Waits No 10: Rain Dogs from Singapore are everywhere at home, where they sleep

Two years after his triumphal entry on the artistic Olympus with "Swordfishtrombones" Tom has set up here domesticated. He does not even think to go again. Instead, he pushes 1985 "Rain Dogs" nineteen other songs for eternity after.

The album is in many ways a continuation of its predecessor. And with "Hang down your head" can be found for the first time a song that Tom wrote and co-produced with his wife Kathleen - a constellation that will be set from now on increasingly. Musically, it is on "Rain Dogs" even more colorful than previously. This is due to the rhythm department, which is even more central, and in the further refinement of the guitar game. It can be found in the songs, among others bonds at Tango, Salza, calypso, blues, rock and roll and country.

Despite the similarities with "Swordfishtrombones" but there is a clearly noticeable difference: several songs from "Rain Dogs" are much more pleasing, more accessible and more rounded than its predecessor. Can be found especially in the now stronger again represented ballads genuine popular songs that are for Toms conditions Radio-compatible: "Hang down your head", "Time", "Blind Love" and "Downtown Train". Wonderful songs with great lyrics you any time off. But the artistic absoluteness on the previous album they do not reach.

That's why my favorite songs on "Rain Dogs" are also those who still can. The opener "Singapore" is quite magnificent, dark and evil, with a great percussion and a wrong percussion department. On "Jockey Full of Bourbon" slidet Toms electric guitar like never before. "Tango Till They're Sore" has a wonderful horn accompaniment. "Rain Dogs" leads to a grandiose way the accordion in Toms musical world. "9.TH & Hennepin" is betextet bitter, a spoken song, in which it whimpers in the background, howls and whimpers - a foretaste of Toms theater music of the 90s, musical saw inclusive. "Walking Spanish" has a to die for beautiful bass line and she is also a wonderfully elated-cool song. And "Anythere I Lay My Head" in the output of the panel thwarts something nice and smooth geratenen ballads of "Rain Dogs" with that certain touch of drunkards orchestral crookedness, Toms really make all the good songs.

All in all, applies here: you do not have any record of Tom (it should but ...) "Rain Dogs" but is a must buy.

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This is the tenth part of my approach to the test Waits's canon. To predecessor please click here: "Swordfishtrombones". It continues with "Frank's Wild Years".