Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great album, and one of Zevon's best, July 17, 2008
I don't have Zevon's entire catalog, but do own a fair amount of it, and apart from the "best of" compilation called "Genius," I think this is my favorite.
Zevon has long been know as a "songwriter's songwriter" and his material was covered by the likes of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. And while he never had the fame/success that either of those legends achieved, you can bet they respected his talents, and they're on full display here on the "Life'll Kill Ya" cd.
The lyrics vary from the razor sharp wit of "I Was In The House When The House Burned Down" to incisive introspection and observations on cuts like "Ourselves To Know," "I'll Slow You Down" and the title cut.
Musically, this is the most consistently pleasing of any of Zevon's standard studio releases, and yet it is not at all overly poppy or light, so does not get repetitive or tiresome even after repeated listenings (I've enjoyed this one for years now....).
In addition to his own songs, Zevon offers an acoustic version of Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again", and the sparse arrangement coupled with Zevon's heartfelt vocal delivery make this a completely different (and better) song than Winwood's own version. You can definitely put Zevon in with the likes of Dylan, Neil Young and Springsteen in that he's not a great vocalist per se, but the emotion and soul he had came through in his voice and made him a great singer to listen to. Check out "High Life" and you'll see what I mean...
Titles like "Don't Let Us Get Sick" and "My S**t's F***ed Up" make me wonder if Zevon knew he was ill and dying when he wrote the songs on this album, but all accounts indicate he wasn't diagnosed until 2002, which makes these tracks all the more poignant in my opinion (that a dying man would write such songs and yet not know he was dying). They're not morbid though and in fact the latter song is among the funnier songs Zevon has ever written in my opinion. The first verse in particular makes me chuckle. It's presented as a conversation between Zevon and his physician:
Well I went to the doctor
I said "I'm feelin' kinda rough"
"Let me break it to you son:
Your sh**'s f***ed up."
I said "My sh**'s f***ed up?
Well I don't see how"
He said "the sh** that used to work,
Well it don't work now"
And so it goes as just one of many standout cuts on this cd. It was viewed as Zevon's 2nd "comeback" and universally acclaimed by critics and fellow musicians alike, so yes, "Life'll Kill Ya" is a very HIGHLY recommended Warren Zevon title for sure.
If you're new to Zevon and wanting to explore, I'd pick up "Genius" first, but if you have that and want more or are already a Zevon fan but don't have this one, I would say pick it up. You won't regret it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Warren Zevon CD, February 10, 2008
LIFE'LL KILL YA is one of Warren Zevon's best albums ever. The opener, "I Was In The House When The House Burned Down", is supposed to be a metaphor for a guy who was in a troublesome situation, but somehow got out unharmed. The humor on this CD can be a little gross at times, but at least Zevon could find some humor in even the worst situations.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love that Porcelain Monkey!, March 27, 2008
I had to listen to this CD two or three times all the way through to fully appreciate many of the songs, and especially the colorful lyrics. I really enjoyed the clever lyrics in reference to Elvis on "Porcelain Monkey". This CD is a must have for all Warren Zevon fans.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Warren Zevon 
