Tom Waits for Winter

Winter is upon us and I hear it breezing in between the trees. It is anticipating its takeover of the air, and it is laughing at the fact that I do not have a winter coat. It is this time of year that I start thinking about how to keep myself warm. Aside from a new coat, it is time for new music. My first purchase might get me through the entire winter season. Tom Waits has a new 50-track 3 CD collection coming out on Novemeber 21st entitled Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards. I have been secretly stalking him on the web for the past two months in anticipation for his new release. Having a small catalogue of songs about stalkers, Waits probably senses us out there and has been feeding us clips and bits about the upcoming album for months now. Please click on the photo above if you want to be directed to his site on Anti-Records. It contains a couple of songs for free download, and tons of reviews of the album, including a review from Waits himself which is just hysterical.

As I begin to find my identity in the academic world, or at least think about it, the word "Americanist" has found itself in play. I don't know what that means exactly. Yet, if I were to think about an artist that has kept his ears open for the past 40 plus years to the sounds and soul emanating from the American air waves, and coughing it back to us after a smoke, shot of whiskey, and a chaser of brilliance, it would have to be Tom Waits. I am looking forward to winter.