Waits’ 1992 album is lyrically one of his darkest; track titles include “The Earth Died Screaming,” “Dirt In The Ground” (“we’re all gonna be…”), and “Murder In The Red Barn.” He’s tackling everything from environmental catastrophe to political corruption to senseless human cruelty, and the music is a blend of anarchic clatter and mournful ballads. When the stakes are narrowed to the intimacy of single combat, he proves that his daggers are as sharp as Elvis Costello’s or Bob Dylan’s ever were (“Who Are You”), but there’s also an optimism here, whether it’s the earnest faith of “Jesus Gonna Be Here,” the braggadocio of “Goin’ Out West,” told from the POV of a guy who’s sure he’s gonna be a movie star, or the closing “That Feel,” with a guest appearance from longtime Waits pal Keith Richards. It’s a genuine toss-up whether this or Rain Dogs is Waits’ masterpiece; your answer will probably depend on how black your mood is on any given day.

– Phil Freeman