This is a must have CD for any Zevon fan. It's not a cookie cutter train wreck like most music out there today and Warren along with his motley crew of Hunter S. Thompson, Paul Shaffer, Michael Wolff, Sid McGuiness, David Letterman and his own two children Jordan and Ariel Zevon (who provide backup vocals) keep this cd creative, fun and just plain awesome! It helps to understand and be a fan of Zevon's work, but I would recommend this CD to anyone that can appreciate good story telling in the form of music. The only song I had trouble with was "Laissez-moi Tranquille." This is due to the fact that this song is in French and has a pretty repetitive style, lyrically and musically. It's not hard to overlook that one song though. I wish this album had had another 2 or 3 songs on it; however the quality of the 10 tracks you get is excellent! I wish Warren would receive a little more notoriety for his work, just because I think he shouldn't have to be known as the "Guy that did Warewolves of London", but at the same time I realize that people in this world wouldn't know a good artist if one smacked them in the face...
I'm sad to say that Warren won't be with us much longer due to his inoperable Lung Cancer and it kills me to think we have to do without more recorded gems from him such as this album.

Peace be with you Warren...

"My Ride's Here" finds Warren Zevon in fine form although, with a mere 10 songs clocking in at a little over 41 minutes, it left this listener wanting more. "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" was previously released as a single, but is included on this album. Also, for someone who made his reputation as a songwriter, it's interesting to note that only one song was written by Warren Zevon without a collaborator, and two songs weren't written by him at all. I would have much preferred another original Warren Zevon song to "Laissez-Moi Tranquille," a French song written by Serge Gainsbourg. Perhaps if I understood the language I could appreciate the song. "Basket Case" is a strange song about a sexy, psychotic woman who finally drives her lover insane. "Macgillycuddy's Reeks" is an authentic Irish-sounding song that deals with lost love. The poor protagonist is laid up in a hospital bed, his former lover now a nurse tending to him. "She only looked at my chart, the valleys and the peaks. Brought back the time she broke my heart in Macgillycuddy's reeks." The song "Genius" includes references to Mata Hari, Albert Einstein and Charlie Sheen, but again the singer personalizes it. "You broke my heart into smithereens, and that took genius...Everybody needs a place to stand, and a method for their schemes and scams. If I could only get my record clean, I'd be a genius." The title song "My Ride's Here" closes out the album on a strong note. After a life on the road, staying at innumerable hotels, the protagonist (presumably Mr. Zevon) would "..like to stay, but I'm bound for glory, I'm on my way. My ride's here..." I hope Warren makes it to the promised land. In the meantime, I enjoyed going along with the ride this album provided.

Zevon's latest, My Ride's Here is a collection of 10 songs incluces 2 cover tunes ("Laissez-Moi Tranquille", -- Translation: Leave me in peace or Leave me alone? -- "I Hate to Leave"). Zevon collaborates with various writers for MR'sH including Carl Hiassen, Hunter S. Thompson, sports writer Mitch Albon and poet, Paul Muldoon. Zevon also gets help from long-time buddy, David Letterman on "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" where the latter yells, "Hit somebody!"
As is his trademark, Zevon uses sardonic humor. "You and the barber make a handsome pair. Guess what -- I never liked the way he cut your hair" "Genius. "I was staying at the Westin. I was playing to a draw. When in walked Charles Heston with the Tablets of the Law." "My Ride's Here".
In keeping with tradition, Zevon illustrates with a new group of wacko characters, including his "baby" the Basketcase, a "pretty as a picture and totally crazed" woman who is "manic-depressive and schizoid too." "Basketcase".
One of the best cuts on the CD is the Irish Folksong, "MacGillycuddy's Reeks". "Genius" might as well be discussing Zevon, because he's rather late in his career getting the props for his literate, intelligent brand of folksy, popsy, rocksy whateversy style of music.
Unfortunately, due to Zevon's recently disclosed health problems, this CD may be his last complete one. Although Zevon has decided to spend his remaining time (he was given a few months to live) with his two children and recording more music. Let's hope this genius gets a chance to complete his current work, and/or a miracle cures him.
For anybody who thinks Zevon is a "one-hit wonder" (I guess "Werewolves of London" would be the hit), this CD, along with Life'll Kill Ya, and gems such as "The Indifference of Heaven" show that Zevon is one of a kind, a genius. Sadly, "Werewolves" isn't even his best song; it's just his best known song.

