Tom Waits is one of the most influential musicians in the world today. He continues to re-invent music, push boundaries and create new sounds. On REAL GONE, the up-tempo tracks are some of his rawest and most kinetic. He's never sounded like he's had this much fun, while the ballads are among his most beautiful and even chilling at times. Also contains his first overly political song, "The Day After Tomorrow", a plaintive letter home from a young soldier in the middle of war. This is the first album of entirely new material since 1999's MULE VARIATIONS.