Mergers & Acquisitions

On the same day that I caved and bought some more VHS tapes for the first time in a while, I also bought a couple of records. I went through a similar progression in my record buying to that which I went through with my tape buying, but it was faster. I first bought a number of them rather indiscriminately. I had to have something to play on my new player, and having records was a novelty to me much greater than having VHS tapes for the first time in years, but in a matter of weeks, I declined to buy any record I didn't really want.

I haven't bought many of those in a while, and not because I was trying to reign in my collecting. I just hadn't seen any really good ones. Recently I finally did. Now, I love Warren Zevon. By a wide margin, he's my favorite musician. I'll buy his records almost any time. I say almost because I have a finite number of dollars to live on, or I'd spend any amount. As it is, I can't spend thirty dollars on a record. That's what Warren's eponymous album costed at Amoeba, so I demurred.

The Best Around

I'd like to make this clear, here and now. Warren Zevon is my favorite musician of all time. Why? He invented edgy. The backing instrumentals were absolutely sound, but they were the foundation for lyrics that were at times dark, funny, touching, raucous and illuminating.

I think that everyone starts with "Werewolves of London". That's fine, and it's a good, addictive song, but it's just the first breath of a body of work packed with nothing but great songs. Currently, I can't stop listening to "Mr. Bad Example. Previously, it's been tracks like "French Inhaler", "Life'll Kill Ya", "Mohammed's Radio", "Frank and Jessie James", and on and on and on.

Sometimes he has my heart pumping and my breathing heavy. Sometimes he makes me want to cry. I get truly choked up watching his final appearance on the Late Show. It feels like such a loss that he's dead. It seems like every word was written with the knowledge of his fate in mind.