Tom Waits Fan Forums

Hi, Rich, nice to meet you! Just got back from a trip to Westchester myself - I have family there.


You'll find a lot of exceptions to the "women aren't obsessive about music" stereotype around here

Which is why I love it here

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. Glad to hear that the generalization about women not being music obsessives doesn't apply here. There's always been some truth to that stereotype, but some artists (like Waits) seem to bring out the obsessive in all of us, regardless of sex.

I haven't had a chance to delve into this site much (yet), but I'm wondering if anyone here feels the same as me regarding "Closing Time"...that is, I think it might be my favorite Waits album, song-for-song, although "Rain Dogs" is nearly as great. Most of his albums have at least one or two songs that don't resonate with me, but those two albums are nearly perfect.

There once was a top Waits album showdown thread. Not sure where it is. I think maybe Raindogs ended up topping it. I don't think Closing Time finished that high but oddly enough there seems to be lot's more opinions than assholes around here & all choices seem pretty valid. I have an awful hard time choosing myself....maybe a top ten

Rain Dogs is my current favorite, but that's subject to change. I'd say that Closing Time is usually a solid second or third for me. Great album. Not a track I dislike on either of them.

Not surprised that Rain Dogs finished at the top...it's such a strong album from beginning to end. I'm happy that Closing Time is also rated pretty highly. Since it's drastically different than most of his later output (even the couple of albums that followed it), I figured a lot of fans who came to his music in the '80s or later might find it a little too straight-forward "singer-songwriter."

I've never been a fan of Top Ten lists, but I would be curious to see what long-time Waits fans consider his best. Since I didn't start listening to him until the late-'90s (when I was already in my 30s), and only got to really know his catalog these past few months when I revisited them for the blog, my opinions might be drastically different than people who grew up with his music. Maybe a better option would be a "Bottom Three" list, something like "What are the three Tom Waits albums you're least likely to play?"

I know people are going to disagree with me here, but, with the exception of a smattering of tracks on it, I just never really got into Bone Machine. Which is funny, because I Don't Want to Grow Up is the first Waits I ever heard (which is a song I enjoy). Not saying it's a bad album... just not my favorite Waits.

Jesus Gonna Be Here is brilliant though

Wish I could find that old thread. Maybe we'll have to do it again?

Sounds good to me!!!

Here I thought that I was the only one!

Thank you, and keep an eye on the TW discography thread which will discuss Bone Machine in the not so distant future...

Ahhhh.......waddouguysknowanyway

Hey all. I suppose this is more of a re-introduction than anything. I haven't been on these forums since right before I got married last November. I had other things going on and I was without the internet for six months. I've had Tom on the brain and in my cd player lately, so I couldn't stay away.



Since I was last here, Bone Machine has jumped from barely being in my top ten to being my very favorite album. It will reveal itself to you two in time.

Welcome back, DavidN, and congrats on your marriage!

What Mel says!
Welcome back!

David, Bada, who's next? Doom? Slink?

Let's hope so!