In the Seventies, a record company in LA issued a record called The Best of Marcel Marceau. It had 40 minutes of silence followed by applause and it sold really well. I like to put it on for company. It really bothers me, though, when people talk through it.

Postmodernism is everything that is wrong with the world, everything.

Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it. I mean, I get the blues in his music, but I sure as hell don't get the rhythm. Or any serious talent. Plus, wasn't he the wacky inventor from Mystery Men?

That man is a national treasure.

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it. I mean, I get the blues in his music, but I sure as hell don't get the rhythm. Or any serious talent. Plus, wasn't he the wacky inventor from Mystery Men?

Tom Waits can get quite difficult, on albums like The Black Rider. You should try get into stuff like Small Change, which is much easier listening. The guy's a genius.

He was indeed the inventor in Mystery Men. He's been in quite a few films actually. Most notably, in Jim Jarmusch's Down By Law.

He's pretty cocky for someone who wrote songs for scarlet johanson.

You know what? Fark Tom Waits. I don't care how much of a genius he is, that article is as painful and traumatic as walking in on your parents having sex. With all of those frakking lists, I thought I'd started reading House of Leaves again.

Tom Waits punched my dog in the face so hard it switched breeds.

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it. I mean, I get the blues in his music, but I sure as hell don't get the rhythm. Or any serious talent. Plus, wasn't he the wacky inventor from Mystery Men?

Depends if you're interested in good song writing and great lyrics as opposed to something with a solid beat that you can dance to.
Approaching Waits through links can be a little mystifying - alot of his later stuff will grow on you if you're a fan but makes for a lousy introduction. Start out with his first two records: Closing Time and The Heart of Saturday Night. If those don't turn you on to Tom, just accept that he's not your thing. Some folks can't get past his blender full of gravel voice. But he hits the notes.

Even his covers are awesome.

gopher321

Try this one. If that doesn't grab you, you just don't get it.

Not that there's anything wrong with that :)

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it. I mean, I get the blues in his music, but I sure as hell don't get the rhythm. Or any serious talent. Plus, wasn't he the wacky inventor from Mystery Men?

Tom Waits is one of the most brilliant and important musicians ever. Think of him as being in the same club as Lennon, Miles, etc.

/obscure?

I have the studio version of that albumn. It's very restful.

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it.

Here (new window)

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it.

Umm...he's got soul?

"better off without a wife" (new window)

tatum: Depends if you're interested in good song writing and great lyrics as opposed to something with a solid beat that you can dance to.

Hey look everybody-- a pretentious bastard in a Tom Waits thread. Who'd a thunk? HAY WELL IF GOOD MUSIC AIN'T YOUR THING THAT'S OK HURR DURR.

Fortunately, I don't have to choose between the two. I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

I Like Bread: Fortunately, I don't have to choose between the two. I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

So you've never listened to Tom Waits then?

alexanderplatz
Umm...he's got soul?

"better off without a wife" (new window)


cool cool. I have that cd. the Intro before that track is hilarious, as are a few of the other intro's on the cd.
I've never listened to the whole album all the way thru...
[why? i think maybe 70+ minutes of contemporary piano/bass/drums/sax jazz would get on my nerves after a while...]
but this is one of the songs i like [i like about half of them...]

Third_Uncle_Eno Yes I love the spoken word/poetry/anecdote/hilarity of his between-song banter.

I don't know why I don't mind Dylan's nasally affectation, but don't like Waits' gravelly one.

Gotta love this one: God's Away on Business.

It's creepy and it's awesome.

I think "Rain Dogs" is a GREAT intro to Mr. Waits. Great stories, weird rhythms and percussion choices, all around awesomeness.

Fav cuts: EVERY SONG ON THE ALBUM!!!

Tom Waits' favourite album is 40 minutes of silence followed by applause.



Umm, looks like Marcel Marceau ripped off John Cage.



/it's funny because he's a mime

Hetfield: Gotta love this one: God's Away on Business.

It's creepy and it's awesome.

That whole album is full of creepy awesomeness.

It's like a circus in hell.

Tom Waits is one of the last few remaining creative geniuses. If you don't like or "get" him, it's probably just because you're an asshole.

