Transverse City [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Warren Zevon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00008NGC9
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,391 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

24-bit digitally remastered reissue of 1989 album includes collaborations with Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Jackson Browne plus the bonus track 'Networking' (acoustic version). Virgin. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Transverse City In The 21st Century, May 9, 2003

By 

Mike King "Mike Vegas King" (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transverse City (Audio CD)

The 24-bit, digitally remastered CD of Warren Zevon's "Transverse City" sounds better than ever. The album's commercial failure upon its release may be attributed to the fact that the subject matter truly was ahead of its time.

"TRANSVERSE CITY" - Warren sings the lyrics at a breakneck pace, echoing the sensory overload pictured on the cover of the album. "Show us endless neon vistas, castles made of laser lights. Take us to the shopping sector in the vortex of the night...Down among the dancing quanta, everything exists at once. Up above in Transverse City, every weekend lasts for months." This could easily be the theme song for any number of sci-fi movies.

"RUN STRAIGHT DOWN" - Outside of Transverse City is a virtual wasteland. "Fluorocarbons in the ozone layer; first the water and the wildlife go. Pretty soon there's not a creature stirring, except the robots at the dynamo." The apocalyptic mood of the song is greatly enhanced by David Gilmour's superb guitar playing.

"THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW" - Paranoia runs deep when you're living in a police state.

"TURBULENCE" - The then current turmoil in Moscow not only brought turbulence, it would eventually lead to the fall of communism. Even though Warren is writing about current events, the song does not sound dated.

"THEY MOVED THE MOON" - This could be Warren's answer song to Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." "When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me." Unfortunately, Warren's lover deserted him. "I was counting on you to stand by me, to see me through. I was counting on you. They moved the moon while I looked down."

"SPLENDID ISOLATION" - Warren at his misanthropic best. Splendid isolation is easily achieved in the computer age. Thanks to the internet, anyone can survive without direct human contact.

"NETWORKING" - Not having a computer at work when this album was released, I had no idea what Warren was singing about at that time. Now I can understand the lyrics! "Networking, I'm user friendly. Networking, I install with ease. Data processed, truly basic. I will upload you, you can download me." With organs and brass, this song is somewhat overproduced. The acoustic demo version makes for a nice contrast.

"GRIDLOCK" - Anyone who works in a major city can understand the irony of calling the time when everyone is stuck in a traffic jam "rush hour."

"DOWN IN THE MALL" - Warren's satirical jab at consumerism hits the mark. Then again, overcommercialization is an easy target.

"NOBODY'S IN LOVE THIS YEAR" - Leave it to Warren Zevon to close out his futuristic concept album, featuring synthesizers and electric guitars, with a tender ballad about lost love, featuring brass and strings. Putting a unique spin on the subject, Warren equates love to financial management. "No one's invested enough of themselves to yield to maturity. And the rate of attrition for lovers like us is steadily on the rise. Nobody's in love this year, not even you and I."

This overlooked album definitely deserves a second listen, especially considering the superb remastering job they did on it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Zevon masterpiece!, May 6, 2003

By 

James Ringland "jimmat" (Kennesaw, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transverse City (Audio CD)

Ok, so this is only Zevon's second best album of the 80s! It's probably more like 4 and a half stars, but this is one great album. And, surprisingly, it has held up very well. It probably helps that it doesn't sound like anything else released the same year.

Originally started as a cyber-concept album, Warren and his producers used up the money Virgin fronted them for this album, and abandoned the cyber-theme for straight forward versions of the remaining songs.

There are many strong cuts on here, "Splendid Isolation," "Networking," and "Turbulence," but the high-point is the closing ballad, "Nobody's In Love This Year." Possibly the best ballad of 1989 -- a year that also includes Tom Petty's "Free Falling" and Don Henley's "The Heart Of The Matter."

Virgin has remastered this set and thrown in a bonus, acoustic version of "Networking" (just Warren on guitar and harmonica). Well worth the cost, especially since it's been years since this title has even been available in this country. Now, if only Elektra would get on the stick and (re)release his late 70's/early 80's material!

Since Amazon.com has not listed the tracks, here they are: 1. Tranverse City, 2. Run Straight Down, 3. The Long Arm Of The Law, 4. Turbulence, 5. They Moved The Moon, 6. Splendid Isolation, 7. Networking, 8. Gridlock, 9. Down In The Mall, 10. Nobody's In Love This Year, 11. (BONUS) Networking (Acoustic).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jewel in the Dust, December 16, 2003

By 

Margaret Pennetti (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transverse City (Audio CD)

This disregarded album is nothing less than a masterpiece. Sure, it's easier to love if you're familiar with the cyberpunk genre of science fiction, and the arrangements are not typical of Zevon's other work, but who cares? The orchestration perfectly captures the strung-out feeing of a world of urban rot, where technology runs amok and ethics seem to have vanished. Although this album was recorded 15 years ago, the issues it addresses are still current. This is utterly characteristic of Zevon's best work--he effortlessly identifies the essential elements of the zeitgeist and renders them into finely polished, classic tunes that remain fresh forever. This album features some of his best compositions, strictly from a musical standpoint, and his singing is impassioned. "Down in the Mall" is satire on a par with "Gorilla You're A Desperado", and "Run Straight Down" can stand up to comparison to "Ronald the Headless Thompson Gunner." Yes, lines such as "down among the dancing quanta, everthing exists at once; up above in Transverse City, every weekend lasts for months" are a lot more trouble to understand than "poor poor pitiful me." However, those who care to do the work of truly listening will not be disappointed. This is an album by a man who deeply cares about his subject; and when that man is Warren Zevon, it's a masterpiece.