Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Tom Waits Edition

In the '70s, Tom Waits was a troubadour whose gruff voice served songs that were steeped in traditional American music and often focused on the seedy side of life. Waits reinvented himself in the '80s, expanding his musical horizons by incorporating influences from Kurt Weill to Captain Beefheart. He may have alienated some fans, but he gained even more, pursuing an idiosyncratic path that still wasn't wholly removed from his core sensibility.

The result is a slew of memorable albums, mixed in with some pretty decent acting turns. Waits is underrated as a singer, as his limited voice is extremely expressive, and no matter how often he runs his songs through funhouse mirrors, he is a masterful songwriter who can spin the prettiest of melodies. Let's pay tribute to this American original by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.

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