Bad as Me
{{About|the album|the title song|Bad as Me (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Bad as Me
| type = studio
| artist = Tom Waits
| cover = BadasMe.png
| alt =
| released = October 21, 2011
| recorded = February–July, 2011
| studio =
| genre = *Experimental rock
| length = 44:44
| label = Anti-
| producer = Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan
| prev_title = Glitter and Doom Live
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Bad as Me
| type = studio
| single1 = Bad as Me
| single1date = August 23, 2011
| single2 = Back in the Crowd
| single2date = September 27, 2011
}}
}}
Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released on October 21, 2011, by Anti- Records.{{cite web|title=Tom Waits Private Listening Party!|url=http://www.antilabelblog.com/?p=7181|work=Anti-|date=August 23, 2011|accessdate=August 23, 2011|archive-date=October 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004055148/http://www.antilabelblog.com/?p=7181|url-status=dead}} The album is known to have been recorded as early as February 2011{{cite web|title=Tom Waits | News | Tom Waits|url=http://www.tomwaits.com/news/article/130/Tom_Waits/|work=TomWaits.com|date=February 24, 2011|accessdate=August 23, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110717071716/http://www.tomwaits.com/news/article/130/Tom_Waits/| archivedate= July 17, 2011 | url-status= live}} and was officially announced for release on August 23, 2011, on Waits' official web site{{cite web|title=Tom Waits | News | Tom Waits' Private Listening Party|url=http://www.tomwaits.com/news/article/151/Tom_Waits_Private_Listening_Party/|work=TomWaits.com|date=August 23, 2011|accessdate=August 23, 2011}} and various social media networks. On the same day, the title track, "Bad as Me", was released as the album's first single on iTunes.{{cite web|title=Bad As Me - Single by Tom Waits - Download Bad As Me - Single on iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bad-as-me-single/id456832074|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029094036/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bad-as-me-single/id456832074|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2011|work=iTunes Store|date=August 23, 2011|accessdate=August 23, 2011}}
The album is Waits' first album consisting completely of new material in seven years since Real Gone (2004). Waits' label, Anti-, had recently agreed on a distribution deal with Warner Music Group allowing them to release the album internationally. This marks Waits' first release through the Warner organization since Heartattack and Vine (1980). Upon its release, Bad as Me received widespread critical acclaim. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.{{cite web | last1=Eggertsen | first1=Chris | last2=Ellwood | first2=Gregory | last3=Hasty | first3=Katie | url=http://uproxx.com/hitfix/55th-grammy-awards-winners-and-nominees/ | title=55th Grammy Awards – winners and nominees | work=HitFix | date=February 10, 2013 |accessdate=February 21, 2017}}
Upon release, Bad as Me became Waits' first top 10 album in the US, peaking at number 6.{{cite web |url= https://elpee.jp/artist/Tom%20Waits/#google_vignette |website=Billboard Database |title=Tom Waits |access-date=11 February 2024}}
Release
On August 16, 2011, amid the rise of many rumours concerning Bad as Me, Waits announced on his official web site and through various social media outlets{{cite web | title=There have been... | url=https://www.facebook.com/tomwaits/posts/10150408330544126 | work=Facebook | date=August 16, 2011 | accessdate=August 23, 2011}}{{cite web | title=Twitter / @tomwaits: There have been rumblings... | url=https://www.twitter.com/tomwaits/status/103570612739510273 | via=Twitter | date=August 16, 2011 | accessdate=August 23, 2011}} that he would "set the rumors straight" on August 23. On this date, the title track was released as a digital single through iTunes, a video with previews of the album was released on YouTube,{{cite web | title=Tom Waits' Private Listening Party | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeTja7JXK9A | work=YouTube | date=August 22, 2011 | accessdate=August 23, 2011}}{{cite web | first=Theo | last=Spielberg | title=Tom Waits Announces 'Bad as Me' Album, Releases Title Track as Single - Spinner | url=http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/23/tom-waits-bad-as-me-album/ | work=Spinner | date=August 23, 2011 | accessdate=August 23, 2011}} and was followed by a press release on his site and Anti-'s blog, which read:
Bad As Me is Tom Waits' first studio album of all new music in seven years. This pivotal work refines the music that has come before and signals a new direction. Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan. From the opening horn-fueled chug of "Chicago," to the closing barroom chorale of "New Year's Eve," Bad As Me displays the full career range of Waits' songwriting, from beautiful ballads like "Last Leaf," to the avant cinematic soundscape of "Hell Broke Luce," a battlefront dispatch. On tracks like "Talking at the Same Time," Waits shows off a supple falsetto, while on blues burners like "Raised Right Men" and the gospel tinged "Satisfied" he spits, stutters and howls. Like a good boxer, these songs are lean and mean, with strong hooks and tight running times. A pervasive sense of players delighting in each other's musical company brings a feeling of loose joy even to the album's saddest songs.
