Released: 20/09/24
Seven years after Bone Machine, Tom Waits returned with Mule Variations, having spent the interim on acting, soundtracks, and stage projects. Despite the break, the album stays true to his signature mix of grit and tenderness, blending experimental noise with poignant ballads. Tracks like What’s He Building? echo his word-jazz influences, while longtime collaborators and co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan help craft another uniquely Waitsian soundscape.