Tom Waits for no man

I've enjoyed Tom Waits's gallery of carnival characters and multi-lensed channeling of American lore for many years now. In a petty sense, it's been disappointing to hear it mostly rehashed over the last few albums, but then, I'd be a total ass to view that as anything resembling a tatter on his many accomplishments. Which is why when I put the Orphans album the other day, it was so pleasing to hear this weird '50s hiccuping rocker kicking it all off. Could old Tom be hearing new voices in his head? Things settled into familiar territory afterward, but it goes to show how a good opening can cast a glow that sustains.

Tom Waits - Lie To Me

And here's a two-fer-Tuesday to give this triple disc set its proper due. A little on the nose, but what heartless bastard wouldn't drop a tear in his beer as his barmates rouse themselves to belt this one skyward.

Tom Waits - Never Let Go

Suckin' my rattle tongue

Driving through Tennessee in the morning en route to a "house party" gig (the house was still being built) in Deliverance country, things just looked funny. Watching the scenery on the side of the highway, the ground looked like it had just swallowed something mean and the sunlight felt equally ominous. One rest stop sold crack pipes and porn videos in solid-color boxes (labeled by ethnicity). Another sold mostly porkrind-related products. A horrible tone hummed incessantly from the fridge. Luckily, the Captain was there to save the day.

Captain Beefheart - Black Snake Moan
Captain Beefheart - Spitball Scalped Uh Baby