Let's just see what these two guys are made of...
Let me start the battle, by suggesting that two of the five greatest albums ever made are by Tom Waits.
1. The velvet Underground & Nico
2. Swordfishtrombones - Tom Waits
3. The Unforgettable fire - U2
4. Bone machine - Tom Waits
5. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts club band - The Beatles.
Please note that not one album by Tim Buckley is in the top 5.
Now, obviously everyone has a different taste in music, voila, I can't control everything... but If ANYONE on this site could swap one of the albums in that top 5 with any other album... I still bet, that besides one person, nobody is going to put a Tim Buckley album up there.
Now. Besides the obvious albums in favour of Tom Waits. Let me suggest a song battle.
I'll link to a Tom Waits song (and post the lyrics) and someone has to try to find a Tim Buckley song which is just as good with better lyrics...
Let the rumble commence:
Better off without a wife
all my friends are married
every Tom and Dick and Harry
you must be strong
to go it alone
here's to the bachelors
and the bowery bums
and those who feel that they're the ones
who are better off without a wife
CHORUS
I like to sleep until the crack of noon
midnight howlin' at the moon
goin' out when I wanto, comin' home when I please
I don't have to ask permission
if I want to go out fishing
and I never have to ask for the keys
never been no Valentino
had a girl who lived in Reno
left me for a trumpet player
didn't get me down
he was wanted for assault
though he said it weren't his fault
well the coppers rode him right
out of town
CHORUS
selfish about my privacy
as long as I can be with me
we get along so well I can't believe
I love to chew the fat with folks
and listen to all your dirty jokes
I'm so thankful for these friends
I do receive
CHORUS
😵 it's really not a fair fight. more like putting alanis morrisette up against tori amos.
I've always wondered why some people even insist on either of the buckleys having any merits. not that they really were as bad as alanis, but come on, comparing them to any of the real lyrical gods... they're really not even close to being in the same league!
TKO in the first round for mr. waits and his wife.
Originally posted by wormwoodObviously.
😵 it's really not a fair fight. more like putting alanis morrisette up against tori amos.
I've always wondered why some people even insist on either of the buckleys having any merits. not that they really were as bad as alanis, but come on, comparing them to any of the real lyrical gods... they're really not even close to being in the same league!
TKO in the first round for mr. waits and his wife.
However, Badmoon feels differently on this subject (see his thread in the culture forum).
So, I felt it only fair to give him a chance to state his case.
I'll wait patiently before springing "Time", "In the neighbourhood" and "Murder in the red barn" on him...
Originally posted by shavixmirSHAV this is a NO BRAINER.. TOM WAITS WINS by a LANDSLIDE... I mean...
Let's just see what these two guys are made of...
Let me start the battle, by suggesting that two of the five greatest albums ever made are by Tom Waits.
1. The velvet Underground & Nico
2. Swordfishtrombones - Tom Waits
3. The Unforgettable fire - U2
4. Bone machine - Tom Waits
5. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts club band - The Beatles.
Please not ...[text shortened]... to all your dirty jokes
I'm so thankful for these friends
I do receive
CHORUS
I could go one for 5 days about his songs;;;;
Kentucky Avenue,
Blackmarketbaby,
Gin soaked boy,
Town with no cheer... to name a few.... no contest...
Originally posted by shavixmirLook, I'm a Waits fan. I saw him on his Small Change tour. I prefer his 70's recordings the most. But Waits is not a great singer. He is an artistic talent mainly due to his songwriting and peculiar mannersims and presentation.
Obviously.
However, Badmoon feels differently on this subject (see his thread in the culture forum).
So, I felt it only fair to give him a chance to state his case.
I'll wait patiently before springing "Time", "In the neighbourhood" and "Murder in the red barn" on him...
To judge Tim Buckley you have to listen to Greetings from LA. His voice is incomparable. his phasing is like Coltrane. Outside of perhaps Leon Thomas I find it the most unique male voice I've heard. His range can hardly be touched. There is an uncanny sexuality to his songs and lyrics that cause it to be almost blue.
His son Jeff did not quite approach his father's depth and songwriting, but his voice is nonetheless an emotional and sensational experience.
Back to Waits..brilliant songwriter and performer...but he does not possess a great voice. In the late 70's and into the 80's when he still smoked, he was difficult to listen to in that it was achingly harsh and almost tortuous in timbre. He really struggled to sing for a while and as a fellow Waits fan you certainly must agree.
Jeff Buckley's best is Mystery White Boy. It is a live performance and I'm not alone in stating that it is one of the greatest live rock performances ever. You can find many critics who would agree.
Originally posted by badmoontim's the father, jeff the son. tim was way better.
Look, I'm a Waits fan. I saw him on his Small Change tour. I prefer his 70's recordings the most. But Waits is not a great singer. He is an artistic talent mainly due to his songwriting and peculiar mannersims and presentation.
To judge Jeff Buckley you have to listen to Greetings from LA. His voice is incomparable. his phasing is like Coltrane. Out f the greatest live rock performances ever. You can find many critics who would agree.
I never thought about the voice of either of them. I tend to dislike the type of singing that especially jeff did. too clean, technical and thus impersonal. stuff you hear on modern american tv-series' founded on the relationships of 20-30 something rich kids. like 'felicity'.
Originally posted by badmoonTom Waits doesn't have a great voice?
Look, I'm a Waits fan. I saw him on his Small Change tour. I prefer his 70's recordings the most. But Waits is not a great singer. He is an artistic talent mainly due to his songwriting and peculiar mannersims and presentation.
To judge Tim Buckley you have to listen to Greetings from LA. His voice is incomparable. his phasing is like Coltrane. Outs ...[text shortened]... f the greatest live rock performances ever. You can find many critics who would agree.
Did I read that correctly?
Originally posted by badmoonMelodies and lyrics are far more important than quality of voice. Yes, Frank could sing The Yellow Pages, but........boring!!!!!!! I prefer the total package. Can anyone beat Leonard Cohen singing Halleujha????
Another singer with about a 5 note range. A mesmerizing artist nonetheless.
GRANNY.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageHe also did Waltzing Matilda which is known with another title (maybe thats the one you mentioned?). He writes and performs songs that appreciates the peculiar histrionics that his voice is capable of. I dig Neil Young a lot and he is one of my favorite singers, but I won't say that he's a great singer.
'What keeps mankind alive' (Brecht I think).