Blue Valentine by Tom Waits

Blue Valentine captures Waits before he fully committed to the experimental carnival barker persona that would dominate his later work. There are hints of the strangeness to come, but it remains largely grounded in recognisable song forms and emotional territory. This makes it perhaps his most accessible work from his early period, an entry point for people who might find his later avant-garde excursions too challenging, while still containing enough idiosyncrasy to reward devoted attention.Featured songs:SomewhereRed Shoes By The DrugstoreChristmas Card from A Hooker in MinneapolisRomeo Is BleedingWhistlin’ Past The GraveyardBlue Valentines