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This auditory gem will carry you on a blissful journey back in time. Back when you may have encountered a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand walking down the streets of Soho in the rain. This is rich, classic rock that mixes a perfect cocktail of humor and profundity.
Warren Zevon’s talent is sophisticated far beyond his time. There is a good mix of instrumentals that work well with synergistic simplicity – no one is trying to drown anyone else out, which makes it easy to enjoy the blend of sounds. And the backup vocals featuring The Gentleman Boys are heavenly.
It kicks off with the perfect opener – “Johnny Strikes Up The Band.” This one is captivating and danceable with a very nice beat. As the title promises, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” is a bit melancholy and reminds me a lot of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The title track is one of the catchiest tunes I’ve ever heard. The lyrics are dark, yet it comes off lighthearted, with bebop undertones, plenty of sweet riffs and gorgeous vocal harmonies featuring Linda Ronstadt. “Veracruz” opens with a dazzling recorder solo. And though it isn’t what you’d call upbeat, the vocal harmonies of Jorge Calderón are lovely and heartfelt, and the exotic instrumentals, including Mexican harp, Jarana and Requinto Jarocho lend a delightfully unusual component to the piece. The classic “Lawyers, Guns and Money” is gritty and danceable with some very nice guitar work. Four previously unreleased bonus tracks are included – one of which is a stellar remix of “Werewolves of London.”
This is an absolutely wonderful album that is sure to satisfy an eclectic range of listeners. And it’s bound to add some energy to your next road trip as well. Just don’t get caught in gridlock traffic while singing along to “Werewolves of London.”
