DAVID YAZBEK

Evil Monkey Man

2008-03-22

"Explosive anger, sadness and occasional joy" is how the press release describes David Yazbek's "Evil Monkey Man." Twisted would be more like. First off, Yazbek is a diverse character. He won an Emmy for writing on Late Night with David Letterman in the early 1980s, co-wrote the theme song to Disney's "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego," and has several commercial jingles and a steady gig with Disney under his belt. He also wrote the score for the Broadway production of "The Full Monty." That being said, at first listen, while working away in my office, I was reminded of Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. It had that East Village, bohemian feel to it that has that certain appeal. Then, I looked at the lyrics. The first song, "Terrible Thing," is seemingly about his own suicide, with catchy phrases like "there's a piece of a guy/who refused to lie/a knee and a thigh" strangely matched with a jaunty little piano riff that Billy Joel himself would be proud of. A good, if somewhat sadistic, record. Recommended if you liked "When I was Cruel" by Elvis Costello. -- Daniel J. Graeber

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 09/2008

    MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
    ALL REBEL ROCKERS

  • reviewed 05/2006

    Jon Auer
    Songs From The Year Of Our Demise

  • reviewed 02/2011

    ROBBIE ROBERTSON
    HOW TO BECOME CLAIRVOYANT

  • reviewed 06/2011

    FOSTER THE PEOPLE
    Torches

  • reviewed 12/2010

    JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW
    Early in the Morning

  • reviewed 05/2007

    LOW
    Drums and Guns

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.