it's hard to win; when you always lose

A seemingly inapproachable circus of zanny figures described by a drunken pirate with a an ever changing voice relative to a scratched up and rusty ‘ol bumper off a run-down ’55 Chevy pickup, Tom Waits sounds like he’s lived hard, talks liked he lived hard and seems to appreciate the hard life. His observations of failing folks and pure expressions of failing himself at love and maintaining social normalcy has held his distance from the popular music world, however in reality, Waits has been a major success in composing avant-garde rock/blues/folk as well as maintaining an acting career appearing in such films as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and in a brilliant scene with Zippy Pop in Coffee & Cigarette’s (see below).

Many squint with confusion when you mention his name, snarl with disgust when you play a track and stare with surprise when you show signs of enjoying the hypnotic parade of freakish characters and suspense of what the drunken poet at the end of the bar will say after flicking ashes on his pants and staring intently at nothing buy his own daydreams.

Closing Time and The Heart of a Saturday Night seem to be the best introductions to an interested music fan, though, the rustiness won’t prevail until they hear Rain Dogs.

Enjoy!