One of the greatest and most distinctive musical geniuses of the 20th century, Tom Waits was apparently a "barbarian" but in reality an erudite post-modern artist. As far as the juxtaposition of primitive and intellectual art goes, he was a worthy disciple of Captain Beefheart. Never as in their cases was McLuhan wrong: the medium is definitely not the message. His albums are galleries (or full-fledged operas) of misfits, eccentrics and losers. Below the surface, they are also parables of fall and redemption set in the age of urban decay. In a sense, his opus is a compendium of urban cacophony.

Alice (Epitaph, 2002), also dating from 1993 and also (originally) a theatrical soundtrack, is one of his most idyllic and ethereal works (despite the gothic theme of physical decay); in fact, an absolute oddity within his repertoire.
The delicate lounge jazz of Alice, caressed by vibraphone and alto sax, opens the album, but there are relatively few nods to his blues/jazz roots (Table Top Joe). There are still strong numbers of his nostalgic and demented musichall: Kommienezuepadt (one of his most hilarious ever), Everything You Can Think Of Is True, a waltzing tune that turns into an expressionist nightmare, and Reeperbahn. He returns, as he always does, growl or no growl, to the grand pop ballad for violin and piano (Flowers Grave, Poor Edward), and ever more often pens neoclassical arias (No One Knows I'm Gone, Lost In The Harbor). The top, as it is often the case with his mature albums, is reached with an elegy that is both funereal and rousing, Fish & Bird, the ideal fusion of New Orleans marching band, classical orchestra and jazz combo.

Source: [ Ссылка ]

Tracklist:

A1. Alice 00:00
A2. Everything you can think 04:35
A3. Flower's grave 07:50
A4. No one knows I'm gone 11:24
A5. Kommienezuspadt 13:09
A6. Poor Edward 16:25
A7. Table top Joe 20:13
A8. Lost in the harbour 24:33
B1. We're all mad here 28:25
B2. Watch her disappear 31:02
B3. Reeperbahn 33:37
B4. I'm still here 37:47
B5. Fish & bird 39:40
B6. Barcarolle 43:46
B7. Fawn 47:51

Genre: Blues, Jazz, Rock, Cabaret
Year of release: 2002
Label: Anti-
Catalog Number: 86632-1
Country: USA
Audio Codec: FLAC
Rip type: tracks
Recording format: 24/192
Distribution Format: 24/192

Digitization source: co-creation: vinyl provided by darkeye, equipment provided by denizz, recording, compression, track splitting, preparation of g.y.m. distribution.
Vinyl condition grade code: VG+
Playback device: Sansui SR 222 MKV
Recorder head: Shure M75MG
Preamplifier: Handmade, separate for each channel
ADC: E-MU 1820 m
Digitizer: Sound Forge 10
Processing: track splitting, not otherwise processed

свернуть