i'd skip everything up to but not including swordfishtrombones which is his best album by a long mile, one of the finest albums by one one even. maybe try a comp for the earlier stuff if you must. after that you could take or leave everything until bone machine and the black rider which are both excellent "im mad, i am" tom waits albums. mule variations is dreadful and alice is pretty good actually. real gone is a bit bland.