Tom Waits.

Anyone like him? I've really gotten into his ideosyncratic style recently, which seems to be a hodgepodge of Luis Armstrong, and smokey seedy underground jazz/blues with a little bit of Vaudeville sprinkled on top.


Wow!

I love the guy. You forgot to include the element of hard-edged noise-rock that is sometimes detectable in his influences.

Really great stuff. He is one of the few "crooner" types who has any effect on me, most of them bore me, but his ballads are truly moving. Add to this the humour, lyrical genius, and ability to rock, and you have a complete package of succulent goodness. Did I ever mention that I do a passable impression of his growly vocal style when I'm feeling suitably exhibitionistic?

My favourite albums, of what I've heard, are Bone Machine and Mule Variations in no specific order. Goddammit they're good.