Listening to a Tom Waits [ tickets ] record is a bit like walking through a ghost town. Everything is creaky and creepy, yet there's an odd sense of peacefulness. It's that tone that has always made his albums striking, and Waits' first full effort in nearly seven years, Mule Variations, is no exception.

An eclectic collection of bluesy odes and chain-gang melodies, Mule Variations features Waits' gritty vocals sounding as good as ever. Having been blessed with one of music's original voices, Waits can be both soothing and abrasive in the same breath.

The 16 tracks on Mule Variations were mainly co-written and produced by Waits and his wife Kathleen Brennan. The sense of intimacy that this collaboration brings to the table adds a sense of ease and completeness to Waits' brilliantly structured choas.

Filled with lots of guitar strumming, clunky percussion and moaning brass, Waits' fans shouldn't expect anything drastically different musically. It's just more of what has already been established as wonderful. One can almost picture Waits and his ragtag band playing in the hot sun of some roadside wasteland, beating on washboards and plucking frayed guitar strings. The only new addition is some very discreet turntable work. Waits' twisted sense of humor is working full time on tracks like Eyeball Kid and Chocolate Jesus. Even Waits' funky side gets worked out on the rocking Filipino Box Spring Hog. Other songs like Georgia Lee or The House Where Nobody Lives take on the reverence of hymns.

All told, Mule Variations offers another shining glimpse into the twisted (yet loving) world of Tom Waits. Longtime fans will surely be happy, as will anyone daring enough to dive into this record. Give it a listen now, as it may be years before you have your next chance.

Tom Waits / Mule Variations
Epitaph Records
3 1/2 out of 4 stars