Tom Waits--Wow.

He is amazing!! I just listened to his concert on NPR where he did an awesome, epic concert where he played songs he has never done outside the studio. Unfortunately, I don't know which songs those where. I found at least 8-10 new songs that I adore. I've only started listening to him at the beginning of the month, and now look forward to every time I have the chance to listen to his musical genius and the legendary raspy, jazzy voice. I knew about 5 songs in the whole set; about 7 more I have heard of. Hearing his music and stories makes his music even mean so much more to me. He is compared to Bob Dylan a lot, yes, sometimes they are similar but yet two completely different. I've tried finding similar artists' to Tom. Can't find any. That's pretty cool. The only comparison I have to say when I talk about him to friends is that he is jazz/blues/rock/folk. Really cool guy. His voice has a cool Louis Armstrong thing going on. During the concert he told ironic stories, and the story behind songs...which are sometimes stories. I was planning on maybe getting the chance to see him live. Now an official dream of mine. On his Glitter and Doom Tour, he was going to pass through the southern part of our country. If I only payed attention to the date, I would have realized that I was a month too late. I was upset, mad, sad, frusterated. He is musical genius and I don't know when he is going to tour again. I'm guessing by the time I'm officially an adult, I'll probably own his whole collection of albums. I'm already 3 cds in about a month. His trademarks are his voice and fedora. So him. In case you still haven't heard his music. Try it out, you'll find something you will like or in my case love. Imagine Bob Dylan and Tom doing a concert together, their own destint voices mending together on a song--maybe Like a Rolling Stone. Think about the song- it would fit both of their tastes. Maybe Tom can add a cool spin and sound to make it even better. He has played in a few movies, in 'The Outsiders' he played a bartender (completely fits him) and I was excited to see it because it was when Tom was either working on Swordfishtrombones or Rain Dogs. Now the two albums of which I own. He is a genius. Everyone doesn't have to know who he is, and that's a good thing. I don't think he wants everyone to know that. You have to find his music, it's not superexposed. He is truly a diamond in the ruff. When I say ruff, I mean ruff.