The new Tom Waits album may not be for everyone, but if you are already a fan, you will not be let down by his latest contribution to the world of music.

After a seven-year void of any new studio albums, “Bad As Me” has been let loose on Earth’s population. If hopes were high for a new Waits style, it might be wise to forget about this release.

The album is jam-packed with all manner of instruments from organs and accordions to guitars and piano, all recorded with the grit and the grain of 1920s jazz.

Imagine some of Modest Mouse’s grittier tunes but older, more seasoned and hardened by the world.

Waits’ use of horns adds a different bass sound that complements his raspy Cookie Monster-like voice and bluesy, lyrical style. The brass instruments continue to play a critical roll throughout the collection of songs and really make the album whole.

The album contains 13 dirty tracks that could occasionally leave the listener boggled and confused. A jug of whiskey and a lifetime of sorrows are certainly helpful when attempting to understand where Waits is coming from.

The record touches on the sore subject of war with the song “Hell Broke Luce;” the rhythm for the song is kept with claps and stomps that seem based on a military march. This makes the song interesting because it’s slightly offbeat and is oozing with creativity.

“I had a good home but I left, right, left,” Waits growls his version of a military chant. “That big f—–‘ bomb made me deaf. A Humvee mechanic with his Kevlar on wrong, I guarantee you’ll meet up with a suicide bomb, hell broke luce.”

Coincidentally, this album was released on Monday; only three days after President Barack Obama announced American troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of December.

The opening track, “Chicago,” is a favorite because it pulls you into the music. The track also warms you up for when Waits jumps off the deep end with tracks like “Satisfied” and “Get Lost,” which both contain a heavy vocal presence. Imagine a 50-foot creaky door that sings the blues.

If you crave new music that is outside the box and could take three to five listens before really understanding the music, “Bad As Me” is right up your alley and should be considered a must.

Ben Dewey can be reached at [email protected].