Death on Credit
Senior Member
BAM! Thunder strikes, missiles go off, the sky is on fire, and sirens screech announcing clearly that Tom ****ing Waits has returned. And the seven years between his last album and now have done nothing to soften him. While perhaps not as dark as many of his previous efforts, this album is furious and rollicking, and his trademark growl remains as sharp as ever. I haven't gotten to study the lyrics yet, but if he doesn't show his misanthropic side as clearly as before, he's still looking into the world and disgusted at what he sees. And yet, this is probably the most fun that a Tom Waits record has ever been.
Part of what makes this record so powerful is the tremendous backing band that Waits has with him, which changes from song to song. We have Les Claypool, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the incredibly talented James Whiton from the Eric McFadden Trio (if you haven't heard of them, then look em up and thank me later) trading off on bass duties. For me, the best part of this album is a three track run featuring none other than the great Keith Richards on guitar, riffing as powerfully as ever. On one of these tracks, Satisfied, Tom sends up the Stones classic Satisfaction, growling "I will have satisfaction, I will be satisfied before I'm gone...Now Mr Jagger and Mr Richards, I will scratch what I been itchin." This is followed by Last Leaf, a duet between Tom and Keef.
Bad As Me is an excellent and worthy addition to the Tom Waits catalog. If you enjoy his signature punk rock industrial blues, then you'll love this record. If it's not your style, then this is unlikely to convert you, though.
