Tom Waits - Closing Time

Tom Waits' debut album is a stirring, soulful classicist pop album. The majority of the songs are ballads in the vein of In the Wee Small Hours-era Sinatra, but Waits sets himself apart with strong songwriting and, of course, his inimitable voice. That brassy, bassy, bourbon-coated throat gives the songs a gravitas that other singers wish they could possess. It's not all mopey ballads, though - "Ice Cream Man" is a fine bit of flirtatiousness, but it's the haunting moments ("Old '55," "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You" and "Grapefruit Moon") that leave the most lasting impression.