You listen to a lot of Tom Waits, and list a lot of his later work. You know, the crazy albums like Swordfishtrombones, Frank's Wild Years and Rain Dogs. I think those albums are great, but for casual listening I prefer old Tom Waits, i.e. Small Change, Closing Time, and Heartattack and Vine. Especially when drinking alone on a Tuesday night... not that I do that.
So my question to you is this:
Is ol' Tommy better as a raspy-voiced lounge singer and balladeer, or as a raspy-voiced growling composer of eerie, otherworldly songs with things like marimbas in them?
Other freaks who enjoy Tom Waits are free to chime in, as well.
My two examples of Mr. Waits at the top of both forms:
TW - On the Nickel
TW - Sixteen Shells from a Thirty-Aught-Six
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Well, I don't know if I can really decide. If I had to choose, I might say "raspy-voiced growling composer of eerie, otherworldly songs." My favorite album of his would have to be his newest "Real Gone." But my second might be "Nighthawks at the diner." Really both exceptional records, and I think they are good representations of the two different Waits' that you have described. If you don't have these albums, then I encourage you to pick them up.
Tom Waits - Shake It.