If you have never heard Tom Waits (or think you have never heard him), this album is a good place to start. For a more seasoned Waits fans this album is made of pure joy.

Released in 1985, "Rain Dogs" is probably Waits' most impressive success in his decades long voyage to where no music has gone before. Though experimental and alternative in the majority of songs, unlike the brilliant "Bone Machine" or the strange rock-opera "The Black Rider", "Rain Dogs" might not have all of the mainstream audience heading for the hills at the first hearing. The more open-minded may just find themselves infatuated...

With "Singapore", from the very beginning Waits grabs the listener's attention with this quite indescribable....um... melody? beat? thump?
Well, whatever it is, the lyrics are enticing, and the music is strange. Perhaps Waits was going for an initial shock effect with this one. Brought a smile on my face when I first heard it.

"Clap Hands", is one of the best songs on the album (and there's a lot of competition). With curious percussion work (I guess you could call it that), with bells and hollow wooden clacks on the background, Waits delivers this song with a smooth almost whispery voice. A track with a great atmosphere. (On the album "Big Time" Waits presents a wilder version of the song. This version, unlike the "Big Time" one, is quite accessible to a wider audience. I even heard it on the radio once!)

The third track, "Cemetery Polka" is, for the lack of a better term, a polka. Or at least with a bit of imagination you could see it as a polka. I doubt you've ever heard anything like this, however. The backgrounds are purposefully out-of-tune at points, in a good way (and yes, it's quite possible to play out of tune in a good way).

As there are 19 tracks on the album, I think I will spare you by refraining from writing a through analysis of each song. Instead, now that the initial mood-setting tracks are loosely described, I'll pick out some of the most notable songs to comment. Which, I just realised, doesn't leave very many out. Oh, well...:


"Jockey Full Of Bourbon"

I'm sure there's a name for this sort of music... reminds me a bit of latin style, in a very-NOT-Ricky-Martin sort of a way. A catchy tune, good lyrics (as always). I can very well imagine that this song would be great to dance to, Spanish style.


"Tango Till They're Sore

Remember the bit about playing off key in a good way? Well, here's a prime example of what I mean. This absolutely brilliant song features sort of lazy horns and a piano, all playing slightly off key... You have to be really good to play wrong and make it sound so very, very good. One of my favourites on the album.


Diamonds & Gold

Brilliant, melody true to the style of the album and great lyrics:

"....Wounded but they just keep on climbing,
they sleep by the side of a road.

There's a hole in the ladder
a fence we can climb
mad as a hatter
you're thin as a dime

Go out to the meadow,
hills are green,
sing me a rainbow,
steal me a dream...."


Time

The most beautiful ballad on the album, thoughtful lyrics. A true classic. Definitely mainstream-friendly too!


Rain Dogs

The title track begins with an exotic harmonica solo, then reveals the beat, the brilliant base line, and, of course Tom himself. A great song. A sample of the lyrics:

Inside a broken clock,
splash the wine with all the rain dogs.
Taxi, taxi, taxi we'd rather walk
Huddle a doorway with the rain dogs
For I am a rain dog, too


Gun Street Girl

Simple beat, guitar background and Tom. Very catchy, very memorable.


Blind Love

Not one of my favourite songs, but I picked it out just to show that there's variety on the album - this is a country song, pure and simple. Don't like country very much, but as far as I've heard it, this song measures up quite well.


Walking Spanish

Catchy, slightly jazzy beat in this one, with a brilliant sax on the background, a really cool mood, with Tom prominently on top with his growling voice. Exceptionally brilliant lyrics again. You'll have to hear it yourself to truly appreciate it.


Downtown Train

Perhaps the most famous song of the album, made famous not by Tom himself, but by Rod Stewart, who made a hit cover of the song. As so often is with covers, the original is better.


Overall, this is an album that truly impressed me, in a way that very few do. It'll always stay on my personal top 10. Buy it, enjoy it, and you'll soon share my wonderful addiction with Waits!


Recommended: Yes