It is a real treat when I am completely surprised by a new album. Jordan Zevon's new album, Insides Out is one of those records. He is the son of the late Warren Zevon and was instrumental in helping his father record music in the late years of his life. In 2002, Warren Zevon was diagnosed with lung cancer and decided that he wanted to spend his final days in the recording studio making one last album. Jordan was the Executive Producer on that record, The Wind. The album was released in 2003 and Warren Zevon died within a week of its release. Before his death Warren told Jordan to follow his dream and use Warren's studio to record his own music. That is where he recorded this record. Jordan also contributed the song "Studebaker" to the Warren Zevon tribute record called Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon. That song also appears on this new record.
This album is amazing, but don't expect it to sound anything like Warren's music. This is a solid power pop record that recalls the music of the Beatles, Cheap Trick, XTC, Elvis Costello and more modern groups like Fountains of Wayne and The Feeling. The production is tight and the vocal harmonies are tighter. Even though this is not an album that can compare in any way to Warren Zevon's catalog of music, it is the clear sign of a strong debut album by a songwriter with great pop sensibilities. I look forward to hearing him mature as a songwriter based on the strength of this record.
You can check out some of Jordan's songs from the new record at his MySpace page.
2 comments:
"Home" is a good song. Something about it makes me think of Wilco, but I'm sure there are better comparisons to be had there. I thought of Ben Folds for a moment, too. Sad to say, no clue who Warren Zevon is/was, but I'm interested.
On a completely different note, after several listens and initial head-scratching I'm happy about the new Silver Jews' "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea." Check it out...if you liked Tanglewood Numbers, you'll wonder how he got here. But over the course of his discography, it makes good sense.
Wait a second, reading above, you were in Denver. That's only 15-20 minutes from here, dooood. Work, he said. Whatever. I guess I'll come to you...
Wait. That's hours. Nevermind.
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