Song by Song

Our third set of rotating hosts, Robert and Heath Sledge, join Martin and Sam for another weird off-shoot of Rain Dogs, in the form of a little country number. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com Mus...

Ross Sutherland of Imaginary Advice returns to shuffle his shoulders along to this latest direction-specific Waits track, discussing some more exotic elements of the subcultures of NY, the pace vs the momentum of songs, and Martin's endless yearning for the lindy-hop. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chrono...

Phoebe and Lauren return to discuss some more Criminal-related music this week, as Waits seems to further abandon the New York core of Rain Dogs for a more southern blues/chain gang feel, wandering into the world of the murder ballad. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysong...

The Rain Dogs Shuffle begins in earnest as Ross Sutherland joins Martin and Sam to discuss the poetic stylings of 9th & Hennepin. The spontaneity of performance in songs and poetry, as well as the nature of social interaction on public transport feature in the conversation, along with the perspectives of writers on the internal and external lives of their subjects. Please note that the text of the...

Sam and Martin are joined by Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer of the podcast Criminal to discuss the challenges associated with improvisational Jazz music, the James Bond franchise and dream sequences, as they relate to the work of George Gershwin and this brassy instrumental track from Rain Dogs. Thanks to WUNC for their help in this episode. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two...

We reach the apex of the album (and perhaps the best exemplar of this era of Waits) as Jon, Sam and Martin dig into the portentous imagery of this song as well as some of the real consequences of life on the street. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter...

The lyrical richness of Waits's writing moves into the foreground again as Jon, Martin and Sam deal with the sense of loss and isolation found in this track, as well as in Jon's feature film Frank. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e...

Song by Song welcomes Jon Ronson to the show to discuss the way Waits inspires an image of a world beyond Cardiff, Wales. With the division between the heart and the head, as related to Waits vs. Springsteen, as well as a possible dairy-based spin-off show, we continue our meander through Rain Dogs. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every...

For our final week with Eric Molinsky we discuss a Sesame Street crossover, oblique western storytelling, the dreamlike landscapes of Waits's worlds, and the power of group singing folk music. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail...

For a second week with Eric Molinsky, Martin and Sam take a look at the image of police as both a mortal figure as well as an existential threat, as well as Waits's role (through his music) as an ambassador for the strangeness of his worlds. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: son...

As they continue through Rain Dogs, Martin and Sam are joined by Eric Molinsky of the Imaginary Worlds Podcast. Discussion focuses not only on the songwriting of Waits, but also the talk-show stylings of David Letterman, the idea of stepping into character for both songs as well as promotional appearances, and the Harvard witticisms of another singing Tom. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and...

Back in the studio, Sam and Martin regroup briefly for a discussion of some of the features in this fourth track from Rain Dogs. More magpie work from Waits, cherry-picking children's rhymes and pirate songs, as well as the unique guitar stylings of Marc Ribot in both collaboration and his solo work. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every...

For our third week at the London Podcast Festival, John and Helen help us pick apart some of the exaggerated family narratives at play in this third track from Rain Dogs. Waits's preoccupation with the exoticisation of deformity, the vocal effect of gauze scissors, and Helen's Aunty Susan all help wrap up our first set of live shows - thanks to everyone who came along! Song by Song is Martin Zaltz...

Returning for a second week of live shows, Helen, John, Sam, Martin and the rest of our London Podcast Festival audience dig into the next track from Waits's 1985 album Rain Dogs. With discussion of intertextuality with songs from the 1960s, debate around culture vs cultural reference, as well as some of the sexual extremity of Waits breakfast choices, Song by Song continues with season 10. Song b...

Returning for season 10, Song by Song throws its hat into the live arena in a conversation with John Hodgman and Helen Zaltzman, recorded as part of the London Podcast Festival 2017. In this first of three special episodes, Martin, Sam, Helen and John discuss Singapore, the first track from Waits's 1985 classic, Rain Dogs. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening...

Closing off season nine, Købi, Sam and Martin take a look at this final instrumental track from Swordfishtrombones, the musical outlook of the album in general, and fumble their way through an analysis of the work of John Cage. (Note: mention in the episode of Schopenhauer should be Schoenberg) Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every singl...

As Swordfishtrombones winds down, Waits ramps up the tension with a breakneck chase sequence, while Købi, Martin and Sam rush to keep up with the pace. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com Music extra...

With respect but no great love, Købi, Sam and Martin dig into Waits's return to the New Orleans blues style, with particular reference to the guitar playing of Fred Tackett. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast...

Købi Omenaka joins Song by Song for these final tracks of Swordfishtrombones as Waits (and Paul Young) pick through the detritus of a man's life. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com Music extracts us...

A celebration of playing instruments that aren't tuned properly, Waits launches himself into his crazed preacher persona, reaching back into traditions of gospel and blues. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@...

Some genuine detailed discussion this week (instead of the usual tangential nonsense) as Sam and Martin question the divide between the political and the personal. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com...

100 episodes! (Sort of.) Martin and Sam fly solo to talk about some of the many complex and intricate question which surround this bleak little story of a man and his dog. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@g...

Our two regular suckers return with guest Jo Neary to pick through the opening track of the second half of Swordfishtrombones. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com Music extracts used for illustrative...

From Mr Rogers, via The Burbs and XTC through to In The Heat Of The Night, Jo, Sam and Martin go through every single diversion possible on this week's episode of Song by Song. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodc...

Pipes at the ready, Jo, Martin and Sam head to the Australian outback for this week's track, celebrating (for once) a community completely devoid of alcohol. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com Music...