Tom Waits is the musical equivalent of Nick Nolte or Steve Buscemi– Picasso-ugly with a set of Marlboro pipes. You might have to train your ear to appreciate his scratchy voice. But as with all good character actors, he owns his art and it’s difficult to picture anyone else in the role. Like Dylan and Cohen, one of Waits’ most impressive contributions is his ability to persuade you to redefine and broaden your concept of melodious.

Closing Time is Tom Waits’ ode to nostalgia and lost opportunities. It’s interesting to hear an artist create such a retrospective and polished debut but Waits clearly achieved this feat with his 1973 release. Anyone familiar with the more quirky Waits of Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs might be surprised at the simple sweetness that Closing Time attains with its ageless blend of jazz, blues and country. To be fair, the album really has two superstars: Waits and his piano. He uses the piano like a bottle of bourbon, helping him get through the weekend and spin tales with Sunday morning discernment. I don’t think this album could exist without it.

Tom Waits’ performance of “Ol ‘55” is the only one that counts (sorry, Frey and Henley). With driving imagery and reflective lyrics ("Now the sun’s coming up/I’m riding with lady luck."), it’s the perfect gateway to the journey he’s about to glide us through.

Other standout tracks include the country-infused “Rosie,” jazz bar cool “Ice Cream Man” and the brilliantly bluesy “Virginia Avenue.”

I don’t know what it feels like to be a man falling in love but “I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You” makes me think, ah, ok. Maybe I get it. It’s a really beautiful track. It’s human and relatable in an I-just-fell-in-love-with-you-but-maybe-it’s-safer-to-get-blindingly-drunk-before-I-act-and-oops-you-just-left-before-I-got-the-chance-stupid-me – way.

I don''t think I''ve ever gotten through “Martha” without choking back a massive lump of melancholy. It is the ultimate tribute to the one who got away: "Lucky that you found someone to make you feel secure/We were all so young and foolish/Now we are mature."