The album was made available to stream on October 17, 2011{{cite web | first=Jenn | last=Pelly | title=Stream the New Tom Waits Album - Pitchfork | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/44315-stream-the-new-tom-waits-album/ | work=Pitchfork | date=October 17, 2011 | accessdate=October 24, 2011}} and released digitally on iTunes on October 21,{{cite web | title=Bad as Me (Deluxe Edition) by Tom Waits - Preorder Bad as Me (Deluxe Edition) on iTunes | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/bad-as-me-deluxe-version/id458386332 | work=iTunes Store | date=August 23, 2011 | accessdate=August 24, 2011}} where it was previously available for pre-order. Domestic versions of the album were released worldwide on October 24, 2011 in three formats: a digipak CD version with a 32-page booklet and free digital download in FLAC, AAC, or MP3; a deluxe edition two-CD version with 40-page booklet and free digital download; and a 180 gram LP and CD with a lyric sheet and free digital download.{{cite web | title=Featured Items - The Official Tom Waits Online Store :: powered by Kings Road Merch | url=http://kingsroadmerch.com/tom-waits/ | work=Kings Road Merch | year=2011 | accessdate=August 23, 2011}} In an interview regarding Bad as Me, Waits confirmed the influence of Captain Beefheart, who had died earlier the same year.Randall Roberts [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/10/personal-playlist-tom-waits-recalls-captain-beefheart-the-late-don-van-vliet.html Personal playlist: Tom Waits recalls Captain Beefheart, the late Don Van Vliet] Pop & Hiss The L.A. Times Musical Blog, October 17, 2011
Reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 88/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bad-as-me/tom-waits |title=Reviews for Bad as Me by Tom Waits |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=October 26, 2011}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bad-as-me-mw0002212266 |title=Bad as Me – Tom Waits |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Jurek |first=Thom}}
| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev2score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8838937/Bad-as-Me-Tom-Waits-CD-review.html |title=Bad as Me: Tom Waits, CD review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=October 20, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Brown |first=Helen}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = A−{{cite journal |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2011/10/25/bad-me-review-tom-waits |title=Bad As Me |journal=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 25, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Anderson |first=Kyle}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/20/tom-waits-bad-as-me-review |title=Tom Waits: Bad As Me – review |work=The Guardian |date=October 20, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}}
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev5score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-tom-waits-bad-as-me-anti-2373505.html |title=Album: Tom Waits, Bad As Me (Anti-) |work=The Independent |date=October 21, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Gill |first=Andy |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229060151/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-tom-waits-bad-as-me-anti-2373505.html |archivedate=December 29, 2011}}
| rev6 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)
| rev6score = A−{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2011-11.php |title=Tom Waits/Pusha T |work=MSN Music |date=November 29, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}
| rev7 = NME
| rev7score = 6/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/tom-waits/12413 |title=Album Reviews: Tom Waits – 'Bad As Me' |journal=NME |date=October 28, 2011 |accessdate=October 28, 2011 |last=Denney |first=Alex |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100323/http://www.nme.com/reviews/tom-waits/12413 |archivedate=December 22, 2015}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 8.1/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15961-bad-as-me/ |title=Tom Waits: Bad as Me |work=Pitchfork |date=October 24, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Petrusich |first=Amanda |author-link=Amanda Petrusich}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/bad-as-me-20111025 |title=Bad As Me |journal=Rolling Stone |date=October 25, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/tom-waits-bad-me-anti |title=Tom Waits, 'Bad as Me' (Anti-) |journal=Spin |date=October 24, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Weiss |first=Dan |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109171715/http://www.spin.com/reviews/tom-waits-bad-me-anti |archivedate=November 9, 2011}}
