Warren Zevon: Warren Zevon (Asylum)

THEY'RE ALL HERE – various Eagles, an Everly Brother, Buckingham/Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Carl Wilson, David Lindley, J.D. Souther, and Jackson Browne himself, acting as producer – in what at first glance seems to be a supersession of high-level L.A.-rock masters. But these famous personages have willingly lowered their own high profile styles in the service of a little-known but intriguing musical contemporary. Like the narrator of 'Carmelita', one of the album's most disturbing two-pronged songs, Zevon has been down and out "on the outskirts of town" for years, eyes wide open and pen in hand.