I pick the worst times to get into bands. I literally decided to check out the Smashing Pumpkins the day they broke up. I missed the Unicorns on their last tour because I was still letting their album sink in and thought “I’ll catch ‘em next time.” And more recently, I missed Tom Waits in Louisville because I was only vaguely familiar with his work. Now I’ve done my penance and have embraced the gravel-voiced angel of the American people.

MP3: Tom Waits – Lie to Me
The last thing you need to hear from me, a recent convert to the church of Waits, is about the width of his works. But as testament to it, here’s Waits’ very own rockabilly firecracker: “Lie to Me.” Consider it (along with “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”) a gateway drug.

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