TOM GRUNING—Midnight Lullabye (Inner City):: The first impression of this debut is of a poor man�s Tom Waits (is that redundant or what?) but the resemblance is superficial— Gruning is more of a straight ahead jazz singer than Waits, but a less compelling personality. His melodies and accompaniments aren�t as slickly tough, which could be considered a plus, and his delivery, as befitting a Texan, is more folksy than desperate (Inspirational Rhyme: �Got a six day job in a shipping yard/Don�t make much money, but I sure get tired�). Comparisons aside, a lot of it�s just plain jive, but then that�s the point, no? Still, he shouldn�t have allowed the liner notes to say �He�s not an oppressed minority or an alcoholic...Tom wants to make a living in his corduroys and not have to lift anything heavy.� Failed irony�s never won fair criticism.R.C.W.