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THE REVIEW
The Dawn of Man
Everything might begin with a group of monkeys, more or less anthropomorphic, you know, like the ones placed by Kubrick at the start of "2001: A Space Odyssey".
Each of these monkeys (let's say about ten?) holds in their hands two goat leg bones and all together (and this is extraordinary) they rhythmically beat a large slab of lava stone standing in front of them, unperturbed. From the sky, a God with a cavernous voice, most likely drunk, sings, accompanied by the percussive rhythm of the bones, something weird about locusts falling from the sky, and other oddities, pondering the end that the descendants of those monkeys will meet with all of creation on the day of the apocalypse.
Now some time has passed
Two of those monkeys have taken on the faces of Cain and Abel, respectively. Cain holds a stick. He has just killed his brother and discovered death on his bloodied face.
That drunken God has now descended to the earth and sings a mournful theme, accompanied by the notes of a trumpet that drags its slow steps like a funeral procession marching towards hell.
Colosseum, interior day
The beasts are free, Emperor Tiberius watches them roam in search of their prey, while the timpani rhythmically shout their propitiatory chant. But he cannot see the gaping jaws of time and oblivion already open to swallow his empire.
The drunken God (or simply a hoarse Devil?) provides the radio commentary of this marvelous spectacle.
America, 70s
A man walks through a desolate field, with the roar of the boundless, indifferent sea calling him from afar: "I wish so much to run away from here, but I don't have the courage. The clouds reflect the gray of my sadness; the echo of my weeping returns as rain".
The drunken God is now sad, singing a sweet ballad, with the sounds of all the world's melancholies forming the chorus.
Child's room
The television keeps me company, and the cheerful song of a man with a tar-like voice erases the screams of mom and dad. But why must I grow up, and why must so many years pass before I resign myself to the idea of becoming like them?
And to understand that the apocalypse is a personal inheritance for the innocent and not (or at least not only) a common fate for sinners?
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Summary by Bot
The review delves into the rich, apocalyptic themes of Tom Waits' Bone Machine, describing its unique blend of primal rhythms and mournful ballads. It highlights the album’s vivid storytelling that spans from prehistoric imagery to personal despair. The album is praised for its dark, experimental sound and emotional depth, portraying a sense of foreboding and resignation. The review also emphasizes Waits’ distinctive vocal delivery as a 'drunken God' guiding listeners through the narrative.
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan Waits (born 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer and actor known for his gravelly voice and eclectic blending of blues, jazz, rock and experimental music.51 Reviews
Other reviews
By vonhesse
"Such a voice would be capable of narrating exacerbated and submerged worlds, even if it only recited the vowels or in complete silence."
"An album desolate and desperately lucid in making poetry by drawing nourishment from the underworld itself, from the void that surrounds us, from the darkness of the soul."
