Well, the web site has had a bit of a problem
recently, but it is up now and
going strong. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Here are the latest bits of news. Not yet sure if
there will be a tour for
these albums, but I would assume that he will be
making more public
appearances around that time at least.
'Alice' and 'Red Drum' to be released April 9, 2002.
(1 November 2001)
'Used Songs (1973-1980)' best of album released. (30
October 2001)
Unlike the long wait for the album 'Black Rider', Tom
Waits has only waited
a year to announce the release of 'Red Drum'
and 'Alice' by Anti Records.
These albums were inspired by Tom Waits' work
on 'Woyzek' and 'Alice', both
collaborations with Robert Wilson. These acoustic
albums are "startlingly
different in landscape, sound, emotion and
composition" according to the
label.
'Used Songs (1973-1980)' includes Tom Waits greats
like "Blue Valentine",
"Heart of Saturday Night" and "Ol' 55", but does not
include any new
material. This is a much better starter album for
Tom's folk-style music
than the "Early Years" albums, but will not be very
useful for the current
Tom Waits fans.
Full Anti Press Release:
Tom Waits To Release Two Albums-- 'Alice' & 'Red Drum'-
- Simultaneously
April 9, 2002 On Anti Records
TOM WAITS will release two entirely separate CDs
simultaneously April 9 on
Anti/Epitaph Records, which also issued WAITS’ most
recent album, the
Grammy-Award winning Mule Variations. Titled
respectively, ALICE and RED
DRUM, the recordings are startlingly different in
landscape, sound, emotion
and composition. Both are written and produced by
Waits and Kathleen
Brennan, his wife and long-time collaborator.
Presently, the pair is in the
studio putting the finishing touches upon each.
ALICE is filled with unforgettable haunting opiate
songs played by piano,
bass sax, Stroh violin, cello and vibes. Lyrically and
musically, powerful
and surreal, these are dark tunes from an adult
fairytale. Song titles
include, “We’re All Mad Here,” “There’s Only
Alice,” “Table Top Joe” and
“Poor Edward.”
RED DRUM’s songs were inspired by the dark tale of
Woyzeck--a poor soldier
driven mad by medical experiments and an unfaithful
wife. RED DRUM is Tin
Pan Alley meets Weimar Republic. Eloquent, innovative
and unique, there are
tarantellas, lullabies and dissonant calliope waltzes.
Dense, textured and
rhythmic, some song titles include, “Coney Island
Baby,” “All The World Is
Green” and “God’s Away On Business.”
While ALICE and RED DRUM are distinct in subject and
sonics, they share some
things in common: no electric guitars, as each was
recorded with chiefly
acoustic instruments; strange curious songs; and
concurrent release date.
These recordings cover musical terrain formerly
unexplored by WAITS and both
RED DRUM and ALICE may surpass his celebrated
masterpieces. It’s Waits at
the height of his powers.ReplyBack to forum
