After Townes Van Zandt died at age 52 on New Year's Day 1997, what was left to do was getting his remaining recordings out to his cult audience; they consider him the best of the very best. Van Zandt didn't write as many songs in his last decade as he had in his youth, but the genuine feel of his live performances—nearly always done either solo or with one or two other musicians—made every show special, even on nights when he wasn't at his best. Van Zandt represented the old-school troubadour who kept playing for his living regardless of what else was going on in the world. These recordings are taken from European concerts, and while there are better Van Zandt live albums—Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas and Rear View Mirror come to mind—Abnormal is every bit a part of his legacy. "Two Girls" is sweet and aching. "Waitin' Round to Die," allegedly the first song he ever wrote, is his mission statement.