"Bone Machine" is a raw and visceral album by Tom Waits, released on September 8, 1992, through Island Records. It stands out for its stripped-down, percussion-heavy sound and its exploration of dark, existential themes, particularly those of death, decay, and human suffering. Waits’ distinctive gravelly voice and unconventional instrumentation give the album a haunting, skeletal feel, reflected in both its music and its stark, chaotic album cover, featuring Waits in a horned skullcap.
The album was recorded in an unusual setting: a small room in the basement of Prairie Sun Recording Studios, which Waits described as having little more than a cement floor and a hot water heater. This unpolished environment played into the album’s gritty aesthetic, lending a rough, homemade quality to its sound.
Bone Machine includes contributions from notable musicians, including David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, bassist Les Claypool from Primus, drummer Brain, and guitarist Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. The track “Goin' Out West” was later featured in the cult film Fight Club (1999), and “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” was famously covered by the Ramones on their final studio album, ¡Adios Amigos! (1995).
The album received critical acclaim and won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, solidifying Waits’ legacy as an avant-garde artist who continuously pushed the boundaries of musical and lyrical expression.
