On the evidence of this 22-track career overview, it's tempting to call Warren Zevon's oeuvre a monument of pop-music dichotomy. But that assessment would sorely shortchange Zevon's vast catalog of contradictions: the sentimental songwriter ("Hasten Down the Wind") with a nihilistic heart of darkness who makes the likes of Jello Biafra seem more like Raffi by comparison; the shrewd, successful tunesmith nonetheless laboring in service of vintage psycho-whack like "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," "Excitable Boy," and "Werewolves of London"; a man who consorted with Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and R.E.M. ("Boom Boom Mancini") and yet who still cheated the devil of his soul; a satirist with the keen eye of a marksman--or Randy Newman, for that matter--who somehow let his own demise get the jump on him, despite having written prescient jollities like "Mr. Bad Example" and Life'll Kill Ya. In short, Zevon walked it like he talked it, peril be damned. If he felt like turning in a straight-up take of the R&B chestnut "A Certain Girl," or lumbering inexplicably through Prince's "Raspberry Beret," only then to turn on a dime and indulge his classical pretenses on "Mutineer" and "Genius," so be it. Zevon just couldn't help himself from living up to this album's modest title. --Jerry McCulley
Product Description
A Comprehensive Single disc collection from Rocks Sardonic King. It rounds up the 22 most popular tracks from albums released by Asylum, Virgin, Giant/Reprise and Artemis from 1976-2002. Features such Zevon classics as 'Werewolves Of London,' 'Excitable Boy,' 'Lawyers, Guns and Money,' 'Poor Poor Pitiful Me,' 'I Was In The House When The House Burned Down' and more. Elektra/Rhino. 2002.
Genius: Best of Warren Zevon,Warren Zevon,Elektra / Wea,Album Rock,Hard Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter
Genius: Best of Warren Zevon
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Genius: Best of Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
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General
| Pop
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Singer-Songwriters
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Pop Rock
| Pop
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General
| Rock
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Singer-Songwriters
| Rock
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General
| Hard Rock & Metal
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Hard Rock
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
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ASIN: B00006LA4I Release Date: 2002-10-15 |
Tracks:
- Poor Poor Pitiful Me
- The French Inhaler
- Carmelita
- Hasten Down The Wind
- Werewolves Of London
- Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
- Excitable Boy
- Lawyers, Guns And Money
- Interlude No.1/Play It All Night Long
- A Certain Girl
- Looking For The Next Best Thing
- Detox Mansion
- Reconsider Me
- Boom Boom Mancini
- Splendid Isolation
- Raspberry Beret
- Searching For A Heart
- Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
- Mr. Bad Example
- Mutineer
- I Was In The House When THe House Burned Down
- Genius
Amazon.com
On the evidence of this 22-track career overview, it's tempting to call Warren Zevon's oeuvre a monument of pop-music dichotomy. But that assessment would sorely shortchange Zevon's vast catalog of contradictions: the sentimental songwriter ("Hasten Down the Wind") with a nihilistic heart of darkness who makes the likes of Jello Biafra seem more like Raffi by comparison; the shrewd, successful tunesmith nonetheless laboring in service of vintage psycho-whack like "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," "Excitable Boy," and "Werewolves of London"; a man who consorted with Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and R.E.M. ("Boom Boom Mancini") and yet who still cheated the devil of his soul; a satirist with the keen eye of a marksman--or Randy Newman, for that matter--who somehow let his own demise get the jump on him, despite having written prescient jollities like "Mr. Bad Example" and Life'll Kill Ya. In short, Zevon walked it like he talked it, peril be damned. If he felt like turning in a straight-up take of the R&B chestnut "A Certain Girl," or lumbering inexplicably through Prince's "Raspberry Beret," only then to turn on a dime and indulge his classical pretenses on "Mutineer" and "Genius," so be it. Zevon just couldn't help himself from living up to this album's modest title. --Jerry McCulleyAlbum Description
A Comprehensive Single disc collection from Rocks Sardonic King. It rounds up the 22 most popular tracks from albums released by Asylum, Virgin, Giant/Reprise and Artemis from 1976-2002. Features such Zevon classics as 'Werewolves Of London,' 'Excitable Boy,' 'Lawyers, Guns and Money,' 'Poor Poor Pitiful Me,' 'I Was In The House When The House Burned Down' and more. Elektra/Rhino. 2002.Customer Reviews:
A must for Warren Z fans.......2007-02-15
Good selection of clever songs.......2006-11-10
From a Zevon novice's perspective.......2006-11-05
Granted, for a guy who's best known as a writer I'd probably axe "A Certain Girl" and Prince cover "Raspberry Beret", but many artists go entire careers without writing a song as witty as "Werewolves" let alone the other gems to be found here like "Carmelita","Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner","Looking for the Next Best Thing", "Reconsider Me", and "Mr. Bad Example".
BOTTOM LINE:
This convinced me I need to hear full albums by Zevon. Since "greatest hits" collections aren't usually compiled for die-hard fans, I'd say that means the CD does its job.
Whoa!.......2006-09-20
WOW. It made me wish I had gotten the "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" anthology! Every song is great! Brilliant musically, witty lyrically, etc. Good introduction to him.
TUPAQ LIEBOWITZ was drunk?.......2006-07-04
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