User Profile
N. Geffen
Lover of all music, with a slight preference towards rock and metal.
Reviews
22
Lists
7
Collection
40
N. Geffen's Album Reviews
My personal favorite Tom Waits album. The moment I pressed "Play", and "Misery Is the River of the World" started, I was immediately enchanted.
It was the first time I heard Wait's more experimental music. And at this point, I have listened to all of his discography, most of which I absolutely love (like Bone Machine). However, Blood Money remains my favorite.
The main attraction of this record is its relentlessly cynical and hostile nature. Songs like the aforementioned "Misery Is the River of the World" and "God's Away on Business" give a strong sense of hopelessness and despair. Yet there are a few songs here that have a more gentle and soft sound. Tracks like "All the World Is Green" and "The Part You Throw Away", that are a great contrast to the harsher songs on this album. Another thing to note is the closing track, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find". Easily the saddest song, and the most beautiful. It is one of the gentle songs here, but the feeling of hopelessness is abundantly present.
Overall, I feel like this is an album best listened to when you are feeling down, and in need of some recognition or comfort. Unless of course, it makes you feel worse. In that case, listen to it afterwards. To me, however, this is an album with spectacular music, and a great source of consolation.
Favorite Tracks: "Misery Is the River of the World", "Everything Goes to Hell", "Coney Island Baby", "All the World Is Green", "Starving in the Belly of a Whale", "A Good Man Is Hard to Find".
Least Favorite Track: "Woe".
10/10
It was the first time I heard Wait's more experimental music. And at this point, I have listened to all of his discography, most of which I absolutely love (like Bone Machine). However, Blood Money remains my favorite.
The main attraction of this record is its relentlessly cynical and hostile nature. Songs like the aforementioned "Misery Is the River of the World" and "God's Away on Business" give a strong sense of hopelessness and despair. Yet there are a few songs here that have a more gentle and soft sound. Tracks like "All the World Is Green" and "The Part You Throw Away", that are a great contrast to the harsher songs on this album. Another thing to note is the closing track, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find". Easily the saddest song, and the most beautiful. It is one of the gentle songs here, but the feeling of hopelessness is abundantly present.
Overall, I feel like this is an album best listened to when you are feeling down, and in need of some recognition or comfort. Unless of course, it makes you feel worse. In that case, listen to it afterwards. To me, however, this is an album with spectacular music, and a great source of consolation.
Favorite Tracks: "Misery Is the River of the World", "Everything Goes to Hell", "Coney Island Baby", "All the World Is Green", "Starving in the Belly of a Whale", "A Good Man Is Hard to Find".
Least Favorite Track: "Woe".
10/10
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