Tom Waits

A bit boring (and at times irritating) for my tastes, but if only they were all as boring and irritating as him. Considering that the entire production of the last 20 years depresses me endlessly, he has made excellent albums ("Small Change," "Heartattack & Vine," "Foreign Affairs"). On the other hand, the stylistic shift of the '80s doesn't entirely convince me, as does certain exaggeration of his ogre-like vocality. Not my ideal singer-songwriter, absolutely, but he has made his mark.