Released in 1992, Waits's soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's quirky Night on Earth is built around a recurrent theme reminiscent of Rain Dogs and manipulated into moods that reflect the cities in which the movie's various stories are told. Banjo and accordion are used to great effect to evoke the three European cities. Elsewhere, marimba and other percussion that Tom Waits was using on his "official"...

Released in 1992, Waits's soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's quirky Night on Earth is built around a recurrent theme reminiscent of Rain Dogs and manipulated into moods that reflect the cities in which the movie's various stories are told. Banjo and accordion are used to great effect to evoke the three European cities. Elsewhere, marimba and other percussion that Tom Waits was using on his "official" recordings at the time are well suited to the darkness and humor in Jarmusch's stories. The two new songs written by Waits and partner Kathleen Brennan stick to the same instrumental blueprint, but have little to commend them to a place in the pantheon of Waits's songs. As accompaniment to the movie, this music works; as a stand-alone recording it is a long-haul listen.