Critics' Choice 1983

1. Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones [Island]
Under the influence of his new wife Kathleen Brennan, Waits shook off the Bukowski balladeer straightjacket and began absorbing the influence of hobo composer Harry Partch, Captain Beefheart, Nino Rota’s soundtracks and Howlin’ Wolf. The result of this gumbo was not so much a record as an off-off-off Broadway freakshow distinguished by the billy-goat-gruff fantasia of ‘Underground’, the jailhouse rap of ‘16 Shells From A Thirty Ought Six’ and the classic one act playlet ‘Frank’s Wild Years’.
2. Elvis Costello – Punch The Clock [F-Beat]
3. U2 – War [Island]
4. Van Morrison – Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart [Phonogram]
5. Big Country – The Crossing [Mercury]