Excitable Boy (studio album) by Warren Zevon

“Excitable Boy” works best when it’s diving in Zevon’s macabre sense of humor. The lyrics are delivered with a hilarious deadpan that builds off of irony. “Tenderness On The Block” would not have worked if it hadn’t been sung like some sage advice about street walking. “Excitable Boy” reminds me of Oingo Boingo’s “Only a Lad” if it had been wrapped in doo-wop. While the latter is energetic and contemptuous, “Excitable Boy” works from its nonchalant juxtaposition. Horrible crimes are treated like nothing. “Werewolves Of London” earns its reputation from its tight instrumentation, and its cackling one-liners. The piano is so jaunty and makes perfect room for the guitar solo in the center. “And his hair was perfect” never ceases from sending me. Unfortunately, except for “Werewolves Of London” and “Nighttime In The Switching Yard” the instrumentals are underwhelming. They fall into rather plain 70s piano rock. The more serious songs like “Accidentally Like A Martyr” and “Veracruz” just don’t function as well either. Not without flaws, but definitely worthy of a bowl of beef chow mein.

Worthy of its position as the #1 Warren zevon album of BEA. Great album

A very fun and enjoyable album to listen to. The vocal performance is brilliant and is so smooth and easy to listen to. The lyrics are good and there are some great catchy choruses at times. It is a bit of a short record at around 30 minutes but still has a lot to offer for the short run time. Sometimes the music does seem a bit simple and repetitive and you would struggle to tell some tracks apart. There are a few tracks which are just decent as well but the rest are pretty good. Overall, a very enjoyable pop rock record but I don't think it is ground breaking in terms of its quality.

From Jboy56 01/06/2022 14:02

Never heard of this artist or this record. A very pleasant surprise, Recommended to everybody

Excitable Boy shows Warren Zevon leaning more into quirky lyrics. Werewolves of London became Zevon's definitive hit and it probably led to people dismissing his other work after the song became a trademark Halloween song, but this is a stellar album. Jackson Browne produces and his influence is strongly felt on several songs. The hooky title track is probably my personal favorite of the set.

From buzzdainer 09/18/2020 18:42

During the late eighties, Excitable Boy was in heavy rotation at the pizza place in Auburn, Maine, where I worked in the kitchen after school to earn pocket cash. It might have been the only album that was universally liked by all the high school aged staff who worked in the kitchen those years. It's easy to see why we all liked it so much: the songs are snappy, the lyrics clever, the instrumentation solid. At the time "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" and "Werewolves of London" were the songs everybody knew, but upon reflection I think "Tenderness on the Block" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr" are the most lyrically mature songs here, and the ones that keep me coming back. They're also the ones that anticipate the songwriter Warren Zevon was becoming as he faced getting older and, eventually, confronted his own mortality. Overall just a very solid collection of straight-ahead rock songs.

From rockinsteve 09/21/2018 05:45

One of THE best pop/rock albums of the late 70's, probably topped only by his own self-titled album from a couple years prior to this one. This album is just fantastic. Warren's vocals never sounded better and the musicianship of the backing band is top notch. Warren's lyrics are probably the best part of this release. Wonderful, bizarre images that WILL last forever in your memory. Boy, we need another Warren Zevon in our music world right now!

From ironmic40 06/13/2018 01:28

Zevon's juxtaposition of upbeat sing-song music with macabre lyrics on this album is a rare treat. There is also a poignant sincerity to the ballads that is surprising. Definitely recommend the expanded version, as "I Need A Truck" and "Tule's Blues" are hidden gems.

From Sandrof1969 02/11/2018 13:03

Il titolo dice già tutto: "ragazzo eccitabile" ma non solo, anche appassionato, romantico… Una versione romantica ma mai stucchevole ed anzi dura e fiera nelle atmosfere del rock degli anni settanta.

Warren Zevon's best album. Excitable boy, is a stunning record from an underrated artist. Shades of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits here on a great record featuring some superb tracks. Johnny strikes up the band, tenderness on the block, and, accidentally like a martyr, are all standouts. Most famous off course is the wonderful, werewolves of London, brilliant. Great quirky rock.