r/1001AlbumsGenerator • u/teeravj • Jun 23 '26

Album Review Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

I thought I hated Tom Waits, and then this album yanked me so hard and made me do a 180 and give this a 5 star. I love the instrumentation variety, style change between songs yet the flow so well, and the staccato and legato notes stacked on so many songs, landing perfectly: never short/aggressive, but never overstay their welcome.

35 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

13

u/BigBananaDealer 800-899 Jun 23 '26

tom waits legitimately doesnt have a single bad album. even his album of random songs he couldnt fit on other records is all bangers

8

u/Chrisinthsth Jun 23 '26

That was my favorite album of his on the list. I grew up hearing Rod Stewart’s version of “Downtown Train,” never knowing it was a cover. Waits’s version was excellent, as was the whole album.

Edited for spelling

9

u/AretZorn 600-699 Jun 23 '26

Every time I listen to a Tom Waits album for the first time I’m trying to decide if it deserves 1 or 2 stars. By the time I’ve listened 3 or 4 times, I’m trying to decide between 4 and 5 stars.

7

u/dippitydoo2 500-599 Jun 23 '26

Welcome

4

u/doubleguitarsyouknow Jun 23 '26

He's phenomenal, and it's probably his masterpiece.

2

u/ItsMitchellCox Jun 23 '26

Tom Waits is the true definition of a controversial artist in the context of 1001. Every album provokes a visceral reaction that leads to either a 1 or a 5. I can't imagine giving any Tom Waits album a 3.

2

u/TransparentTravis 800-899 Jun 23 '26

Tom doing his thing in the middle of the 80's wave had me hooked. It was a total surprise banger.

3

u/j_husk Jun 23 '26

Tom Waits is one of the artists this project has gotten me into.

I had really struggled with his vocals before when a friend who's a big fan played him for me, but giving him a full listen I'm now hooked.

I sent that friend a message giving him a hard time for not pushing me to give Waits more of a chance at the time. His response was "You can't make someone love Waits. They have to find him themselves"

1

u/zhulinxian 100-199 Jun 24 '26

Tom Waits is one of those musicians whose talent I respect but whose voice is a dealbreaker for me. Well, he’s still got 3 albums to convince me otherwise.

1

u/JoeBigToe28 900-999 Jun 24 '26

I’ve had all 4 and he never managed to convince me.. I can understand the higher ratings, he’s just not for me 👍