Tom Waits - Bad as me

Trying something new for this one. I will be writing this review as I listen and write out this review in the time it takes to play. Also, this is a little milestone for me, it's my first review straight off a new record. I know I am a couple of weeks behind, but I have been busy.

Okay, since the record is already spinning let's get this show on the road.

Track one is Chicago, and I already have a feeling I will love this album. I had to check the speed setting on my turntable, but nope, Tom's kept the energy of Bone Machine going and then some.
Chicago blasts us straight into Raised Right Men, and my fears of a bland album are creeping in. This track reminds me a little of the newer Nick Cave stuff (DLD and Grinderman 2) which I am not as fond of.
All fears are abated with, Talking At The Same Time (Segue, just scratched chilli into the soft skin under my eye, OW) which is classic Waits. I love this track a large amount, and I can picture myself spending a lot of time chilling to this track. If I was lucky enough to get a digital download, this is going on my summer drinking playlist.
I was lost in thought on that last one, editing back, and Get Lost dropped. This track. I am speechless. I had to check for guest vocals, but no, Tom Waits is a straight up baller. This album already has given me two of my favourite tracks of the year (survivability is yet to be tested obviously).
Again, a bit of a jumpy change in pace into Face To The Highway. There's some heavy usage of almost tropical steel string guitars in this album. Really, this track is just classic jangly beats, a moody guitar, a polite background riff and Tom's crooning over the Top. His vocals are much less grating on this album as a whole, which I have no argument against. I felt Bone Machine was a bit distorted because he was coving up that age was catching him, but this is proof he has years left in him.
Pay me, is my least favourite so far. That vague not quite Irish accent and drawn out folk song style just gets to me. Tom's been guilty of this is in the past, but Shane McGowan was the only person I've ever heard make this kind of thing really work in a catchy way.
Back In The Crowd is better again, a perfect place to round out side one. Some classic crooning and that ever present, almost tinny guitar that he is establishing as the theme for this album.

Side B opens with Bad As Me, the title track(duh).
Here's a video, I'm too busy listening.

Ok, now it's over. Heh. Bit Gimmicky?(Sucks, I had an awesome Bad Ass Me pun lined up) I still love the track, but Get Lost was mind blowing, Bad As Me was just a solid track. However, with the whole DJ thing, I am most inclined to give BAM the run on a dance floor.
Kiss Me has played through as I wrote the above, a very classic sexy Tom song. I have a date with that song, a cup of tea and a rainy day already lined up.
Satisfied is rocking the same swingy, rock'n'roll vibe as Get Lost, with some more classic vocals. I love his voice, and I'm a sucker for some good sax. This track has me tapping my foot and grooving around a little.
Last Leaf killed me. I totally forgot I was writing this, just staring at the wall. This is the song the whisky drinker in you has been missing. Our messiah has returned.
(segue: I have been trying to figure out the pattern to the ups and downs, but then I remembered that there's never a very smooth progression on Tom's albums.)
Hell Broke Luce makes me want to go marching, and I do not mind at all. I cannot think of what this reminds me of, but he's kept the tighter percussion(almost industrial) he learned on Bone Machine. It would take me time to figure this one was a Waits track, but I needed a new Goin' Out West.
Last track is New Years Eve. He sounds a lot like Cohen on this one, very spoken word and rhymey (totally a word). I like it quite a lot, but it drags out a little. I don't mind this on a closing track though.

All right. That's it, I commend you if you read through this drivel for this long. A nice little experiment to get me back on the reviews wagon.


Overall, my thoughts are: BUY THIS ALBUM, GOD-DAMN TOM WAITS IS A BAD ASS.