Tom Waits New Album, 'Bad as Me,' Due Out in October; Not so Fast Says Warner Music

A few years ago my brother, being familiar with my taste in music, said "you really ought to check out Tom Waits. I think you might really like him." He was right.

I went out and purchased Waits' 1985 trash yard masterpiece; Rain Dogs. Imagine my surprise upon hearing opening track "Singapore." I literally was in my car and said out loud "why in the world did you (Kevin, my brother) tell me to get this?" Knowing better than to trust initial judgement on music, I kept listening. Suddenly, I found myself mysteriously hooked, in very much the same way we often refer to watching an automobile accident: you want to look away, you probably should look away, but you can't look away. Suddenly, I was a full blown Tom Waits fan. And for the record, I love "Singapore."

According to reports, Waits has a new album, Bad As Me, due out on October 21st. However, according to the same source, Warner Music subsequently asked the site to remove it from the list. Whether that means a delay or just the company being difficult remains to be seen. To this point, the only real knowledge concerning it is the cryptic (shock!) lyric transcribed on a chalk board: "No good you say/ Well that's good enough for me/ You're the same kind of bad as me." Vintage Waits.

Tom Waits is a genius. And while his catalog doesn't necessarily sport the diversity of say a Bob Dylan, Waits consistently releases well rounded, occasional masterpiece, albums. Not only that, he, alongside the great Leonard Cohen, and others, are the fathers of this cryptic, elegant songwriting style. A style that is currently being carried on by the likes of Nick Cave, not to mention continued work from both Waits and Cohen.

With Waits, unlike Dylan, you know about what you're going to get. Dylan, over the years has worn many faces: boy wonder folk star to mid 1960's hipster, all the way to fire and brimstone preacher, and just about everything in between. Waits is a little more predictable. While his topics, lyrics, and general presentation are anything but, you know you're going to get Tom Waits' quirky little world, a world that fans of his are perfectly pleased to visit time and time again.

Logic tells me, especially after reading the latest lyric, Bad As Me proves to be another entry consistent with Waits' discography. For myself anyway, that will be just fine.

Brian is an active musician and songwriter. He is also a part time music blogger for Paper Trail Music and is in general, in love with music. Follow him on Twitter here, or follow his music blog here

Sources
Tom Waits' new lyrics
New Album Release, Rumors