Bad as Me
Bad as Me | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 21, 2011 | |||
Recorded | February–July, 2011 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:44 | |||
Label | Anti- | |||
Producer | Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan | |||
Tom Waits chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Bad as Me | ||||
|
Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released on October 21, 2011, by Anti- Records.[2] The album is known to have been recorded as early as February 2011[3] and was officially announced for release on August 23, 2011, on Waits' official web site[4] and various social media networks. On the same day, the title track, "Bad as Me", was released as the album's first single on iTunes.[5]
The album is Waits' first album consisting completely of new material in seven years since Real Gone (2004). Waits' label, Anti-, had recently agreed on a distribution deal with Warner Music Group allowing them to release the album internationally. This marks Waits' first release through the Warner organization since Heartattack and Vine (1980). Upon its release, Bad as Me received widespread critical acclaim.[6] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[7]
Upon release, Bad as Me became Waits' first top 10 album in the US, peaking at number 6.[8]
Release
[edit]On August 16, 2011, amid the rise of many rumours concerning Bad as Me, Waits announced on his official web site and through various social media outlets[9][10] that he would "set the rumors straight" on August 23. On this date, the title track was released as a digital single through iTunes,[5] a video with previews of the album was released on YouTube,[11][12] and was followed by a press release on his site and Anti-'s blog, which read:
Bad As Me is Tom Waits' first studio album of all new music in seven years. This pivotal work refines the music that has come before and signals a new direction. Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan. From the opening horn-fueled chug of "Chicago," to the closing barroom chorale of "New Year's Eve," Bad As Me displays the full career range of Waits' songwriting, from beautiful ballads like "Last Leaf," to the avant cinematic soundscape of "Hell Broke Luce," a battlefront dispatch. On tracks like "Talking at the Same Time," Waits shows off a supple falsetto, while on blues burners like "Raised Right Men" and the gospel tinged "Satisfied" he spits, stutters and howls. Like a good boxer, these songs are lean and mean, with strong hooks and tight running times. A pervasive sense of players delighting in each other's musical company brings a feeling of loose joy even to the album's saddest songs.[4]
The album was made available to stream on October 17, 2011[13] and released digitally on iTunes on October 21,[14] where it was previously available for pre-order. Domestic versions of the album were released worldwide on October 24, 2011[2] in three formats: a digipak CD version with a 32-page booklet and free digital download in FLAC, AAC, or MP3; a deluxe edition two-CD version with 40-page booklet and free digital download; and a 180 gram LP and CD with a lyric sheet and free digital download.[15] In an interview regarding Bad as Me, Waits confirmed the influence of Captain Beefheart, who had died earlier the same year.[16]
Reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.5/10[17] |
Metacritic | 88/100[6] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[20] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MSN Music (Expert Witness) | A−[22] |
NME | 6/10[23] |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10[24] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 8/10[26] |
