Search - Tom Waits :: Mule Variations

One of Tom Waits best

10/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mule Variations is perhaps one of Tom Waits best albums in many years. The songs "Hold On" "Cold Water" and "House Where nobody Lives" suggest a blend of two earlier CDs, "Closing Time" and "Rain Dogs". This CD contains Buzz Fletterjohn, as well as Big Face Money (co written by Tom's son Casey, and Casey plays drums on it). This CD is perhaps my favorite of Tom Waits works, challenged only by Rain Dogs. The music is beautiful, and the lyrics moving. Tom at his best!! The only thing better was seeing him live in Minneapolis, at 9th and Hennepin!!"

Mule Variations

Andrew Rolston | Kansas City, mo United States | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Waits' jazzy sound often betrays his real influence on popular music. Some of the guest stars on this album are not jazz musicians in the slightest, like Primus frontman Les Claypool for example. The diverse guest list on MULE VARIATIONS is just as well, seeing as how MULE VARIATIONS is one of Waits' most varied efforts.
Those who remember ZZ Top before the ELIMINATOR-era will see their influence on Waits' music with such songs as "Big In Japan", "Cold Water" & "Filipino Box Spring Hog". Instead of the focus being on piano like Waits' earliest songs, it's placed on guitar, which helps the songs rock, instead of just swing.
This album may be Waits' chance to rock out, but his old songs of sadness & heartbreak are still evident on somber ballads like "House Where Nobody Lives", "Picture In A Frame" & "Georgia Lee". The music on these songs is so faint, you're practically jolted out of your seat as soon as Waits' gravel-voiced self arrives on the scene.
A few songs have Waits experimenting with a sort of tribal rhythm that would not have been out of place on Paul Simon's GRACELAND album. "Lowside Of The Road", "Eyeball Kid" & "Chocolate Jesus" all have drums so high in the mix, you're just waiting for some natives to come dancing out of your stereo.
No singles were released from this album I don't think, but the best candidate would have been the heartfelt ballad "Hold On". At first listen, I thought this was an outtake from Bruce Springsteen's NEBRASKA album. Springsteen fans, however, might enjoy this rare chance to see Waits in an almost clear-voiced croon.
I've always been a critic of why some artists take an eternity to record a new album. Some people say it's a matter of getting the music on tape the way they like it, or that their inspiration occasionally runs dry for long periods of time. But unlike such famous perfectionists like Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder & Tom Scholz (Boston), Tom Waits doesn't keep his fans waiting for something new while trying to make things sound absolutely perfect. Acting may be Waits' forte nowadays, but MULE VARIATIONS is proof that whenever Waits does get into the groove of making music again, he doesn't disappoint his fans & is well worth the wait."

Not much Variation neither a lot of Mule

bugzzy | Portugal | 11/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ok I must admit it, it's not "his finest hour", but even so you won't regret the money, there's a couple of fine tunes around, cool lyrics and cool cover art. If you 're a beginner in Tom Waits music, this album will make you look for more..."