Tom Waits - Mule Variations

Buy Mule Variations!

This album is worth buying just for House Where Nobody Lives. This is the kind of music I think you need to just sit down and listen to. Don't do anything else - just put on some good headphones or settle down in front of the stereo and enjoy Waits' songwriting. August 2, 2008

Mule Variations

Tom Waits-Mule Variations *****

Mule Variations just might be Waits' all time best album, it certainly is his best since Rain Dogs. I say this because I don't feel that since Rain Dogs has he covered as much ground as he did with Mule Variations to this level of quality. This is both a very dark and hallow album, and yet a sort of positive and up-lifting album all at the same time. The lyrical content is amazing, both Waits and his wife Kathryn have done a fabulous job here. The musicianship, though mostly from the guys in Primus is remarkably fresh, considering the odd instrumentation.

Songs like the albums opener, 'Big In Japan' show the hilarity in Waits' music that fans have come to know over the years, while the minimalistic 'Lowside Of The Road' and 'Get Behind The Mule' show his stories of the downtrodden will always have a place in his heart of hearts. The Spoken jazz of 'Whats He Building?' is classic, while for me personally, 'Eyeball Kid' marks new ground for Waits.

Whats especially notable about Mule Variations is Waits' vocals. Still as raspy as ever, his method of recording on this album is astounding, I'm not sure as to how it did it but he sounds as though he is singing with his head in a plastic bucket, and it adds to the overall feel of the album.

Mule Variations is like a crop maze, in that every time you enter, no matter what route you take you end up in a different place each time, no matter if you take the same route over, and over. This is a refreshing album even a near ten years after it's original release in 1999. Which by the way, Mule Variations easily has my vote for the best album of the 1990's. April 28, 2008

The dice is laughin at the man that he throwed

Been listening to Tom Waits on and off since I saw him one time in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin in the 80s, doing his Franks Wild Years routine. Halfway through he tells his band to smoke a cigarette, switches off all the lights and stands there all alone with this electric miner's lamp up against his face. Smokes a cigarette himself, right there on stage. He goes on to belt out in his unbelievable voice a couple of songs that just about tore down the whole damn house--looked like some sort of crazy-haired Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet so he did. Said a funny thing too about New York, said it's a great town for shoes! Been thinking about Mister Waits again coz I've been listening to Mule Variations all morning, mostly that song Cold Water which I can't honestly get enough of or over even. Talk about yer doghouse blues! The sure touch of Sam Beckett in this number is echoed in the great photo of Tom on the back of the album, the one with him in the long black overcoat holding the umbrella. Begob but this felly is just the dead spit of how I've always pictured Mercier! Not that it makes a blind bit of difference mind you but I like to think so. Mule Variations plays very well with Bone Machine and both beef up right brawny like when hammered out at high volume. March 13, 2008

New to Tom and Love This CD

I was first introduced to Tom Waits on the Dead Man Walking CD. When I listened to DMW I often skipped his music. One day I finally listened and there began my love affair. And, yet even knowing I was listening to a large talent I didn't buy any of his CD's for several years. He was a little edgy on Dead Man Walking and I really thought a full CD might be too much. Was I wrong. I've only had Mule Variations for a few days and can't stop listening to it. His songs continue to resonate in my head when I'm not listening to his work. What a talent. Tom when are you coming to Tucson??? I want to see you live... and how about some DVD's?

I recommend this CD ...you won't be disappointed. November 29, 2007

Don't Wait for Tom

The guy can't sing a note, he should be doing sound effects for Briggs and Stratton and he needs major polyp surgery on his vocal chords. But man, I could listen to his stuff all day.

November 2, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...