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The first Tom Waits album he ever enjoyed: “Trying too hard”
Tom Waits has said he did not enjoy his own records until the 1983 album ‘Swordfishtrombones’, describing his earlier work as feeling like it was “trying too hard”. The comment highlights the sharp creative change represented by the album, which began the experimental, rough-edged style that became central to his later reputation.
Before ‘Swordfishtrombones’, Waits was associated with jazz-inflected piano ballads and beat-poet imagery, but the record replaced much of that approach with unusual percussion, distorted instrumentation and stranger character-driven songs. It marked his first release after moving to Island Records and collaborating closely with his wife, Kathleen Brennan, and is widely viewed as a turning point in his career.
In short
- Waits first liked his own work with 1983’s ‘Swordfishtrombones’.
- He felt his earlier albums were “trying too hard”.
- The album launched his more experimental musical period.
Explained simply
Tom Waits is an American singer-songwriter and performer known for his distinctive gravelly voice and experimental approach to music. Over his career, he has become influential in rock music through his continual willingness to challenge conventional songwriting and performance techniques.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Waits was known for jazz-influenced piano ballads and songs infused with beat-poetry imagery. His distinctive style during this period earned him a considerable following in the singer-songwriter world.
The 1983 album "Swordfishtrombones" represented a marked shift when Waits moved to Island Records and began a close working relationship with his wife Kathleen Brennan. The record introduced unconventional percussion, distorted instruments and unusual character-driven songs that would become central to his later work.