Rolling Stone - #72 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Albums Of The 80s" survey (11/89).
Q (11/00, p.123) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A pop monster capable of hooks strong enough to hang your hat upon..."
CMJ (9/4/00, p.24) - "...Catchy, compact, and beautifully played and produced..."
No Depression (11-12/00, pp.105-6) - "...Well-nigh indispensable..."
MARSHALL CRENSHAW also contains B-sides of singles, demos & live tracks.
Personnel: Marshall Crenshaw (vocals, various instruments, guitar, bass, percussion); Chris Donato (vocals, bass); Robert Crenshaw (vocals, drums); Tony Garnier (bass); Michael Osborn, Richard Gottehrer (percussion).
Producers: Richard Gottehrer, Marshall Crenshaw, Scott Miner.
Principally recorded at the Record Plant, New York, New York in January 1982.
Originally released on Warner Brothers (3673). Includes liner notes by Marshall Crenshaw & David Gorman.
Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot.
Marshall Crenshaw's self-titled debut was a great breath of fresh air when it appeared in 1982. Full of pop smarts, it drew on the chimey pop melodicism of the '60s without sounding the slightest bit "retro." Crenshaw came to public attention in the cast of Beatlemania in the late seventies (playing the part of John Lennon), a circumstance born of his long-standing love of the Fab Four.
Millions cut their teeth on British Invasion bands, but for Crenshaw, the lessons became part of his musical foundation--which is why it doesn't sound like he's aping his idols. Crenshaw is a music fan who developed into a first class songwriter. The flawlessly tight band runs through these dozen songs--churning out a hit parade of their own device. Catchy and infectiously hook-filled, this album can make friends with anybody. Start with this one, then move onto his next, and his next, and his next...