Real Gone
by Tom Waits
  • Record Label: Epitaph
  • Release Date: Oct 5, 2004
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34

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  1. BenjaminS
    Oct 17, 2004
    6
    Tom's strengths are in lyrics, songwriting, characterful singing and other forms of vocalizing, and aural atmospheres created in his music. On this album the lyrics are strong, the songwriting is more blues lines and gospel lines than melodic songs with a few exceptions, the characterful singing isn't close to the range of characters explored in previous recordings, and the Tom's strengths are in lyrics, songwriting, characterful singing and other forms of vocalizing, and aural atmospheres created in his music. On this album the lyrics are strong, the songwriting is more blues lines and gospel lines than melodic songs with a few exceptions, the characterful singing isn't close to the range of characters explored in previous recordings, and the aural atmospheres lack the surprises and depth of other releases. For the most part, this feels like Tom jamming rather than carefully crafting his music. Not his best effort, nowhere close to Alice, his most musically complex CD, or even in his Gospel/Folk/Coutry Blues does it range as far as Bone Machine or Mule Variations. Also, Circus doesn't belong on this recording. Just OK.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    Waits retains his knack for recruiting world-class musicians... who can play like they're falling down the stairs of hell. [28 Oct 2004, p.98]
  2. ShakingThrough.net
    70
    A noisy, stamping, querulous assault on the senses that could have certainly benefited from more than a little editing.
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  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    All the idiosyncrasies which either drew you to Waits or repelled you from him are present, and many songs hold a resemblance to past gems.
    Read full review
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