What's the appeal of Tom Waits?

[bookem_dan-o]

Alright, which one of you jokers posted this today?

[John Junk]

Tom Wait's voice is like a cartoon signifier or hard-drinking, done-a-lot-of-livingness.  Which is sorta B.S. because his early stuff practically sounds like Randy Newman.  How much whiskey can you drink between Jim Jarmusch movies, honestly?  Did you see him in Coffe and Cigarettes?  Was that a joke, that like Tom Waits is supposed to intimidate Iggy Pop?  Iggy Pop could kill Tom Waits with his penis.

[gisrick]

I think people think they are supposed to like Tom Waits.  I asked a few folks at work if they like him and those who did couldn't tell me why they do.

[Sarah]

I hated Tom Waits for years, finding him to be a complete poseur (as I did Rickie Lee Jones, for that matter).  Then I liked a cover he did of a Kurt Weill song and bought Beautiful Maladies on a whim as a result.  I liked it well enough--I have a weakness for what I call circus music--and so bought a couple of others, which I never listen to.

That doesn't explain much, does it?  But then I usually can't explain why I like things; I'm just grateful that I like anything at all.

[bobby.]

Not on topic, but why did that first-time listener think it was a "homo show"? hahaha

[Chris L]

Not on topic, but why did that first-time listener think it was a "homo show"? hahaha

Maybe he knew what was really going on in those gas station kiosks?

[Chris L]

Also, I think the albums from Swordfishtrombones to Bone Machine are brilliant musically and lyrically.  Things started to get spotty w/ Mule Variations but overall still of high quality (I only know the title track of the Black Rider).  So the guy's theatrical; if that down-and-out schtick was "authentic" he'd be in as poor health as Shane MacGowan, and that would just be depressing. 

[bobby.]

Not to grasp for Best Show references, but I actually paid attention when I heard him today and noted that he talksings a bit like Billy Crystal's jazzman.

[Tyrannosaurus Rocks]

Tom Wait's voice is like a cartoon signifier or hard-drinking, done-a-lot-of-livingness.  Which is sorta B.S. because his early stuff practically sounds like Randy Newman.  How much whiskey can you drink between Jim Jarmusch movies, honestly?  Did you see him in Coffe and Cigarettes?  Was that a joke, that like Tom Waits is supposed to intimidate Iggy Pop?  Iggy Pop could kill Tom Waits with his penis.

Yeah man, and like, what was up with the RZA and GZA, Bill Murray scene. Everyone loves it, but I hated it. Why was Bill Murray even there?

Those were the two worst scenes of the movie. Those were the only two I hated.

Oh wait...

[scotttsss]

I can't stomach any of Jarmusch's movie anymore.  Coffee and Cigarettes really did me in though, I mean, man.  One big cinematic name drop of self satisfaction.  Though I still love Bill Murray, but not the current incarnation.  It's as if he's trying his hardest to get an oscar or something, and the hipster directors have stolen him from us.  It's as if they rightfully like Bill Murray, and as a tribute put him in their sad sack movies...it's such a giggle-free waste. 

[B_Buster]

I suspect that it won't be long before Bill Murray realizes that he could make much more money by renting out lifesize cardboard cutouts of himself to appear in independent films. It's a win-win for everyone: a cameo appearance by Bill Murray and the uniform performance we've come to expect in recent years.

[Omar]

Tom Wait's voice is like a cartoon signifier or hard-drinking, done-a-lot-of-livingness.  Which is sorta B.S. because his early stuff practically sounds like Randy Newman.  How much whiskey can you drink between Jim Jarmusch movies, honestly?  Did you see him in Coffe and Cigarettes?  Was that a joke, that like Tom Waits is supposed to intimidate Iggy Pop?  Iggy Pop could kill Tom Waits with his penis.

Yeah man, and like, what was up with the RZA and GZA, Bill Murray scene. Everyone loves it, but I hated it. Why was Bill Murray even there?

Those were the two worst scenes of the movie. Those were the only two I hated.

Oh wait...

The Waits/Iggy scene in Coffee and Cigarettes is hilarious.   Iggy refers to the coffee at IHOP as "classy brew".  It's easily the second-best scene in the film behind only the Coogan/Molina.

[Tyrannosaurus Rocks]

I was being sarcastic, The Bill Murray, RZA GZA scene was my favorite, then the Iggy Waits scene. Pink text=sarcasm in my book.

SERCIOUS delerium.

[John Junk]

I wasn't being sarcastic, but now I realize that I forgot that that scene actually was a joke, and pretty funny at that.  But that Bill Murray scene still kinda sucked.  Even though it got me to watch the movie.

[gisrick]

Sending out Birthday wishes to Mr Tom Waits (Dec 7th...He shares a birthday with Pearl Harbor Day)