Bad as Me was released to widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 88, based on 40 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[6] AllMusic's Thom Jurek said that "Bad as Me is an aural portrait of all the places he's traveled as a recording artist, which is, in and of itself, illuminating and thoroughly enjoyable," awarding the album four out of five stars.[18] Amanda Petrusich of Pitchfork noted that the album's "tracks are concise and expertly edited", adding that "Bad as Me feels as new as it does ancient."[24] In a five-star review, Helen Brown of The Daily Telegraph praised the album's "rattling bawlers", adding that each were "distinctively turbocharged with reckless and richly textured energy," while also mentioning that the "ballads run poignantly on their rims, leaking emotion."[19] Michael Wheeler, in his 9/10 review for Drowned in Sound, praised its "exhilarating, terrifying, heartbreaking, tear jerking, bone-rattling style,"[27] Andy Gill in The Independent praised the album for containing "no filler at all" and gave it top marks,[21] while Noel Murray of The A.V. Club called it "Waits' embrace of a legacy that now includes enshrinement in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame," concluding that "for longtime fans it's a fun reminder of Waits' ability to be a badass when necessary".[28]
In The Guardian, Dave Simpson called Waits's lyrics "as unpredictable and inspired as ever", while claiming his "songs hurtle past in waves of blistering energy and imagery."[1] Rolling Stone's Will Hermes spoke highly of the album in a four out of five star review, saying that it was Waits's "most sharply focused record since the game-changing tag team Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs decades ago."[25] In a review for Slant Magazine, Jesse Cataldo stated that Bad as Me was "a self-affirming collection of the things Waits attempts to represent,"[29] and, in an equally positive appraisal, Dan Weiss of Spin said that the album "burns at fuse speed."[26] Likewise, Andrew Mueller of Uncut concluded a glowing review by calling the album "the sound of a supremely confident artist convening a raucous celebration of his own myth, and is multifariously marvellous."[30]
Mojo placed the album at number 9 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011"[31] while Uncut placed the album at number 13.[32]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Chicago" | 2:15 |
2. | "Raised Right Men" | 3:24 |
3. | "Talking at the Same Time" | 4:14 |
4. | "Get Lost" | 2:42 |
5. | "Face to the Highway" | 3:43 |
6. | "Pay Me" | 3:14 |
7. | "Back in the Crowd" | 2:49 |
8. | "Bad as Me" | 3:10 |
9. | "Kiss Me" | 3:41 |
10. | "Satisfied" | 4:05 |
11. | "Last Leaf" | 2:56 |
12. | "Hell Broke Luce" | 3:57 |
13. | "New Year's Eve" | 4:32 |
Total length: | 44:44 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "She Stole the Blush" | 2:50 |
15. | "Tell Me" | 3:43 |
16. | "After You Die" | 2:47 |
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
- Tom Waits – vocals (tracks 1–13), guitar (1–4, 6, 7, 9–11, 13) piano (1, 6, 8, 9), percussion (1, 4, 5, 12), banjo (1), tablas (2), pump organ (11)
- Marc Ribot – guitar (1–8, 10–12)
- Clint Maedgen – saxophone (1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 13)
- Casey Waits – drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12)
- David Hidalgo – guitar (3, 4, 6, 7, 12), violin (6), percussion (7), accordion, bass guitar, background vocals (13)
- Ben Jaffe – trombone (1, 3, 4), bass clarinet (1), tuba (12, 13)
- Charlie Musselwhite – harmonica (1, 2, 8, 10, 12)
- Patrick Warren – keyboards (3–5, 10, 13)
- James Whiton – bass (3, 5–7, 11)
- Keith Richards – guitar (1, 10–12), vocals (11)
- Augie Meyers – vox organ (2), piano (3), accordion (6)
- Gino Robair – percussion (3, 5, 10), vibraphone (6)
- Larry Taylor – guitar (1, 2), bass (1, 4)
- Chris Grady – trumpet (3, 12, 13)
- Flea – bass (2, 12)
- Will Bernard – guitar (6, 12)
- Dawn Harms – violin (5)
- Marcus Shelby – bass (9)
- Les Claypool – bass (10)
- Zack Sumner – bass (13)
Technical personnel
- Tom Waits – producer
- Kathleen Brennan – producer
- Julianne Deery – assistant producer
- Karl Derfler – engineer, mixing
- Zack Sumner – assistant engineer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Trevor Hernandez – art direction
- Jesse Dylan – photography
- Tom Waits – additional photography
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Singles[edit]
|
Bad as Me earned Waits his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan launched in 1991, entering at number six on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top Rock Albums chart; by 2013 it had sold 190,000 copies.[68] As of January 2012, UK sales stand at 40,305 copies according to The Guardian.[69] In 2012, it was awarded a diamond certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,[70] this indicated sales of at least 200,000 copies throughout Europe.
