Orphans

Continuing with giants of songwriting we move to Tom Waits. To say Waits is a prolific songwriter would be a gross understatement. His contributions to the library of song are vast. He’s written and released well over 300 songs. He’s collaborated with numerous throughout his long career, even writing songs specifically with that artist in mind. He’s written musicals that have been performed on and off Broadway. He’s acted in numerous films (smaller roles).

But getting back to the music, it’s fascinating, almost disgusting, that he hadn’t been inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame until just recently (he’ll be officially inducted in 2011). He has been recording since 1973 with the album Closing Time, and has released numerous critically-acclaimed albums since. Perhaps it’s the lack of commercial success which has dogged his future induction until now, which is bollocks if you ask me. Why it would take so long for someone of Waits’ stature to make it in is beyond me.

Anyway, Waits’ recent studio release, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards is next on my list.

# 10 – Tom Waits, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (Metascore = 92)

I really should devote a couple of entries to this set since there are three discs overall. However, I will try to keep this down to my normal writings. This collection of 54 songs (56 if you count the hidden tracks) is comprised of originals that weren’t good enough to make it onto albums (hard to believe), covers of other artists’ songs, and miscellaneous tracks that he had recorded over the years. One cannot listen to a song from him without encountering his distinctive voice. When I hear it, I am reminded distinctively of Captain Beefheart himself, Don van Vliet. Waits’ voice is a scratchy, grunting blues voice, which gives his lyrics such raw power. You cannot help but feel like you are listening to the blues the way it was meant to be heard.

Each CD represents a separate incarnation of Waits’ songwriting self. The first record is Brawlers, in which the music sounds like the title: a gritty prizefighter gutting out another fight. Brawlers is distinctively blues and rock based. This disc is also more diverse in themes than the other two. There are songs of failures, war, and love. “Puttin’ on the Dog” has the coolest groove and is one of my favorites of this set. Waits’ voice moves from confessional lows to growling joints to vaudevillian sways. The highlight from this set is “Road to Peace”, which would be right at home as part of Bob Dylan’s political catalog. “Road to Peace” is blatant in its political rappings. The topic: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Unlike Brawlers, Bawlers represents the down-trodden man and love lost. This disc is decidedly low-key. Most of the songs are quiet affairs with few instruments. One of my favorite songs occurs early on in “Long Way Home”. The song has a rocking feel to it and is a great love ballad. I could hear Beck covering this tune to great effect. The highlight for this disc is “Fannin Street”, a sad tale of a love lost in Houston. Many of these songs are beautiful ballads despite his gravelly voice.

Bastards the disc is nuts. These are a collection of his experimental tracks. There are snippets of dialogue from various sources. There are tracks from a couple of the musicals he wrote or co-wrote. This disc pays homage to Captain Beefheart more so than even his voice (see “Two Sisters”). The songs are fascinating, though, and do not lose the vision that he had in releasing this set. My personal favorite from this disc is “Books of Musics”. To me this is avant garde blues music with some cool lyrics and an excellent beat.

This set is an unbelievable! I cannot say enough how creative lyrically and musically Waits is. Having heard this record a couple of times now, the music sounds just as good the second time as it was the first time. Is it the best record to really get acquainted with him? No, and yes. No because this is such an odd assortment of songs that try to be cohesive but were clearly at times written during different periods. However, I also say yes because it does introduce a new listener to his many different styles and his lyrical prowess. Either way, this is a great record and deserving of the high accolades it received.