Tom Waits

Gravel-voiced singer/songwriter from the 70's, 80's, 90's and today. His albums from the 1970's include music mostly from the jazz and folk background. (see Foreign Affairs, Closing Time) In the 1980's and early 1990's, Waits became more of a carnival-style poet, writing songs with crazy rhythms, archaic instruments, and mesmerizing lyrics. (see Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, Bone Machine) Today, Waits has created an interesting mixture of all his previous styles, most apparent on the albums Blood Money and Mule Variations. His latest album, Real Gone, is made up of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and beats, dropping his lifelong instrument of choice, the piano. An indie-cult favorite.