"Lie To Me" isn't the single best song on this overstuffed set, but it's one of the most disarming ones, with a roar that can knock listeners sideways.

NPR: Tom Waits' 130 Seconds of Rock Bliss

The title track to South of the South (audio) isn't his best song, but it's a great example of the strange narratives he weaves.

NPR: The Best Living Songwriters

Dolorean isn't known for looking on the bright side: The best song from 2003's Not Exotic, "Hannibal, MO" (audio), finds singer Al James sitting in a prison cell as he deconstructs the events leading to his true love's death.

NPR: Finding Comfort in Feeling Trapped