Alice

'Alice' is one of the most distinctive of all Tom Waits' creations, occupying it's own corner in the odd angled room that is Tom Waits' body of work. While there are familiar parts - the redoubtable ragged voice, jazz ballads and poignant musings on death and longing - the whole is strange and exotic.

'Alice' is a reflective cracked mirror Odyssey about longing, obsession and madness, features: circular violin, bass saxophone, cello, vibes, piano and Stroh violin in spare and hypnotic arrangements. Among the musicians are Larry Taylor (bass); Matt Brubeck (cello); Bebe Risenfors (Stroh Violin, alto viola, bass clarinet, marimba, clarinet, baby bass); Dawn Harms (violin, Stroh Violin); Carla Kihlstedt (violin); Colin Stetson (baritone saxophone, clarinet); Eric Perney (bass); Ara Anderson (trumpet, baritone horn) and Nik Phelps (French horn, trumpet).

Tom Waits plays piano, pump organ, Mellotron, toy piano and Chamberlain vibes while Stewart Copeland makes a guest appearance playing drums on one of the songs, Table Top Joe.

"Alice…" says Waits "…is adult songs for children, or children's songs for adults. It's a maelstrom or fever-dream, a tone poem, with torch songs and waltzes…an odyssey in dream logic and nonsense." Lyrically and musically, the songs are part of a cycle where each song relates to what comes before and what will follow, as you listen, 'Alice' is a puzzle that reveals as it unravels and makes a bold step forward for Tom Waits.

"Album of the Month" -Mojo Magazine

"5 stars" - Virgin.net

"8/10" - NME.com

(Also check out the Tom Waits album 'Blood Money' which was released simultaneously with 'Alice')