Top tracks — play these first
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Heartattack and Vine — This track epitomizes the album's gritty aesthetic with its relentless rhythm and evocative lyrics about urban despair and resilience.
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Jersey Girl — A poignant ballad that blends romantic longing with a vivid sense of place, showcasing Waits' lyrical prowess and emotive vocal delivery.
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Tom Traubert's Blues — This standout track combines haunting melodies with intricate storytelling, representing Waits' ability to weave personal narratives into broader themes of loss and yearning.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gritty storytelling with emotional depth
- wave-like pacing invites introspection
- for late-night drives
- dynamic peaks and valleys
- headphone detail in every track
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek polished mainstream sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A compilation of rarities that showcases Waits' early style, appealing to dedicated fans.
- Career context
- Released in 1981, Bounced Checks showcases Tom Waits during a transitional phase after his acclaimed album, Small Change. By this time, he had begun to cultivate a distinctive sound that combined elements of jazz, blues, and avant-garde influences, moving away from his earlier folk roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Leonard Cohen· Nick Cave· Captain Beefheart
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Heartattack and Vine 4:52
- 2 Jersey Girl 4:35
- 3 Eggs and Sausage 4:14
- 4 I Never Talk to Strangers 3:36
- 5 The Piano Has Been Drinking (live) 6:04
- 6 Whistlin' Past the Graveyard 3:00
- 7 Mr. Henry 3:33
- 8 Diamonds on My Windshield 3:13
- 9 Burma-shave 6:28
- 10 Tom Traubert's Blues 6:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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