Posts Tagged Tom Waits
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March 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 424
Tom Waits, The Heart of Saturday Night (1974) I come and go with Tom Waits but in some ways this is my favourite albums of his, the most special to me might be the better way to put it. I discovered it as a CD – and it needed to be that way. You see […]Archive
May 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Carving It Out: Backstory and Economy in Songwriting
A couple of years ago I had a chat with Anthonie Tonnon –it was in the lead up to his then-new album, his first solo record and we got to talking about economy in songwriting, the ideas around narrative, songs that seem to be stuffed with back-story, but done in a subtle, stirring way. There are certain […]Archive
March 30, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Five Songs For Friday: # 10 – Remembering Old Favourite albums
I guess I do this most weeks – occupational hazard or whatever – but this week in particular I’ve been revisiting old favourites, thinking about albums I liked a lot 5 and 10 years ago, and 20 years ago…and in some cases just 2-3 years ago… I’ll also give an early mention of Goose Snow […]Archive
March 16, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Jesca Hoop: Memories Are Now
Jesca Hoop Memories Are Now Sub Pop This is the album where Jesca Hoop moves off the One To Watch list and firmly onto the One To Listen To list; the record likely to stay there all year; its production (Blake Mills, once again) exquisite, its songs deep, the performances intoxicating.Archive
March 9, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Songs Sung Blue: Everybody Knows One…
People love Johnny Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails song, Hurt because of the timing; that video, his wife had died – then Johnny died shortly after. Complications resulting from a broken heart. It’s a good song, a good version. But the original is better. I know I’m not alone in thinking that – […]Archive
January 14, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Pick Just One Song: Your Greatest Hit?
You can pick one song. And that one song defines you – to everyone you know and to everyone you will (ever) meet. This three-or-four-or-five-minute pop-ditty, or prog-rock opus, or jazzy dance-cut or heavy metal paean to Pazuzu, or hip-hop track, or comedy-folk parody will define you. What will it be? Will you go with […]Archive
June 25, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 679
Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones (1983) I’m sure nearly every Tom Waits album has been my favourite for a time – but this one became The One (for a while) on the advice of one of the great musical mentors that passed through my education at a formative time: Seamus, he of Fisheye Discs (and Tower Music […]Archive
March 20, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: L’Orchestre D’Hommes-Orchestres performs Tom Waits (March 18, Wgtn)
L’Orchestre D’Hommes-Orchestres performs Tom Waits Shed 6 Thursday March 17 – Saturday March 19 L’Orchestre D’Hommes-Orchestres is a four-piece of multi-instrumentalists, often described as four one-man-bands, augmented by a duo of percussionists, singers and deadpan comediennes, The New Cackle Sisters. On a theatrical set of found instruments (a suitcase opening and closing) and quirky circus-fare […]Archive
March 8, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
V/A: God Don’t Never Change – The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson
Various Artists: God Don’t Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson Alligator Records/Southbound Tribute albums are always a tricky prospect – who are they for? Fans and those in the know are interested in the original source, and when we’re talking blues purists it might be hard to get them to bend to cover […]Archive
September 19, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
Keith Richards – Under The Influence: Film
Keith Richards: Under The Influence Director: Morgan Neville Tremolo Productions/Radical Media/Netflix Premiering on Netflix this film about Keith Richards was conceived as a promotional video to accompany his new solo album, his first in over two decades. And for the first half of its feature-length running time Keith Richards: Under The Influence still feels like […]Archive
August 23, 2015 by Simon Sweetman