With an artist like Tom Waits who has produced so many influential albums its easy for one to slip under the radar a bit. I listen to at least one Tom Waits album a week and most often its either Swordfishtrombones or Rain Dogs - or Small Change if I'm feeling loungey. Whenever I listen to Bone Machine though, I am reminded of its outright brilliance. After the Harry Partch experimentation of Tom's 80's releases Bone Machine finds him in a more bluesy and percussive mood. On the harder tracks there is a sense of swagger that reminds me of Heartattack and Vine. Lyrically the album is a collection of songs are either about death, murder or decay. In many ways I think its Tom's most spiritual album. I listened to it today for the first time in a long time and feel that it stands alongside his best work.
"Going Out West" is as good of a place to start as any
Hi Blake. Bone Machine is so good. I'd never seen that video before and I'm so glad you posted it. Who else but Tom could pull off cucumber-slice goggles and leather Noid ears and still be so... apocalyptic.
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