M.I.A and Blaqstarr putting there own twist on that Wire theme song or Tom Waits Way Down in The Hole

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As those of you with their ears to the ground (or Jim Carroll's blog) will know by now, Tom Waits is very likely to be playing two Irish dates this summer.

The Phoenix Park's Marquee is set to return and play host to Mr. Waits on July 30th & 31st, his first Irish shows since 1987.

And I'm out of the country! Dammit!!

Stay tuned for ticket info.

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The epic genius that is Tom Waits has announced a rare series of live shows for this summer.

So far the only dates are in the US, but Waits has generously promised a European leg- a promise which included mention of good ol' Dublin city. Woo hoo!

You can hear all the (crazy) details from the man himself below, in the read more...



Waits revealed the tour, entitled Glitter & Doom in a strange 'press conference' he posted on youtube today. Here's the clip:







For anyone who doesn't fancy watching Mr Waits' eccentric press conference in full, the US dates are listed below.


Rest assured we'll keep you posted on any news of the European tour as soon as it happens.


Phoenix, US Orpheum (June 17, 18)
El Paso, US Plaza Theatre (20)
Houston, US Jones Hall (22)
Dallas, US Palladium (23)
Tulsa, US Brady Theatre (25)
St Louis, US Fox Theatre (26)
Columbus, US Ohio Theatre (28)
Knoxville, US Civic Theatre (29)
Jacksonville, US Moran Theatre (July 1)
Mobile, US Saenger Theatre (2)
Birmingham, US Alabama Theatre (3)
Atlanta, US Fox Theatre (5)

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So we're gradually getting more and more on this Scarlett Johansson covers Tom Waits album, and track two comes with a video. And David Bowie.

It's Scarlett's version of Falling Down, which first appeared on Big Time, Waits' live album. To be honest, I was more impressed by Anywhere I Lay My Head, but you can decide for yourself. Here's the video and mp3:




Falling Down:

Click for mp3

Tom Waits' version (for comparison purposes):


Click for mp3

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Finally here's the first taste of Scarlett Johannson's Tom Waits cover album.

The verdict is pretty good, and you can definitely hear the influence of TV On The Radio man Dave Sitek on production, which pleases me muchly.

The album, which also features David Bowie and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner, is released on the 20th of May.

Here's Scarlett's version:


Click for mp3

And his majesty Mr Waits' Rain Dogs original for comparison purposes:


Click for mp3

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Rob thinks the version of Down in the Hole from the second Season of The Wire performed by Tom Waits is the better version. I disagree. The version of the song performed by the Blind Boys of Alabama that plays on the FIRST season credits of The Wire is better. True Waits wrote the song but this version is funkier.



Okay the video sucks but the songs great.

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Ok, I'm officially now a big fan of The Wire; and yes, that is my main reason for featuring this video, but Wire or not, Tom Waits is a god amongst men and this video is amazing.

So for your enjoyment here's Mr. Waits with Down in the Hole (which, for all those as yet uninitiated, is the theme tune for The Wire):

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Scarlett Johansson, who was pretty much universally panned for her performance with The Jesus & Mary Chain at last year's Coachella (click) is now poised to release her debut album. Wait, it gets weirder.

The album, which is called 'Anywhere I Lay My Head' is an album of Tom Waits cover songs. Let's take a moment to re-visit Ms Johansson's singing ability, courtesy of 'Lost In Translation'. Click. Fine if some strange music execs watched this scene and thought 'Hey, let's get this girl making an album', but how they got the notion that a Tom Waits cover album is the way to go is beyond me. But wait, it get's weirder.

More after the jump.

Strangely enough, the album might actually be pretty good. In a stroke of genius, Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio was hired to produce the album. Things are looking up. Then who jumps on board, but The Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie. Bowie has contributed vocals to more than one track on the album. For further indie-credibility, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is also involved, he himself having a track record of successful collaborations (not least the spectacular Bright Eyes album 'Digital Ash In A Digital Urn').

To further send heads spinning, apparently Waits himself has listened to demos of the work-in-progress, and has said he's "very pleased" with the results.

What the hell? Now I Must hear it. Unfortunately, I (and you) must wait til May to see if this pile of lunacy will actually work. I don't know if I want it to or not- think of what it could spawn: Lindsey Lohan sings Neil Young? Paris Hilton re-records Blood On The Tracks??

For those interested, here's the tracklisting:

1. ‘Fawn’
2. ‘Town With No Cheer’
3. ‘Falling Down’
4. ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’
5. ‘Fannin' Street’
6. ‘Song for Jo’ (original song)
7. ‘Green Grass’
8. ‘I Wish I Was in New Orleans’
9. ‘I Don't Want to Grow Up’
10. ‘No One Knows I'm Gone’
11. ‘Who Are You?’

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Close but no cigar, Tom Waits' 'Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis' did not make the Christmas No. 1 spot, finishing at a respectable 28th.

Oh well, I think its still a job well done (the British attempt to get Malcolm Middleton's 'We're all Going To Die' only made 31). Suggestions start here for next years push- my vote is for 'Christmas With The Devil' by Spinal Tap.

"There's a demon in my belly, a gremlin in my brain,
There's someone up the chimney, and Satan is his name."

Genius.

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Journalist/Blogger Adam Maguire (no relation) has started a campaign to get Ireland a decent X-mas No.1 as a change from the usual 'Novelty Kids Show' or X-Factor drivel.

So click here to support his initiative & help get Tom Waits' 'Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis' to the No. 1 spot.

Genius.

Click here for Adam Maguire's Blog.

Here's the song as performed by fellow Bray-ite, musical genius & all round nice guy Dara Sheehan as part of his great '365 Songs In 365 Days' endeavor. (Check that out here):

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