Well it’s the first day of December and here in Philly the sky has opened up. You would think it was the beginning of a disaster movie, the wind howling like a dog, people dashing around for cover like their lives depended on it. On days like this it brings me great pleasure to listen to a favorite album of mine, a certain Tom Waits number entitled Rain Dogs. The album is an in depth exploration of a downtrodden society, a ghetto that has been flooded by the elements and seemingly forsaken, and how the different people cope with their problems. From the grimy ports of Singapore, to the view from dirty yellow window on a downtown train, Waits reveals a world where everyone wants to get out but from song to song will keep dragging you back in. And by its end, the album reflects a sort of slum pride similar to what Dylan does at the end of Highway 61 Revisited with Desolation Row. The music is a blend of jazz, rock and blues, an interesting mix of genres and styles that when delivered by Tom Waits becomes a purely unique experience that is certainly worth your time. Whether you listen to the album or not, one thing is certain: for the moment it is raining, and it doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon.
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