Marshall Crenshaw's considerable rep as a pop tunesmith is well documented and deserved -- from his first break playing John Lennon in a touring production of "Beatlemania" to hits like "Cynical Girl" and "There She Goes Again." With help from notables like drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Greg Leisz and fellow Detroit native Wayne "MC5" Kramer, "Jaggedland" features another collection of timeless Crenshaw tunes.
"Jaggedland"
Marshall Crenshaw
www.marshallcrenshaw.com
429/SLG Records
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Marshall Crenshaw's considerable rep as a pop tunesmith is well documented and deserved -- from his first break playing John Lennon in a touring production of "Beatlemania" to hits like "Cynical Girl" and "There She Goes Again."
With help from notables like drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Greg Leisz and fellow Detroit native Wayne "MC5" Kramer, "Jaggedland" features another collection of timeless Crenshaw tunes. In fact, even minus the cameos (and Keltner and Leisz are no slouches), the tunes are strong enough that Crenshaw could easily pull them off by his lonesome.
"Right on Time" sets the tone with a driving groove, searing guitar solo and Crenshaw's radio-friendly voice, which is tailor-made for pop. It's not often you hear lines like "I had a strange dream one time/there was you, Bobby Vinton and me/in a hotel ballroom full of marble and mahogany."
While the quality of both the songs and playing is top notch, most impressive is the variety of Crenshaw's compositions, which include the jaunty and odd "Someone Told Me," the Buddy Holly/Beatles influenced "Just Snap Your Fingers," the thick and textured "Stormy River," the 6/8 time ballad "Never Coming Down" and the gorgeous title track -- an instrumental with mellotron and a string section.
"Jaggedland" Marshall Crenshaw
www.marshallcrenshaw.com
429/SLG Records
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Marshall Crenshaw's considerable rep as a pop tunesmith is well documented and deserved -- from his first break playing John Lennon in a touring production of "Beatlemania" to hits like "Cynical Girl" and "There She Goes Again."
With help from notables like drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Greg Leisz and fellow Detroit native Wayne "MC5" Kramer, "Jaggedland" features another collection of timeless Crenshaw tunes. In fact, even minus the cameos (and Keltner and Leisz are no slouches), the tunes are strong enough that Crenshaw could easily pull them off by his lonesome.
"Right on Time" sets the tone with a driving groove, searing guitar solo and Crenshaw's radio-friendly voice, which is tailor-made for pop. It's not often you hear lines like "I had a strange dream one time/there was you, Bobby Vinton and me/in a hotel ballroom full of marble and mahogany."
While the quality of both the songs and playing is top notch, most impressive is the variety of Crenshaw's compositions, which include the jaunty and odd "Someone Told Me," the Buddy Holly/Beatles influenced "Just Snap Your Fingers," the thick and textured "Stormy River," the 6/8 time ballad "Never Coming Down" and the gorgeous title track -- an instrumental with mellotron and a string section.
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