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Title: A Classic with Continuity
Review: This CD starts out with perhaps one of the best “road trip” songs of all time “Hang on St. Christopher” and continues taking you places for the next 16 songs. Of course, because it’s Tom Waits taking you there you are taking a trip into shattered dreams, self-destruction, alcoholism, and ultimately the cold, cold ground. The CD contains the song for a two-act play, so beyond the attraction of being one of his best recordings, it is also the most cohesive. Following Frank’s story from song to song is just as good a reason to buy the CD as the memorable tunes, brilliant lyrics, creative use of studio techniques, and diverse instrumentation. If I have one criticism, it is that Waits’ singing is sometimes too theatrical and melodramatic. It’s usually when he’s singing first person as Frank, but it helps to tell the story so it’s not out of place, per se. But “good” acting is when the audience is not conscious of the process of acting.
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