There are a few artists in every generation who don’t seem to come from this plain of existence. Even though their music is available on vinyl and is well-known throughout the world. They always have that unique energy that sets them apart from the other artists of the day. Neil Young believed that nothing could match what Tom Waits could do on a piano. Even though he was more than happy to defy the programme whenever he performed any of his songs.
Waits’s vocal style was already a bit unusual when he first started. Unlike most singer-songwriters who began with folksy songs that would please many a bargoer. Despite the fact that songs like “Ol 55” proved to be commercially viable enough for a band such as the Eagles to perform. Waits quickly discovered that he could embrace the most unusual sounds he could make.
With an album like Rain Dogs, you get songs in part and almost feel like you’re listening to the ramblings of a madman in another. Waits was still a master of the hook. But this time around, his characters were much more shady. It was as though he was attempting to write the theme song for every barfly. Those who never quite made it in the world.
Neil Young told the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “This man is indescribable, and I’m here to describe him.” Young was simply looking to quote his own feelings whenever he performed music, but hearing Waits was both frightening and inspirational. He performs in various capacities as an actor, singer, magician, spirit god, and changeling. I thought I saw sparkly things coming off of him when I saw him standing in a pile of dust.
Despite all those labels, I think the most accurate way to characterise the majority of Waits’s work is as a musical actor. His lyric sheet is the original script for every song. He will go to any lengths to give the best performance, even if it means altering the tone of his voice to sound different for certain songs. In fact, there are some songs where he sounds like he barely speaks English at all.
Waits was making a point that was understandable to anyone who could enjoy a good story in a matter of minutes. None of these songs were intended to be chart successes. Even though an album like Bone Machine might be difficult to convince mainstream pop fans to listen to. Hearing a song like “Earth Died Screaming” is still one of the greatest existential horrors. It’s never been brought to the big screen.
Furthermore, it’s not as though Waits hasn’t received recognition from the world’s greatest songwriters. Waits immediately drew Keith Richards. This isn’t surprising, considering that Richards personifies many of the characters in Waits’s discography.
Given that Waits was renowned for varying the tone of his voice, some of Young’s later work does borrow heavily from Waits’s style. While others may see a sheet of lyrics and a melody, Waits and Neil Young see an emotional guide for where their voices should go. That kind of singing isn’t always what people want to hear.
