Reviews - Mule Variations

Review by thetragicfigure - Manhattan, New York, USA2nd November 2006

    I agree with most of what the other reviewers say here about this album. I just wanted to add that I, for one, love the absurdity of "Eyeball Kid" and find it interesting that Tom's felt the need to talk about not one, but TWO characters who have been "born without a body" (this, and "Tabletop Joe").

My God; how does this man's brain work?


Review by Francis - Canada27th Nov 2005

    Take It With Me - One of my top 3 Waits songs. I love it's foray into nostalgia.


Review by Myrtle Funge - England, UK1st May 2001

    Percussive vocals blast Big In Japan into one of the more accessible Waits albums. Lowside of the Road plods along like a herd of cows and Hold On may even entice Granny to sing along. Get Behind The Mule may seem a little long on first listening, that's probably because it is. There is some whining about A House Where Nobody Lives before we reach the joy of Cold Water. The song may sound like 'Mummy's Going To Take Us To The Zoo Tomorrow' and the lyrics may be mistaken for 'I woke up this morning with a koala' but you just have to bellow along. A few more practises and I think the guitarist will conquer the solo. It took a while before I could figure out where I had heard Pony before. Then it hit me, 'On Top Of Old Smoky'. No Waits album is complete without a talking song and the creepy What's He Building In There furnishes that requirement. If you're still asking what's being built upon the songs completion then you've missed the point. Black Market Baby has all the excitement of Pony and the unpractised guitar solo of Cold Water. If one were to skip any tracks on this album then the annoying Eyeball Kid would be the place to exercise that action. The album contains a gaggle of pleasant tunes, Georgia Lee, Take It With You and the creaking piano of Picture In A Frame. The last has uncharacteristically repeated lyrics. Moving on to the religious stuff Chocolate Jesus chews it's way through some pious confectionary in an outdoor demeanour. Filipino Box String Hog, is another of those great rousing Waits songs with that famed voice in full throttle warming up for Come On Up To The House for the big vocal conclusion.


Do you have a review to add? All reviews welcome