New Wave Outpost Forum

I've been listening to a lot of Warren Zevon this week.....basically his Elektra stuff.

His self-titled album and Exciteable Boy album are near brilliant slices of piano-led edgy singer-songwriter stuff that really appealed to the new wave crowd back then. Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School was a coked-out comedown but still has some amazing songs. Stand In The Fire is a rough and drunken live album that is OK for the occasional listen (although the title track rates as one of his best songs...too bad there is NOT a studio version released). The Envoy is an under-rated gem....not as good as the first two, but way better than Bad Luck Streak...and other singer-songwriter albums of the times.

Anyone here have an opinion of him either way?



SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

I'll cop to being a fan. "Lawyers, Guns and Money," "Boom Boom Mancini," and "Splendid Isolation" push all the right buttons for me.

"Excitable Boy" pushes my buttons! Crazy, sick, delirious lyrics.

I think he's brilliant lyrically. I especially love "Finishing Touches". That being said, I could die happy without ever hearing "Werewolves Of London" again.

For anyone interested, his son Jordan is pretty damn good as well:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/zevon

Great singer-songwriter who suited perfectly with the new wave crowd.His darky/provocative lyrics,always set him away from what considered to be the 70s rock with bands like Toto,mid period Fleetwood Mac,Boston etc.Ask also REM,how a huge influence was to them.

I love the 3 songs from Excitable Boy: Excitable Boy, Werewolves of London, Lawyers, Guns and Money... and his song Sentimental Hygiene is awesome.

---------------------------
"Photography with a Vision"
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The Envoy--in my top 5 all time lp's!!!!

A few years back I picked Transverse City out of a buck bin and was instantly a fan(run straight down..wow).I then found a few others like Bad Luck,and Sentimental Hygene and found these also very good.I like most was saddend by his early demise and even more so when I read he was a Blackhawks fan(like me).

I've covered Carmalita, even though I've never done smack.

Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner is a song that I wish I had written.

[quote][i]Originally posted by i_like_lectric_motors[/i]
<br>I think he's brilliant lyrically. I especially love "Finishing Touches". That being said, I could die happy without ever hearing "Werewolves Of London" again.

For anyone interested, his son Jordan is pretty damn good as well:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/zevon
[/quote]

See, and I've never had any experience with having "Werewolves Of London" overplayed, so I still enjoy that song immensely. It's a lot of fun to listen to, perhaps one of those rare "classic rock"-type songs that I actually enjoy. So it's cool to know that Warren Zevon was actually someone whom the New Wavers could really enjoy. This will be my motivation to actually check out what he's done.

I'll throw my hat in as well...got 3 or 4 vinyl pieces down in the basement. Seems to be a common thread among old-school folks.

Big fan here too. Not sure what it is about his music that appeals to me so much...I can't stand any of the artists who always seem to be mentioned in the same breath--Jackson Browne, the Eagles, Springsteen, Dylan, Ronstadt etc.

Lawyers, Guns and Money is my favorite song of his but a close second is the simple yet amazing ballad Reconsider Me from the Sentimental Hygiene album. Almost makes you wanna break up with a girlfriend just to be able to put this on the inevitable makeup mixtape.

Excitable Boy was pretty popular with me and my friends. I like it more than Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School. Buffalochipz, I hear you about not being too crazy about all the other similar artists. I've seen Zevon, Browne, Springsteen, and David Lindley, plus my friends were also into Steve Forbert, Ronstadt, etc. I liked the twisted Zevon the best--he wasn't as self-absorbed as Browne nor as working-class-hero as Springsteen. When I saw Zevon in concert (1982) I was struck by how talented he was--he played every instrument on the stage at one point or another. And the most memorable song of the night wasn't even a rocker--Accidentally, Like a Martyr. Beautiful.

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I am a huge fan of Warren Zevon. His music is like listening to a short story, and takes you to another place. I saw him on tour in 1994. It was just Warren an acoustic guitar and a piano. It was a truly enjoyable experience. I met him after the show, and he was a evry nice person. I still have my signed Excitable Boy framed on the wall. I wish they would release The Envoy in America. The import is so expensive.

The sun never sets for those who ride into it.

And howzabout Hindu Love Gods! Really good record if you don't take it too seriously.[:D]