Witty, biting, insightful and satirical in equal measure - I couldn't describe Warren Zevon's lyrics any other way. For the past several years he's been marrying those sardonic lines to stripped-down acoustic tunes as if trying to portray a more grizzled (and more on-key) Bob Dylan. However, once we kick off the record with loud drums and nice fuzzy guitar, it's probably safe to say his coffeehouse-performer phase is over for now. "Sacrificial Lambs" and "Basket Case" show there's plenty of rocking spirit in the Zevon camp after all.

On second thought - once again we're reminded never to think we know what to expect. This newfound energy lasts for an entire seven and a half minutes, at which point "Lord Byron's Luggage" takes a sudden jump into quiet-Irish-pub territory. I have no trouble imagining "McGillicuddy's Reeks" as the highlight of a movie soundtrack from one of those quaint countryside films. Heck, we can imagine a short little vignette for each song here. If tracks 3 and 4 are slow-dance pub songs, then the film represented by "...When You're Scared" is equal parts James Bond, 'Temple of Doom' and 'Romancing the Stone.' Last year's single "Hit Somebody!" is included as well, making a brief stop in the sports-movie zone (though it's the most unromanticized portrayal of hockey you're ever likely to hear in song). The slow strings of "Genius" would fit perfectly in a movie like 'A Beautiful Mind.' So of course, what better to follow it up with than the most straight-ahead rocker on the album - sung entirely in French?

The perversely upbeat "I Have to Leave" is funny, sad and touching all at once. From anyone else it might seem like a song about moving or going home after a party. But keep in mind this is Warren Zevon we're dealing with, and it's only fitting that drummer Anton Fig calls the closing title track "the nicest song about being dead I've ever played on." A surreal lyric that would be right at home on Excitable Boy is joined with a wonderfully happy tune, ending the album on the perfect high note.

I mean in no way to cheapen Warren's other releases by saying that My Ride's Here is possibly his strongest in at least a decade. It's certainly his most accomplished. The lyrical collaborations (with several prominent authors) add a whole new dimension to the music, and the music itself has more variety and strong performances than ever before. The Zevon fan club should rejoice at such a vital, spirited offering. For the others.. any serious music fan who prefers brain candy to ear candy should also find plenty to like.

The general public doesn't expect much when an artist has been around as long as Warren Zevon has. Most assume that if you're old or you haven't had a hit in a long time then you must not be that interesting. Except, the kind of music Mr. Zevon makes isn't fluffy and sweet like a Snuggle teddy bear (which the public usually embraces). No, Mr. Zevon's music is not as easily understood as the Macarena (or misunderstood?) "My Ride's Here" is another successful volume in Zevon's repertoire. If Zevon were a dime a dozen then why are there so few who are able to pen a lyric like him? "Basket Case", "Lord Byron's Luggage", "You're A Whole Different Person When You're Scared" and "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" all underline Zevon's peculiar sardonic storytelling style to great effect. I don't think fans or critics would really debate Zevon's writing talent, that's certainly his strength. It's the music that can be debated, and Zevon's singing. While Zevon is no George Michael on the vocals, his voice is always suitable to his material. The music on "My Ride's Here" is certainly grungier, dirtier than "Life'll Kill Ya", but more diverse as well. The Celtic melodies on "Lord Byron's Luggage" and "MacGillycuddy's Reeks" stand in contrast to "Sacrificial Lambs" and "Basket Case", and the electronic French of "Laissez-Moi Tranquille". For a man that's been up, down and all around for over 30 years now, Zevon shows no signs of fading here.