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Real Gone - Tom Waits
Real Gone Image
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: Fans of his acclaimed 2002 pair of discs will have to settle for just one album this time out, co-produced by Waits with Kathleen Brennan. Marc Ribot and Les Claypool guest.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Playlouder
    100
    In 'Real Gone's fearsome complexity of rhythm, lyric and device, Tom Waits appropriates like a shoplifter without much time, and creates something entirely his own. A new music.
  2. E! Online
    100
    Slapping his knees, spitting and grunting, Waits makes the already raw blues sound of songs like "Metropolitan Glide" and "Trampled Rose" sound even more grizzled.
  3. Uncut
    60
    Waits is still taking more risks than most US 'singer-songwriters' of his generation, and parts of this album rock righteously. It's just that some of Waits' musical modes... have been done before, and much better. By him. [Nov 2004, p.110]
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See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. sophiastar(israel)
    10
    one more original, chaleging, smart, and highly beautifull albume for mr.waits to put in my collection! highly recomended to those who have their ears tuned up the right way!!… Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. PaulS
    10
    I'm always saddened by the fact that so many people feel a need to define and/or review an album based on previous releases. Comments like; "well, it's similar to Bone Machine, but..." or "Different from Alice and Blood Money, but..." I think this is because professional reviewers are somewhat unimaginative and it's easier to define by comparison than actually review the album on its own merit. Real Gone is a great album, truly one of the most unique listening experiences in years. Tom Waits maintains his title as "king-of-the-risk takers" by throwing everything up against the side of the barn and seeing what sticks. In this case, most of it does, in a beautiful, tragic and more than a little funny, way. This is a "screaming in the car" album if ever there was one. Enjoy it.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes
  3. Hein
    10
    Forget all your fucked up 80s revival bands. This is the real sugar!!!
    • 3 of 3 users said yes

See all 15 User Reviews

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