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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An overlooked literary treasure.., November 21, 2002
Jackson Browne once called Zevon "the first and foremost proponent of song noir," and I might as well lead off with that description since I can't think of one more simple and eloquent myself. From the late 60s to the present, WZ has developed an uncanny ability like no one else - the art of mixing oddball black humor with melodies so bright and spirited you catch yourself humming them for a week. The arguable peak of his 70s material is this album you're reading about now, Excitable Boy, and not just because everybody knows "Werewolves of London." Much of it is simple rock and roll, but to me there's always been a uniquely creative quality about everything here that keeps any of it from sounding stale or tired. Maybe it's partly because I have a thing for cool titles like "Lawyers, Guns and Money." Maybe I just can't help admiring someone who can rhyme 'word' with 'Johannesburg' and make it work. I can't explain it.. I just know that I still get a kick out of this stuff after years of listening, and Warren's recent diagnosis with terminal lung cancer has saddened me like no other bit of celebrity news in recent memory.But anyway - back to the album. To be sure there are a couple more somber moments here: "Accidentally Like a Martyr" for example (Dylan, eat yer heart out), or the growing-up theme of "Tenderness on the Block".. and that's not even getting into the strange half-creepiness of "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and the like. But even despite all those, it's a safe bet you've rarely heard such cynicism with such a sweet sugarcoating as you'll hear here. The title track is probably the best example; the words verge on downright disturbing, yet it's driven along with a joyfully sunny saxophone and a bright "oo-wah-oo" backup chorus. "Lawyers..." is Warren's finest example of the perfect straightforward three-chord rocker, while "Veracruz" establishes a foreign setting by mixing in some flute. I can even forgive the 70s disco-funk touch of "Nighttime in the Switching Yard" considering what brilliance it's surrounded by. The whole disc plays like a short-story anthology in musical form, peppered with characters that range from oddly lovable to frighteningly strange.. from Roland and his mercenary comrades, to the trouble-loving thug in a tight spot begging his father for help, to the album's namesake with his habit of murdering prom dates. It's a guilty treat for the cackling cynic in all of us; a way of unflinchingly looking at the dark side of humanity and realizing that, when you get right down to it, something about it all is wickedly funny for a reason we can't really explain. Or maybe I'm reading way too much into it, and it's just nine plain songs to stick in your head and give you a good laugh. Of course there's nothing wrong with that either, and there are much worse ways of spending a few quick dollars than this. Enjoy and beware the werewolves.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The under-rated classic of the 70's, July 9, 2002
I've always felt that some gifted musicians were never given the full exposure they needed to go to the next level. Although Warren Zevon has experienced a truly great career, I think he can take to heart that a lot of people really enjoy listening to his music. One of the best albums to be released in the 70's was Zevons "Ëxcitable Boy".
This was another record I heard on a local FM station who would have "Album Hour" every night. They would play new LP's by well known or obscure talents. When this album came on, I had no idea who the artist was nor had I heard anything similar. The vocals were gruff and somewhat reserved. The sound was deep rooted and together. From the opening tune "Johnny Strikes up the Band" I felt that this was worth hanging around for. Warren exposes himself as a decent song writer and pocess' somewhat of an imagination. Great arrangements on the songs gives substance to the lyrics. Excellent musicians fill out the rest. Great cuts to listen to over and over, "Lawyers, Guns and Money", Night Time in the Swiutching Yard", "Tenderness on the Block" and the stalwart "Werewolves of London".
All the songs here are very well done and Warren Zevon is without question on par with the best. This album I feel really was a true gem. If you like this, try "My Ride's Here". All in all "Good Music".
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Send Lawyers Guns and Money..A Gem of an Album, September 18, 2003
What would you the listener put on his tombstone.."Send Lawyers Guns and Money..Here Lies An American Original,An American Songwriter".It pained me to learn of the death of Warren Zevon last week,dead from inoperable lung cancer..but the legacy he left in his collection of songs,and in particular,in this collection,makes him one of the true mavericks,one of the most interesting of performers and writers of the late 20th century.
To celebrate Warren Zevon is to understand that he produced recordings with a bent, a unique perspective on life and in this album, love and death.
The previous album,"Warren Zevon" was consistently delivered with great songs,but it was with the release of "Excitable Boy" in 1978 that he launched his career into the mainstream and scored his most commerical success with the quirky and infectiously irresistable *Werewolves of London*
From the very first listening,and with a song book that showcased the weird,the macabre,the wasted ,the historical,the romantic,the dark and the witty,this had something for everyone.
There will probably never again be a songwriter who can flipantly recount the behaviour of a seriously deranged killer,and label it as if he was just"a very naughty boy" as in the title track,and then produce the perfectly crafted and achingly poignant *Accidently Like A Martyr*.This original card carrying West Coast rocker,the thinking man's Eagles with the dark sense of humour,delivered a memorable song canvas.*Roland The Headless Gunner*,took the epic story lyric into a new world,laced with topical commentary and wickedly clever insights,that you will certainly be seeing the *muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson Gun*
Like any great project,the personal involved ensured that this collection would stand the test of time.All involved were arguably at their creative peak,from the production of Jackson Browne and Waddy Wachtel,to the stella group of musicians through to the back up singers who featured,it still sounds great today.Linda Ronstadt,Jennifer Warnes,Karla Bonoff,Russell Kunkel,John McVie,Mick Fleetwood,Jeff Porcaro,Waddy Wachtel,Rick Marotta..it would be easler to name those in Los Angeles who arent on here.
Strong tracks like *Veracruz* *Johnny Strikes Up the Band*and the anthem like *Lawyers Guns and Money* all mix beautifully in the final product,and showcase the boundless potential talent of Warren Zevon,that he reproduced somewhat sporadically after this until his death,recently.
I would strongly recommend that this album form part of your CD collection and that you may wish to purchase the retrospective *Genius*.
There is no readily accessible prefabricated over produced commerical conformity to hang your hat on here,just original talented ideas packaged in a superb musical pie..an American Pie.I would give this 6 stars and along with *Running on Empty* by Jackson Browne,stands out as the best that the West Coast had to offer.Buy ,listen and enjoy...well he was just an excitable boy...RIP
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