REVIEW: Marshall Crenshaw, # 447 (Razor & Tie)
- Michael Van Gorden
It is hard to believe it has been 17 years since Marshall Crenshaw released his self-titled debut. Full of pop hooks, and simple songs about love and life, Marshall set a new standard for pop music.
The time between his 1996 album Miracle of Science and his latest, #447 , has not been wasted. Marshall has begun to dabble in writing for Soundtracks, and writing a column for VH1, based on his book "Hollywood Rock - A guide to rock and roll in the movies". The album starts out with what many may perceive as a mistake, but is just Marshall having a little fun in the studio. And the fun doesn't stop there, as Marshall kicks into a humorous tale about a love lost and the inevitable questions that arise when you see her with another guy, or in this case a "Dime a Dozen Guy".
Marshall has written some of the best relationship songs in pop music. And he outdoes himself on some of the albums choicest tracks. "T.M.D." will surely put a smile on your face as the sheer joy of being love comes through in not only Marshall's words, but in the light spring time feel of the music.
Another highlight of the is "Television Light". Written for a movie soundtrack, the song details the feelings of someone who almost threw away something precious. The pain of infidelity can be felt with words like "What I wouldn't wish for nearly came true to throw your love away was what I didn't want to do....the way I feel for you to make your bitter tears fall was what I didn't want to do"
Thankfully there is some humor as well as Marshall sings in "Tell Me All about it": "Now I do believe that it's just like Adam learned with Eve / People can hide things up their sleeve even when naked". On display throughout the album are 3 instrumentals that give some indication as to what Marshall has been up to. "You Said What" and "Eydie's Tune" were written for the documentary he scored for PBS on Yogi Berra. While "West Of Bald Knob" shows Marshall's increased interest in Jazz is having an influence on his music. All a very good thing. I hope as he gets more involved in scoring movies it finds its way into more of his "mainstream" work.
You can't help but appreciate the little musical touches that have been added to this album. Chris Carmichael makes "Television Light" come alive with his fiddle solo! Marshall is also joined by a great supporting cast such as Bill Lloyd ex of Foster & Lloyd as well as the owner of some fine solo pop albums himself. Andy York from the John Mellencamp Band, longtime musical partner Brad Jones, as well as Bassist Extrordinaire David Hofstra and Greg Leisz on lap steel and dobro.
Over the years Marshall Crenshaw has delighted us with no less than 10 releases, 7 all new, one hits, one live and one CD released last year with B sides and outtakes. While 17 years into a career many musicians are on the nostalgia circuit or have called it a day and gone on to other things, Marshall thankfully has kept at it and released what is probably his most exciting album yet.
