I make no apologies for the appearances of legendary artists in the end of year lists. I certainly have no bias against newer stuff but I do feel that there can be a lot of over emphasis on it in other lists. Music isn't exclusively fresh and exciting just because it has been made by a previously unknown face. Indeed there are many artists working today making the strongest case ever for age and experience, artistic growth and the benefits thereof. I can assure you that if The xx release an album of songs next year as strong as Tom Waits has here I will be on it. That said, they'd have to go some for 'Bad As Me' is a record that's awe inspiringly good. He's composed a bunch of songs with partner/collaborator Kathleen Brennan that are amongst the greatest of his career. Yes, you may have heard they're more concise than on recent records but in no way should that imply throwaway. Quite the opposite, the discipline in maintaining brevity and immediacy has kept the standard of writing impossibly high. There isn't one song here that won't have some kind of life beyond this album. This is material ripe for interpretation by others or at least for extensive use in future films and soundtracks. The Waits unique vocal signature is pretty faultless as well, whether vamping up the Nick Cave dramatics on 'Raised Right Men' or consuming the spirits of Howlin' Wolf and Captain Beefheart. In fact 'Satisfied' is both a devastating echo of 'Wang Dang Doodle' and a nod of affection to the Rolling Stones with it's "Mr. Jagger and Mr. Richards, I will have satisfaction". Keith appears himself occasionally, best of all with a weary backing vocal on the gorgeous 'Last Leaf'. This is already an essential Tom Waits album, which with frequent bursts of Rockabilly, R&B and primal Blues could work as a perfect entry point for anyone not yet touched by the mans genius. Final track 'New Years Eve' even includes a couple of heartfelt, almost heart breaking, choruses of 'Auld Lang Syne'; an emotional and quite lovely ending to a wonderful record. Have a listen to title track 'Bad As Me' below:
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