Marshall Crenshaw: Marshall Crenshaw (1982)

Pop music can get a bad reputation in certain musical circles (i.e. snobs like me, or so I've been told) and for the most part it's well earned. Of course there are always exceptions and when pop music is done right it can be a thing of beauty. Marshall Crenshaw's debut album is such an exception. The music is pure guitar pop. The songs are all about girls and rarely go on longer than 3 minutes. The production is extremely clean but not overpowered by unnecessary touches. Crenshaw's melodies will bury their way into your brain and stay there for long periods of time. 

You can tell what the album is going to sound like just by looking at the cover photo of Marshall. It's Buddy Holly music filtered through Elvis Costello and covered with an early 80's sheen. The fact that this wasn't a giant hit in 1982 is a mystery to me and even though "Someday Someway" hit the top 40, the album never took off. Listening to it now, there are at least 4 songs that should have been all over the radio including the previously mentioned "Someday." The album opens with "There She Goes Again" and it's a perfect take on seeing your ex with someone else. "Cynical Girl" and "Mary Anne" both have ridiculously catchy melodies that belong on everyone's Ipod. The rest of the tracks are all very enjoyable as well, especially the rockabilly vibe of "The Usual Thing" and a faithful cover of Arthur Alexander's "Soldier of Love." 

It's never too late to discover great music that may have slipped through the mainstream cracks a bit.  I can't think of too many better artists and albums to do so, than Marshall Crenshaw.

Rating: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. "There She Goes Again" - 2:39
2. "Someday, Someway" - 2:53
3. "Girls" - 3:04
4. "I'll Do Anything" - 3:03
5. "Rockin' Around in N.Y.C. " - 3:10
6. "The Usual Thing" - 3:06
7. "She Can't Dance" - 2:47
8. "Cynical Girl" - 2:37
9. "Mary Anne" - 2:57
10. "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" - 2:39
11. "Not for Me" - 2:38
12. "Brand New Lover" - 2:39