Eighth studio album from Pomona, CA's Tom Waits. Swordfishtrombones was originally recorded in 1982 after Waits had gotten rid of his manager, his producer, and his record company. It was his first album that he produced himself and marked a move away from the piano and string orchestra arrangements of his previous releases. Waits employed a junkyard's worth of unusual instrumentation and took a more surreal approach to his songwriting. This was the album that showed the world what the gnarled singer-songwriter was really capable of. Includes the songs: "Underground," "16 Shells From A 30-6," "In The Neighborhood," and "Soldier's Things." Fifteen tracks in all. Released by Island Records on black vinyl housed in a full color sleeve.

• music label: Island Records 2009

reviewed by Russ Tee Naughts 07/2017