Over the Christmas movie seen, Hollywood released as slew of movies, as is their right…for they are Hollywood. But Hollywood’s got a new wing man…and his name is Tom Waits. And by new, I mean that he’s been around for a while, and been in several movies, but he came out in two different films.

The Book of Eli was a surprisingly decent film. And Tom Waits was in it….for like 7 minutes…as a engineer and shopkeeper. But still…APPEARANCE. Other than that, the movie was just a surprise. Great performances by Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, and Mila Kunis. The background to the story was nothing new. Mankind forges their way through another apocalypse. Big deal. We’ve done it like, how many times? We’re so totally prepared for complete annihilation. Ironically, we’re still not prepared for Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

I give it 3 and a half shaky cannibals out of 5.

The other movie Tom Waits was in was the breathtaking film the Imaginarum of Dr. Parnassus. Now I cannot stress how wonderful this movie was. Sure it was Heath Ledger’s last film, and yes he died in the middle of it, so the end seems, to most, if they build the movie solely of Ledger’s performance, to be cobbled together. I’m not gonna lie, Ledger did an amazing job, but this movie is so much more than him. The concept, the art, the oddity. It all came together to make a great Terry Gilliam film. And Tom Waits as a shady, tux wearing devil? He was literally born to play no other role. It was brilliant. He fit perfectly. Between the image, his voice, and the character he portrayed, I’m convinced the Tom Waits may actually be the devil to begin with. I could elaborate more, but I won’t. 5 throat flutes out of 5. Take that as you please.

-Dave Q.

Around the same time as the release of these movies Tom Waits came out with a live album called Glitter and Doom.  This album is composed of tracks recorded on his 2008 tour in different venues and edited together to sound like one concert.  Tracks come from concerts in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Tulsa, Knoxville, Milan, Jacksonville, etc., but come together amazingly well.  The sound quality is consistently great throughout. 

This is a must have for any Tom Waits fan.  It is difficult to describe what happens to these songs when they are played live.  Take for example one of my favorite Tom Waits songs, I’ll Shoot The Moon, the recording of which was taken from a concert in Paris.  The original of this song is on his 1993 album The Black Rider and has a light musical background with that weird eerie circus motif that many Tom Waits listeners are familiar with.  The beautiful part comes when this music is paired with the crooning quality of Waits’ voice as it almost stretches for certain notes and sings others perfectly. The live version takes everything interesting about this song and ramps it up to 11.  The swaying quality of the music is more noticeable but more importantly Waits pushes his voice further.  It seems now like he was holding back in the studio recording.  The beautifully odd crooning quality that can found only in his voice is turned up and makes the song exceedingly delightful and whimsical.  Highlighted by the fantastic section in the middle of the song where, in his gorgeously gravelly voice you hear, “Ooooh, baby. You know that I love you…So why don’t you caaaaaallllll me? You know the number! How many times have I given you my number?…” This does appear in the original but, once again, is about twenty times more enjoyable out of studio.  Other highlights include a really great track where Waits has combined his songs Lucinda and Ain’ Goin’ Down to the Well No Mo’.  As well as a version of Fannin Street that, if you have two ears and a heart, can’t NOT make you want to cry.  Also another bonus (if you purchase the Bonus Track edition) is that you get a whole 35 minute track of Tom Waits just telling stupid jokes and ridiculous stories called “Tom Tales”.  Who hasn’t wanted to hear Tom Waits just talk for a while?

Basically, check out this album to marvel, once again, in the versatility and amazing-ness that is Tom Waits’ music.  Don’t worry that all you’re doing is buying music that you own already except now it is all in worse sound quality and has bits of clapping in between tracks, which is often something that comes to my mind when I purchase live albums.  The songs that you know and love are given a whole knew existence in this one, it is definitely not a waste of money.

I give it 10 drunken pianos out of 10.

-Sarah Q.