Tom Waits Press Conference
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:17 pm
I agree. I love the earlier records more than the later stuff, though Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Year's still kick ass.Minotaur029 wrote:itchy mcgoo wrote:God, if I could have the hours of my life back that were spent driving around in pick-up trucks listening to Tom Waits (and the ever-present starry-eyed monologue espousing his genius)...jesus. I think I've taken five driving trip vacations in pick-up trucks where I was tortured with that affected granny spazz whiskey moaning of Tom Waits. I threw copies of Swordfishtrobone and Rain Dogs out the window of one of these pick-up trucks in Jasper. I never litter but forgave myself for soiling this pristine wilderness.
I don't doubt your hatred of Tom Waits, but how much of this anger is just a reaction to Tom Waits nerd fellatio?
I guess I'm extremely guilty of buying into his faux nostalgia as I am the rare music nerd that isn't too crazy about Tom Waits beyond the '70s (most Waits nuts like the artsier '80s material as you well know). In the '70s though...not that I lived through the '70s or anything...a smoky bar like the one he recorded in for Nighthawks at the Diner smacks not of nostalgia, but rather just smacks me. It seems just right for its time and place.
Ultimately, I liked him better when he wasn't gargling gravel in his gullet like so many sparrows...a time when epileptic sea captains weren't playing accordions all over his records. Again, fault my nostalgia.