Tag Archives: Tom Waits

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Lessons from a theme week

teacherSo my goal this week was to single out some artists I’ve heard about but never really heard. I went with two bona fide legends (Tom Waits and Patti Smith), two lesser-known but well-regarded 70s bands (Buzzoccks and Faces) and one contemporary artist who enjoys great critical acclaim (Bjork).

Overall, my takeaway is that I wasn’t missing much. I’m most intrigued by Tom Waits, though his voice remains a stumbling block, and I like the idea of Patti Smith even if her song didn’t completely sell me. Faces seems like a generic 70s rock band. Buzzcocks wrote a great song but their style isn’t up my alley. And Bjork is intriguing but too much of an art-school show-off to really grab me.

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Song of the Day #144: ‘Downtown Train’ – Tom Waits

waitsMy theme this Monday through Friday is artists who I have somehow never managed to listen to despite high praise from fans and critics alike. The next five selections are all people or groups who I’m very much aware of without hearing a note of their music.

I’m not talking about somebody like Neil Young, who I have consciously decided to avoid because I dislike his voice. I’m talking about artists who, through bad luck or happenstance, have just never crossed my radar. Here’s their chance.

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