He went from making records that sound like Hollywoods seediest corners to records that sound like drunk marching bands in machine shops. By 2. 00. 4s Real Gone, his voice modulated into a terrifying bark that commands attention and respect, yet still communicates with all the emotive power of the most angelic soprano. You can hear Waits transition from ironic lovelorn crooner to demonic carnival barkerand a few dozen more old, weird American charactersin the 2. Spotify playlist just above. It covers Waits entire career, from that first, 1. Closing Time, and its follow ups The Heart of Saturday Night and Nighthawks at the Diner, to Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, Blood Money, and his last studio album, Bad as Me, a fun reminder, Murray writes, of Waits ability to be a badass when necessary. Id say, if youve heard Waits deep, gravelly growl at any stage of his career, youd hardly need reminding. Related Content Tom Waits Makes a List of His Top 2. Favorite Albums of All Time. Tom Waits For No One Watch the Pioneering Animated Tom Waits Music Video from 1. Tom Waits Sings and Tells Stories in Tom Waits A Day in Vienna, a 1. Austrian Film. Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at jdmagness.