"Hoist That Rag"
Link

It's experimental Waits, but still highly accessible. Turned me on to all of his post-Swordfishtrombones stuff. I think it was described as either the "loudest quiet song ever written, or the quietest loud song ever written", can't remember by who though.

Obdicut: I Like Bread: Fortunately, I don't have to choose between the two. I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

So you've never listened to Tom Waits then?

Wrong, try again.

GossipTrain: Tom Waits is one of the last few remaining creative geniuses. If you don't like or "get" him, it's probably just because you're an asshole.

This is more likely, but he's still nothing special.

GossipTrain: it's probably just because you're an asshole.

Sounds about right.....

I Like Bread: Wrong, try again.

Well, I can't think of a Tom Waits song that's "six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone". Most of his stuff is either blues, swingy-catchy, or insane orchestra-of-the-damned stuff. He doesn't really go in for droning that much-- perhaps you've listened to a few measures of a single song at one point, or something.

Hetfield: Gotta love this one: God's Away on Business.

It's creepy and it's awesome.

He sounds like Cookie Monster.

Which makes it that much MORE awesome!!!

I Like Bread: I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

It's not pretention. But your ignornance is showing.
Eat a BIG bag of dicks.

1973: Closing Time
1974: The Heart of Saturday Night
1975: Small Change
1977: Foreign Affairs
1978: Blue Valentine

Welcome to the 70's, dickbreath.

mekkab: I think "Rain Dogs" is a GREAT intro to Mr. Waits. Great stories, weird rhythms and percussion choices, all around awesomeness.

Fav cuts: EVERY SONG ON THE ALBUM!!!

Seconded. Tom Waits is normally hit or miss for me, but Rain Dogs kinda blows my skirt up. Great album.

gopher321: Could someone explain to me the appeal of Tom Waits? I'm serious here. I listened (tried at least) to a few of his tunes on Youtube when people provide a link, but I just don't get it. I mean, I get the blues in his music, but I sure as hell don't get the rhythm. Or any serious talent.

It helps to go gradually. I'd recommend starting with his early work. Listen to the first two tracks on his first album (Closing Time). If you like those, then go from there. If you don't, then don't.

tatum: I Like Bread: I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

It's not pretention. But your ignornance is showing.
Eat a BIG bag of dicks.

Crap, I can't argue with a man who fills his profile with quotes from people smarter than him.

1973: Closing Time
1974: The Heart of Saturday Night
1975: Small Change
1977: Foreign Affairs
1978: Blue Valentine

Welcome to the 70's, dickbreath.

And now he's gone and proved that Waits released albums in the 70s! I'm all out of rope.

"Honest, soulful singer-songwriters" are a dime-a-dozen, and I can only take them in small doses. Speaking of doses... the day I appreciate Waits is the day I go to the drug store and pick up the family-size jug of 500 aspirin. Which would facilitate the other, I can't say just yet.

GossipTrain: Tom Waits is one of the last few remaining creative geniuses. If you don't like or "get" him, it's probably just because you're an asshole.

Unless I'm missing the joke or something I might have just read the douchiest comment ever posted on Fark. Differences in taste do not make the dissenting party an asshole. Calling someone an asshole for having different taste than you is the type of thing only an asshole would do.

downtownkid: I might have just read the douchiest comment ever posted on Fark

[clicks profile...sees that his user id is older than mine...]

You must be new here! :)

I Dont Wanna Grow Up.

I Like Bread: tatum: Depends if you're interested in good song writing and great lyrics as opposed to something with a solid beat that you can dance to.

Hey look everybody-- a pretentious bastard in a Tom Waits thread. Who'd a thunk? HAY WELL IF GOOD MUSIC AIN'T YOUR THING THAT'S OK HURR DURR.

Fortunately, I don't have to choose between the two. I can get my share of awesome writing without sitting through six minutes of eardrum-liquefying drone. It's called 70s prog rock.

Hey look everybody...a guy from Philly with a myopic worldview, a half formed opinion based on limited experience and a chip on his shoulder...whodathunkit?!

spacemanjones: I Dont Wanna Grow Up.

me either

WaitsLink (new window)

RamonesLink (new window)