Pitchfork

The anthem of Winter 2006 has surfaced early. A year early, if you note that it, Tom Waits' "You Can Never Hold Back Spring", was originally written for Roberto Benigni's 2005 French film La Tigre e la Neve (The Tiger and the Snow).

Now, it is one of the many, many songs (also see: "Bottom of the World") making up Waits' upcoming three-disc new material/rarity set, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards, due November 21 on Anti. "Spring", a short Bawlers number, is fueled almost entirely by clarinet, piano, and Waits' raspy voice, which rings so similar to Louis Armstrong's here, it's scary. Plus, the track sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies-- crackles all over the place.

Those planning on spending the cold months ahead bathrobed, drinking hard cider next to the fire, and dreaming of seasons to come will have a hard time digging up a track more appropriate than this one.