"Blood Money" is a studio album by American musician Tom Waits, released in May 2002. The album contains 13 tracks, with the music written by Waits and the lyrics by Waits and his wife, Kathleen Brennan. The tracks reflect a somber, bleak mood, with songs that weave tales of despair, murder, and general discord. Waits' distinctive gravelly voice, which has been described as sounding like it was "soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car," adds unique depth to this mood.
"Blood Money" is based on the socio-political play "Woyzeck," originally left incomplete by German dramatist Georg Büchner at his death. Themes from the play, which discusses poverty and the dehumanizing effects of the medical profession, pervade the album. The songs were written for a production of the play performed by the avant-garde theatre troupe, Robert Wilson's Berliner Ensemble.
The album was well received by critics. It displays Waits' talent at combining elements of blues, jazz, and experimental genres, creating a unique sound that blurs the lines between music and theatrical performance. With its intense thematic underpinnings and unique musical style, "Blood Money" is considered an important work in Waits' oeuvre.
