A nice condensation of his schtick - and I mean that in the best possible way.

― Turangalila, Thursday, 20 October 2011 16:45 (fourteen years ago)

Thirded. Like it on first listen, which isn't always the case with his albums.

― Matt M., Thursday, 20 October 2011 17:09 (fourteen years ago)

six years pass...

The newly remixed version of Real Gone is, believe it or not, worth everyone's time. Everything that dragged this album down (beat-boxing, slightly harsh production) has been toned down and a few subtle tweaks here and there make for a much better listen

― FREEZE! FYI! (dog latin), Saturday, 30 December 2017 19:00 (eight years ago)

Abrasive production is why I like it tbh but interested to hear this

― kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 30 December 2017 20:11 (eight years ago)

Hoist that Rag was perfect tho

― Gukbe, Monday, 1 January 2018 01:27 (eight years ago)

oh wow this sounds WAY different from the original mix, way more of an overhaul than I was expecting

― Simon H., Wednesday, 3 January 2018 20:59 (eight years ago)

xp I definitely prefer the new version of HTR with the trumpet intro, just lifts it a bit

― FREEZE! FYI! (dog latin), Thursday, 4 January 2018 16:45 (eight years ago)

I'd have liked some deep, subtle horns added to 'How's It Going To End'. Have to say, other than HTR, the rest of the changes are a lot more subtle. Or what else am I missing? It's been a little while since I listened to the original.

― FREEZE! FYI! (dog latin), Thursday, 4 January 2018 16:53 (eight years ago)

seven years pass...

They put the original version back up on streaming at some point, thank god.

― Lady Sovereign (Citizen) (milo z), Monday, 29 December 2025 19:12 (two weeks ago)

interesting, I'm still getting the lame redo on apple music

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Tuesday, 30 December 2025 01:10 (two weeks ago)

Hmmm Qobuz has “(Original Version)” (also it seems that it’s on Tidal and Spotify) - Apple Music shows two versions for me remastered and one without remastered or original version. I don’t have headphones with me so I can’t see if the unidentified one is the original.

― Lady Sovereign (Citizen) (milo z), Tuesday, 30 December 2025 03:12 (two weeks ago)

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