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Waits generated lots of cyber enthusiasm and twitter waves with the announcement of his new album and the internet premiere of his satiric “Private Listening Party.” The event crashed the server on his label and official website for a brief period August 23rd,, the morning of the launch, and also trended worldwide –sandwiched oddly between Momar Gaddafi and Kate Winslet. More, than 3,000 blogs ran the clip in the first 24 hours.

The majority of critics and viewers caught on to the devious nature of Waits’ intentions, which previewed songs from his upcoming release while addressing his frustration with the perils of the internet. “Tom Waits blasts the internet on the internet…an ingenious ploy, as might be expected from the acclaimed maverick.”

The video was shot days before some online sites revealed album details days ahead of Waits’ anticipated official announcement. Some critics assumed the video was filmed in response to the internet leak. While it does not take a prophet to see the future when it comes to online security, Waits’ assault on those “few bad apples” who ruin it for everyone” was even more provocative after the leak.

Catching the spirit of Waits’ sarcasm, USA TODAY highlighted two of the video’s most visceral remarks: “What if you had a root canal and I asked you to gargle with raw sewage? Would you be ok with that? Or would it be safe to jump rope with a live electrical wire? No.” ‘It’s nice to know Tom Waits is back in fine form.”

MSN while noting the “hilarious video” focused on the music cuts heard “which sound like some of his most accessible fan-friendly music since the brilliant Mule Variations.”

…The new album is called Bad As Me, and the single of the same name is available for sale at your preferred digital retailer. You can still view the video and stream the single at http://www.tomwaits.com/.

Coming out on October 24, Bad As Me is Tom Waits’ first studio album of all new music in seven years. This pivotal work refines the music that has come before and signals a new direction. Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan. From the opening horn-fueled chug of “Chicago,” to the closing barroom chorale of “New Year’s Eve,” Bad As Me displays the full career range of Waits’ songwriting, from beautiful ballads like “Last Leaf,” to the avant cinematic soundscape of “Hell Broke Luce,” a battlefront dispatch. On tracks like “Talking at the Same Time,” Waits shows off his soulman falsetto ;while on blues burners like “Raised Right Men” and the gospel tinged “Satisfied” he spits, stutters and howls.

Like a good boxer, these songs are lean and mean, with strong hooks and tight running times. A pervasive sense of players delighting in each other’s musical company brings a feeling of loose joy even to the album’s saddest songs.