Blue Valentine is a big departure from earlier Waits albums. Trading the piano for the guitar, Waits is getting rawer and bluesier and title track is a great example of this. Waits is in transition here, so you also get a stunning orchestrated rendition of Gershwin’s “Somewhereâ€, and the beautiful piano ballad, “Kentucky Ave.â€, but you also get the juke joint swagger of “Romeo Is Bleeding†and “Whistlin’ Past the Graveyardâ€. This is also the record that contains one of Waits’ most popular songs ever, “Christmas Card from A Hooker in Minneapolisâ€.