}}
Bad as Me was released to widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 88, based on 40 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". AllMusic's Thom Jurek said that "Bad as Me is an aural portrait of all the places he's traveled as a recording artist, which is, in and of itself, illuminating and thoroughly enjoyable," awarding the album four out of five stars. Amanda Petrusich of Pitchfork noted that the album's "tracks are concise and expertly edited", adding that "Bad as Me feels as new as it does ancient." In a five-star review, Helen Brown of The Daily Telegraph praised the album's "rattling bawlers", adding that each were "distinctively turbocharged with reckless and richly textured energy," while also mentioning that the "ballads run poignantly on their rims, leaking emotion." Michael Wheeler, in his 9/10 review for Drowned in Sound, praised its "exhilarating, terrifying, heartbreaking, tear jerking, bone-rattling style,"{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16605/reviews/4143872 |title=Tom Waits – Bad as Me |work=Drowned in Sound |date=October 25, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Weller |first=Michael |archive-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202184142/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16605/reviews/4143872 |url-status=dead }} Andy Gill in The Independent praised the album for containing "no filler at all" and gave it top marks, while Noel Murray of The A.V. Club called it "Waits' embrace of a legacy that now includes enshrinement in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame," concluding that "for longtime fans it's a fun reminder of Waits' ability to be a badass when necessary".{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/tom-waits-bad-as-me-1798170125 |title=Tom Waits: Bad As Me |work=The A.V. Club |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2011 |last=Murray |first=Noel}}
In The Guardian, Dave Simpson called Waits's lyrics "as unpredictable and inspired as ever", while claiming his "songs hurtle past in waves of blistering energy and imagery." Rolling Stone's Will Hermes spoke highly of the album in a four out of five star review, saying that it was Waits's "most sharply focused record since the game-changing tag team Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs decades ago." In a review for Slant Magazine, Jesse Cataldo stated that Bad as Me was "a self-affirming collection of the things Waits attempts to represent,"{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/tom-waits-bad-as-me/2660 |title=Tom Waits: Bad As Me |work=Slant Magazine |date=October 23, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |last=Cataldo |first=Jesse}} and, in an equally positive appraisal, Dan Weiss of Spin said that the album "burns at fuse speed." Likewise, Andrew Mueller of Uncut concluded a glowing review by calling the album "the sound of a supremely confident artist convening a raucous celebration of his own myth, and is multifariously marvellous."{{cite journal |title=Tom Waits: Bad as Me |journal=Uncut |issue=174 |date=November 2011 |last=Mueller |first=Andrew |page=78}}
Mojo placed the album at number 9 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011"{{cite web | url=https://stereogum.com/894362/mojos-top-50-albums-of-2011/list/ | title=Mojo's Top 50 Albums Of 2011 | website=Stereogum | date=December 2, 2011 | accessdate=December 16, 2011}} while Uncut placed the album at number 13.{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/891311/uncuts-top-50-albums-of-2011/list|title=Uncut's Top 50 Albums Of 2011|date=29 November 2011|website=Stereogum}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.
