So expectations were going to be high for something like this; a “lost” album from a theatrical production in Hamburg ten years earlier. No doubt many people came to this expecting the “lost masterpiece” that we almost always associate with the work major artists don’t record / release at the time of conception.
Well it’s not a masterpiece, but the idea that it’s bad, as some recent RYM reviewer’s allege, is equally preposterous.
It’s certainly a major change in tone from the incredible Bone Machine, which was released only a few months after the show this is the soundtrack to premiered. But that shows off Waits’ versatility, if anything, and that’s something he usually doesn’t get credit for.
Also, he explores a few styles not normally associated with his sound – particularly that one cajun number – I can’t really think of anything else like that in his catalogue off the top of my head. Things are still unmistakably Waitsian, but there’s some moderating of his more extreme tendencies.
And maybe that’s why I don’t quite love it. I find that Waits always writes some great songs but then he often has a few that aren’t quite as good, but usually the arrangements are so bonkers that it doesn’t matter. But here, everything is tempered (with a couple of exceptions.) And I find myself wanting perhaps a little stronger selection of songs.
7/10
Read my reviews of 2002 albums or, read all my reviews of Tom Waits’ albums.
All tracks written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.
- “Alice” – 4:28
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano
- Eric Perney – Bass
- Colin Stetson – Saxophone
- Gino Robair – Drums
- Ara Anderson – Muted trumpet
- “Everything You Can Think” – 3:10
- Tom Waits – Vocal, mellotron, chamberlin vibes, pod
- Larry Taylor – Bass, electric guitar
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Bent Clausen – Swiss hand bells
- Bebe Risenfors – Stroh violin
- Nik Phelps – horn, trumpet
- “Flower’s Grave” – 3:28
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano, pump organ
- Larry Taylor – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Dawn Harms – Violin
- Bebe Risenfors – Alto viola, clarinet
- “No One Knows I’m Gone” – 1:42
- Tom Waits – Vocal, pump organ
- Larry Taylor – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Dawn Harms – Stroh violin, violin
- Bebe Risenfors – Alto viola
- “Kommienezuspadt” – 3:10
- Tom Waits – Vocals, pod, stomp
- Larry Taylor – Bass, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Andrew Borger – Oil drums, frame drum, percussion
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Bebe Risenfors – Baby bass, marimba, bass clarinet, percussion
- Colin Stetson – Baritone saxophone
- Tim Allen – Scraper
- “Poor Edward” – 3:42
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano
- Larry Taylor – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Dawn Harms – Stroh violin
- Bebe Risenfors – Viola
- “Table Top Joe” – 4:14
- Tom Waits – Vocal, pump organ
- Larry Taylor – Bass, acoustic guitar
- Stewart Copeland – Trap kit
- Bent Clausen – Piano
- Joe Gore – Electric guitar
- Bebe Risenfors – Baby bass
- “Lost in the Harbour” – 3:45
- Tom Waits – Vocal, pump organ
- Larry Taylor – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Dawn Harms – Stroh violin
- Bebe Risenfors – Fiddle
- Carla Kihlstedt – Violin
- “We’re All Mad Here” – 2:31
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano, circular violin
- Matthew Sperry – Bass
- Gino Robair – Percussion
- Colin Stetson – Bass clarinet
- Carla Kihlstedt – Violin
- “Watch Her Disappear” – 2:33
- Tom Waits – Vocal, pump organ
- Dawn Harms – Violin
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- “Reeperbahn” – 4:02
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano, chamberlin
- Matthew Sperry – Bass
- Gino Robair – Percussion
- Carla Kihlstedt – Violin
- Colin Stetson – Bass clarinet
- Ara Anderson – Baritone horn
- Myles Boisen – Banjo
- “I’m Still Here” – 1:49
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano
- Dawn Harms – Violin
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Colin Stetson – Clarinet
- “Fish & Bird” – 3:59
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano, toy glockenspiel, pump organ
- Larry Taylor – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Cello
- Bebe Risenfors – Clarinet
- Ara Anderson – Trumpet, baritone horn
- Dawn Harms – Stroh violin, violin
- “Barcarolle” – 3:59
- Tom Waits – Vocal, piano, chamberlin vibes, cymbals
- Matthew Sperry – Bass
- Matt Brubeck – Bass
- Colin Stetson – Saxophone
- Bent Clausen – Piano solo
- Dawn Harms – Violin
- “Fawn” – 1:43 (Instrumental)
- Tom Waits – Piano
- Matthew Sperry – Bass
- Gino Robair – Marimba
- Colin Stetson – Bass clarinet
- Carla Kihlstedt – Violin