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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