As Waits returns to sentimentality and Americana, Babs and Fran are less struck by the qualities of the song and more curious as to the reality of the woman he's singing about. There's discussion of music vs lyrics in the appreciation of the Manic Street Preachers, whether Waits is Over/Underrated, and how classic Jim Henson characters might interpret his work.
Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Coney Island Baby, Blood Money, Tom Waits (2002)
Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier, Everything Must Go, Manic Street Preachers (1996)
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