'Temptation' says "Rusted brandy in a diamond glass everything is made from dreams/time made from honey slow and sweet only the fools know what it means." 'Innocent When You Dream' declares "It's such a sad old feeling/ the fields are soft and green/ it's memories that I'm stealing/ but you're innocent when you dream." Franks Wild Years is Tom Wait's 'Finnegan's Wake,' a nightime seance; a voyage slightly akin to Scrooge's three ghostly visitations and just as gripping. All of the essential human emotions are present in these 17 wonderful insinuating if sometimes demanding songs and some quite beautiful (and at moments both very funny and touching) lyrical poetry. This is one of my very favorite albums of Tom Waits, right up there with Swordfishtrombones and Small Change and I think one of Tom's greatest and most lasting achievements.

Possibly Waits' most unusual work. It is a very strange mix of polka, rhumba, jazz, folk, blues, rockabilly, lounge, etc. It's pretty much impossible to describe this album in words, it needs to be listened to to be understood (if understood at all). It is highly experimental. His orchestration is fiercely imagined and masterfully presented. It is one of those albums so rich, vivid, bizarre, and beautiful that you realize you were just in the hands of a genius when it finishes playing. In my opinion it is probably the quintessential Waits album, because it shows so much of his range, perfectly capturing the humor, tragedy, poetry, and charm of his music.
Temptation is one of his all-time greats in my book.

It should also be noted that I believe this to be, next to Alice, his darkest album. There's a very creepy and brooding tone throughout. I think anyone interested in waits' catalogue ought to make this one of their first purchases.

Tom Waits' final in his trilogy is an excellent album. This is some vintage music by Waits. He shows so many sides of himself on this record. The songs were written for an opera and cowrote them all with his wife. He accordion is used very well throughout the album. Its cool that he does a crooner voice like Sinatra too. Favorites include Hang on St. Christopher, Straight to the Top (Both Versions), Temptation, Innocent When You Dream, I'll Be Gone, Yesterday Is Here, I'll Take New York, More Than Rain, and Cold Cold Ground. Get this with the other two. Highly Recommended.