|title_width = 80%
|total_length = 44:44
|title1 = Chicago
|length1 = 2:15
|title2 = Raised Right Men
|length2 = 3:24
|title3 = Talking at the Same Time
|length3 = 4:14
|title4 = Get Lost
|length4 = 2:42
|title5 = Face to the Highway
|length5 = 3:43
|title6 = Pay Me
|length6 = 3:14
|title7 = Back in the Crowd
|length7 = 2:49
|title8 = Bad as Me
|length8 = 3:10
|title9 = Kiss Me
|length9 = 3:41
|title10 = Satisfied
|length10 = 4:05
|title11 = Last Leaf
|length11 = 2:56
|title12 = Hell Broke Luce
|length12 = 3:57
|title13 = New Year's Eve
|length13 = 4:32
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Deluxe edition and pre-order bonus tracks
|title_width = 80%
|title14 = She Stole the Blush
|length14 = 2:50
|title15 = Tell Me
|length15 = 3:43
|title16 = After You Die
|length16 = 2:47
}}
Personnel
Musicians
- Tom Waits – vocals (tracks 1–13), guitar (1–4, 6, 7, 9–11, 13) piano (1, 6, 8, 9), percussion (1, 4, 5, 12), banjo (1), tablas (2), pump organ (11)
- Marc Ribot – guitar (1–8, 10–12)
- Clint Maedgen – saxophone (1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 13)
- Casey Waits – drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12)
- David Hidalgo – guitar (3, 4, 6, 7, 12), violin (6), percussion (7), accordion, bass guitar, background vocals (13)
- Ben Jaffe – trombone (1, 3, 4), bass clarinet (1), tuba (12, 13)
- Charlie Musselwhite – harmonica (1, 2, 8, 10, 12)
- Patrick Warren – keyboards (3–5, 10, 13)
- James Whiton – bass (3, 5–7, 11)
- Keith Richards – guitar (1, 10–12), vocals (11)
- Augie Meyers – vox organ (2), piano (3), accordion (6)
- Gino Robair – percussion (3, 5, 10), vibraphone (6)
- Larry Taylor – guitar (1, 2), bass (1, 4)
- Chris Grady – trumpet (3, 12, 13)
- Flea – bass (2, 12)
- Will Bernard – guitar (6, 12)
- Dawn Harms – violin (5)
- Marcus Shelby – bass (9)
- Les Claypool – bass (10)
- Zack Sumner – bass (13)
Technical personnel
- Tom Waits – producer
- Kathleen Brennan – producer
- Julianne Deery – assistant producer
- Karl Derfler – engineer, mixing
- Zack Sumner – assistant engineer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Trevor Hernandez – art direction
- Jesse Dylan – photography
- Tom Waits – additional photography
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2011)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|11|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|4|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|24|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|6|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|3|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|3|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|12|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|France|28|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|7|id=177638|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|5|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|7|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|14|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|1|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| scope="row"| Polish Albums (ZPAV){{cite web|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=700&lang=en|work=OLiS|publisher=Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry|date=November 7, 2011|accessdate=November 12, 2011}}
| 11 |
| {{album chart|Portugal|6|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|8|date=20111030|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|9|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|4|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Tom Waits|album=Bad as Me|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|10|date=20111030|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardDigital|5|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|1|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|2|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardTastemaker|1|artist=Tom Waits|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
=Singles=
{{col-end}}
Bad as Me earned Waits his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan launched in 1991, entering at number six on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top Rock Albums chart; by 2013 it had sold 190,000 copies.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1483774/2013-grammy-awards-rock-alternative-metal-nominations|title=2013 Grammy Awards: Rock, Alternative & Metal Nominations|work=Billboard|date=December 21, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104075746/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1483774/2013-grammy-awards-rock-alternative-metal-nominations|archive-date=January 4, 2014|accessdate=July 31, 2020}} As of January 2012, UK sales stand at 40,305 copies according to The Guardian.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/jan/16/indie-rock-slow-painful-death|title=Indie rock's slow and painful death|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey|date=16 January 2012|work=The Guardian}} In 2012, it was awarded a diamond certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,{{cite web|url=http://www.impalamusic.org/node/163|title=13/12/12: More Independent Artists Take European Gold, Silver and Platinum Awards Than Ever Before - Impala|website=impalamusic.org|access-date=2017-09-11|archive-date=2018-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718084112/http://www.impalamusic.org/node/163|url-status=dead}} this indicated sales of at least 200,000 copies throughout Europe.
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tom Waits}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bad as Me}}