Marshall Crenshaw
For too long Crenshaw's career seemed to be decked with Holly. Buddy Holly, that is. Comparisons were unavoidable with that pioneer of rock; Crenshaw also has a bespectacled, nerdy look and writes light, tight songs with a twang of rockabilly. But talents he has displayed as a songwriter on all his records (this is his third) have earned him space of his own. Now producer T-Bone Burnett has given Downtown a clearer sound than the washed-out, garage studio music of Crenshaw's past. The instrumentation goes far beyond the spare trio act that Crenshaw used to favor. None of that would matter if the songs weren't good. The Michigander gets moody on Lesson Number One, for instance, juxtaposing that brooding quality with pretty Everly Brothers-like harmonies. Crenshaw's main ability is that he can use his sad voice to convey hard-won passion. Listen to Little Wild One. In fact listen to the whole LP. (Warner Bros.)
Your Reaction
