RE: RARA-AVIS: :A post-modern, post-noir pop kinda post

Spurlock, Duane (Dspurlock@paulschultz.com)
Thu, 4 Dec 1997 15:25:04 -0500 >Kevin Smith wrote:
>I wouldn't limit it to "postmodern" types like
>Costello and Ridgway, though, Josh. Seems to me a case could be made for a
>whole slew of songwriters, old and new. Many of them seem to write from a
>certain hardboiled or even noir viewpoint. Certainly Warren Zevon (who once
>dedicated a whole album to Ross Macdonald) writes from a hardboiled
>perspective, and Springsteen's Nebraska is definitely some kinda noir,
>albeit via Woody Guthrie.

I've long maintained that Zevon writes from a hardboiled slant--even
some of his sentimental ballads recall Chandler/Marlowe's odd
sentimental passages. For an HB example, check Zevon's latest
album--there's a song he co-wrote with (I think) Carl Hiaisen about
answering the door with a Glock and a doberman. And there are, of
course, signature tunes like "Excitable Boy" and "Lawyers, Guns and
Money."

Other HB-influenced songwriters: Robyn Hitchcock ("My Wife and My Dead
Wife", for instance), Richard Thompson ("Behind Grey Walls"), Steve
Earle ("The Devil's Right Hand") and the most HB songwriter I know, Paul
K (usually performing with his band, The Weathermen). One album that
stands out is a solo acoustic album whose title I can't recall at the
moment, but all the songs have an HB slant. There's even an homage to
Elmore Leonard titled "Dear Dutch." I'll try to find the album name and
post it. --Duane
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