Editorial Reviews

The irascible Warren Zevon was recognized by his peers as one of the most singular writers of his generation, capable of skewering his enemies with one hand while giving a subtle high-sign to his pals with the other. Zevon would no doubt be pleased to see the degree to which this tribute disc -- compiled in the wake of his death of cancer -- maintains that attitude and keeps maudlin sentimentality at bay. Sure, there are moments where the participants target the heartstrings -- Jennifer Warnes turns in a poignant rendition of "Keep Me in Your Heart," one of Zevon's final compositions -- but the bulk of Enjoy Every Sandwich falls squarely into the acidic-but-affable landscape that Zevon made his own. Bruce Springsteen, for instance, proves his mettle via a live rendition of the Grim Reaper–dismissing "My Ride's Here," while David Lindley and Ry Cooder combine for a suitably surreal take on "Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse." You couldn't really put together an album like this without touching on songs like "Werewolves of London" (delivered in surprisingly non-shticky fashion by Adam Sandler) and "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (given a no-frills reading by the Wallflowers). The disc is rounded out by a pair of songs that Zevon never had the opportunity to record, notably the sly "Studebaker," which is admirably punched up by his son Jordan Zevon. Like an Irish wake, Enjoy Every Sandwich is designed to conjure up memories of the dear departed but not to elicit tears -- and on that count, it succeeds beautifully. David Sprague, Barnes & Noble

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