It’s Never Too Late For Tom Waits!

I used to think that Tom Waits was sort of a joke. Then again, back in high school, I also used to think that Dashboard Confessional was the greatest thing since the discovery of popcorn. But after recently seeing his hilarious dialogue with Iggy Pop in “Coffee and Cigarettes” and, even more recently, his amazing performance as the Devil in “The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus”, I have come to discover the genius of this all-around artist.

Waits’ voice alone is eccentric and perplexing. I have heard tall tales of the history of his voice from things like him yelling at the top of his lungs into a pillow every night to smoking three packs of Marlboro Reds a day for the last 30 years. Both of which might be true, but regardless, his tone is probably the most peculiar since Louis Armstrong. But when you get past that factor, you discover that his lyrics are deep, soulful, sad, raw and even comical at times. He uses a wide array of instruments and devices to create his wild, gritty, bluesy or noise filled melodies. Many of his recordings are so raw that you almost feel as if you are sitting with him in his low-lit, smoke/instrument-filled recording room on the other end of the piano bench that just creaked as the last keys were pressed.

If you have never heard Tom Waits or maybe just thought that it wasn’t your cuppa tea, I would suggest to all the SubEx community in that boat to give it a try. It might be just the thing you are looking for on a cold, misty drive like today.

MP3: Tom Waits - And No One Knows I'm Gone

- Cory Coleman [c]