Artist – Album: Tom Waits – Mule Variations
Released: 16th
April 1999
Sounds Like: The
piano has been drinking (and me)
This blog is clearly
in danger of being posted on the wrong day, so I’m going to have to make it a
quick one...
Few people can compare to Tom Waits in ways of acclaim vs
sales. Sure, this project has mostly been populated by acts that have garnered
a load of praise but have hardly set the world alight, but seriously. It seems that everyone, from discerning, gig-going youngsters to their red wine guzzling, dinner party attending parents, loves Tom
Waits (check out ‘Big in Japan’ and ‘Eyeball Kid’ for the reasons why) and
yet I don't actually know anyone who has bought one of his records. Mule Variations was by far his
greatest hit, scoring a number 9 (he managed to break the top 10 people) in the UK charts.
I'll admit, I myself know Waits best for his role as the M-like Doc
Heller character in early 00’s movie flop Mystery Men. As much as his wonderful
gravelly voice was well picked up by the boom guys of Hollywood, this failed to
transcribe into huge theatrical success, and so he was forced to rely on his rarely-below-exceptional
music to see him through. I also knew him for a couple of his older songs – ‘The Piano Has Been Drinking’, a song not
especially different to ‘Get Behind the
Mule’, and ‘Downtown Train’, the
song that would go on to be covered by Rod Stewart (but please don’t let that
put you off) and best represented here by ‘Hold
On’.
‘Lowside of the Road’,
‘Cold Water’, ‘Pony’ – these are all great songs that help to add to the
legacy of Mr Waits. 'Picture in a Frame' is the most beautiful tune to be heard here; a delicate love song which reminded me of an old Randy Newman ballad called 'Marie'. The album never really disappoints, regularly contacting
standard Waits’ touchstones, although it also surprised me that it’s relatively recent at only 14 years
old. I guess that’s because it never really builds upon the general awesomeness
of other, earlier albums from the guy.
In summation, this is a good Tom Waits album, nothing more.
Which means that it’s a great album by anyone else's standards.
Albumaday... rating:
8/10
1. Big
in Japan – 4:05
2. Lowside
of the Road – 2:59
3. Hold
On – 5:33
4. Get
Behind the Mule – 6:52
5. House
Where Nobody Lives – 4:14
6. Cold
Water – 5:23
7. Pony
– 4:32
8. What’s
He Building? – 3:20
9. Black
Market Baby – 5:02
10. Eyeball
Kid – 4:25
11. Picture
in a Frame – 3:39
12. Chocolate
Jesus – 3:55
13. Georgia
Lee – 4:24
14. Filipino
Box Spring Hog – 3:09
15. Take
It with Me – 4:24
16. Come
on Up to the House – 4:36
Listen to ‘Picture in a Frame‘: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pwxD8quPCg
Also released on the 16th April:
1964: The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones
|
Also released on the 16th April:
1996: Modest Mouse – This is a Long Drive for Someone with
Nothing to Think About
|
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