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Germany[71] | October 21, 2011 | Digital download | Anti- |
Ireland[72] | |||
France[73] | October 24, 2011 | ||
Spain[74] | |||
United Kingdom[75] | |||
Canada[76] | October 25, 2011 | ||
United States[77] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (October 20, 2011). "Tom Waits: Bad As Me – review". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b "Tom Waits Private Listening Party!". Anti-. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Tom Waits | News | Tom Waits". TomWaits.com. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "Tom Waits | News | Tom Waits' Private Listening Party". TomWaits.com. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "Bad As Me - Single by Tom Waits - Download Bad As Me - Single on iTunes". iTunes Store. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Reviews for Bad as Me by Tom Waits". Metacritic. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Eggertsen, Chris; Ellwood, Gregory; Hasty, Katie (February 10, 2013). "55th Grammy Awards – winners and nominees". HitFix. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "Tom Waits". Billboard Database. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "There have been..." Facebook. August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Twitter / @tomwaits: There have been rumblings..." August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Tom Waits' Private Listening Party". YouTube. August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Spielberg, Theo (August 23, 2011). "Tom Waits Announces 'Bad as Me' Album, Releases Title Track as Single - Spinner". Spinner. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (October 17, 2011). "Stream the New Tom Waits Album - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Bad as Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad as Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes". iTunes Store. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Featured Items - The Official Tom Waits Online Store :: powered by Kings Road Merch". Kings Road Merch. 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Randall Roberts Personal playlist: Tom Waits recalls Captain Beefheart, the late Don Van Vliet Pop & Hiss The L.A. Times Musical Blog, October 17, 2011
- ^ "Bad As Me by Tom Waits reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Bad as Me – Tom Waits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Brown, Helen (October 20, 2011). "Bad as Me: Tom Waits, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (October 25, 2011). "Bad As Me". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (October 21, 2011). "Album: Tom Waits, Bad As Me (Anti-)". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 29, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (November 29, 2011). "Tom Waits/Pusha T". MSN Music. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Denney, Alex (October 28, 2011). "Album Reviews: Tom Waits – 'Bad As Me'". NME. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
- ^ a b Petrusich, Amanda (October 24, 2011). "Tom Waits: Bad as Me". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Hermes, Will (October 25, 2011). "Bad As Me". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Weiss, Dan (October 24, 2011). "Tom Waits, 'Bad as Me' (Anti-)". Spin. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Weller, Michael (October 25, 2011). "Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Murray, Noel (October 25, 2011). "Tom Waits: Bad As Me". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Cataldo, Jesse (October 23, 2011). "Tom Waits: Bad As Me". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Mueller, Andrew (November 2011). "Tom Waits: Bad as Me". Uncut (174): 78.
- ^ "Mojo's Top 50 Albums Of 2011". Stereogum. December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ "Uncut's Top 50 Albums Of 2011". Stereogum. 29 November 2011.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Tom Waits – Bad as Me" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Tom Waits – Bad as Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Tom Waits – Bad as Me" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tom Waits – Bad as Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits: Bad as Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tom Waits – Bad as Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Tom Waits". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. November 7, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tom Waits – Bad as Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tom Waits Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2011". Ultratop. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Hitlisten.NU". Hitlisten. IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2011". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Årslista Album – År 2011" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2011". hitparade.ch. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "ultratop.be - Tom Waits - Back In The Crowd". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ "lescharts.com - Tom Waits - Bad As Me". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ "2011-09-03 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ "2013 Grammy Awards: Rock, Alternative & Metal Nominations". Billboard. December 21, 2012. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ Lynskey, Dorian (16 January 2012). "Indie rock's slow and painful death". The Guardian.
- ^ "13/12/12: More Independent Artists Take European Gold, Silver and Platinum Awards Than Ever Before - Impala". impalamusic.org. Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) von Tom Waits - Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) bei iTunes vorbestellen". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) de Tom Waits - Pré-commander Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) sur iTunes". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) de Tom Waits - Pide por anticipido Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) en iTunes". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes". iTunes Store.
- ^ "Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad As Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes". iTunes Store.