Book Review
Oct. 28th, 2012 01:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariSwordfishtrombones
by David Smay
This is another volume in the 33 1/3 series, this time covering Tom Waits' 1983 album Swordfishtrombones. This was the album that marked a radical transformation in Waits' style and sound, from down and out jazz singer to troubadour of a strange America drawing on a wider and weirder set of influences and instrumentation. Smay thoroughly explores not only the album itself but this transformation it signaled. Happily, this means that he discusses the albums that preceded an followed, showing the relationships and contrasts among them. Smay also delves into the effect of Tom Waits' marriage to Kathleen Brennan on his musical style. Brennan is not only Waits' spouse, she is a close collaborator on all his work since Swordfishtrombones, and Smay looks closely at her role in both the transformation and the work that has followed. Smay's insightful critiques and analyses of Waits' work was quite illuminating and fascinating.
Smay occasionally sprawls and rambles, but in a good way. One of the pleasures of reading this book is the way it widens the focus out from Swordfishtrombones the album to tom Waits the musician. Smay's ability to take on a writing style that echoes Waits' lyrics is also delightful. This book is wonderfully steeped in the Waits' music and aesthetic, and since I am a huge Tom Waits fan, I really enjoyed this book.
by David Smay
This is another volume in the 33 1/3 series, this time covering Tom Waits' 1983 album Swordfishtrombones. This was the album that marked a radical transformation in Waits' style and sound, from down and out jazz singer to troubadour of a strange America drawing on a wider and weirder set of influences and instrumentation. Smay thoroughly explores not only the album itself but this transformation it signaled. Happily, this means that he discusses the albums that preceded an followed, showing the relationships and contrasts among them. Smay also delves into the effect of Tom Waits' marriage to Kathleen Brennan on his musical style. Brennan is not only Waits' spouse, she is a close collaborator on all his work since Swordfishtrombones, and Smay looks closely at her role in both the transformation and the work that has followed. Smay's insightful critiques and analyses of Waits' work was quite illuminating and fascinating.
Smay occasionally sprawls and rambles, but in a good way. One of the pleasures of reading this book is the way it widens the focus out from Swordfishtrombones the album to tom Waits the musician. Smay's ability to take on a writing style that echoes Waits' lyrics is also delightful. This book is wonderfully steeped in the Waits' music and aesthetic, and since I am a huge Tom Waits fan, I really enjoyed this book.
