TOM WAITS Bad As Me (2011 Japanese 13-track CD album - Bad As Me, his first studio album of all new music in seven years, finds Tom Waits in possibly the finest voice of his career and at the height of his songwriting powers, working with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime collaborator and producer Kathleen Brennan. From the opening horn-fuelled chug of 'Chicago' to the closing barroom chorale of 'New Year’s Eve', 'Bad As Me' displays the full career range of Waits' songwriting, from beautiful ballads like 'Last Leaf' to the avant cinematic soundscape of 'Hell Broke Luce'. On tracks like 'Talking at the Same Time' Waits shows off a supple falsetto, while on blues burners like 'Raised Right Men' and the gospel-tinged 'Satisfied' he spits, stutters and howls. Like a good boxer, these songs are lean and mean, with strong hooks and tight running times. And there is a pervasive sense of players delighting in each other’s musical company that brings a loose joy even to the album’s saddest songs. A Bonus Track is expected for the Japanese pressing. Picture sleeve with Japanese lyric insert and obi-strip, more details to follow...)