things are bad but they are almost always worse for Tom Waits's characters. he's back with a whole lot of stories of lowlifes, rejects, and other assorted lively characters it sounds like in this Washington City Paper review of his latest release Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards.Here is a bit from the review:
" On his take on Lead Belly’s “Ain’t Goin’ Down to the Well” (a Brawler), an unsteady tambourine keeps time as Waits does rhythm fills with his voice, coughing the lines “Ain’t going down/Mama to the well/Mama to the well...no more” like Cookie Monster on an oxygen machine. There are no guitar solos, just amped-up spiritual uncertainty and sin. “Lie to Me” (another Brawler) finds Waits paying homage to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Here Waits’ voice quivers with bluesy swagger and rare jittery energy as he begs his lover to “Slap me baby/Give me your grief/I have no use for the truth.” "
i will need to get some of Orphans, yes i will.
and that's one well written article Aaron Leitko, that's how art reviews should be done (of course if all artists are as good as Waits, the job would be easy). anyway, good job on the article, it's reading that fills ya up like a hearty meal.
must...listen...to...cd...
- sujewa
