Customer Reviews

Jaggedland

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Folks, it has been worth the wait...MC returns with 12 infectious Tunes that displays his diversity as one of the world's most accomplished pop musicians and talented guitarists. There are soaring pop songs, dark tales, blues, rockers, and a beautiful instrumental. Although I have an mp3 promo of this release, I am going to purchase the CD as I am guessing that the mp3 format is restricting the carefully-crafted sonics that MC wants to put across. In the best Crenshaw tradition, these tunes are addictive and satisfying. Thanks MC...I'm sure John Lennon would be proud.

Famous Jonny Mambo, DJ @ WCOM

My wife and I saw Marshall solo on June 11th and his self-review was that these were a bunch of "classy songs". And as excited as I was to see him live, he's half right, literally. Six of one and a half a dozen of the other on this album. The thing is, if you're a Marshall fan, he's probably touched your deepest sweet spot at some time in the past and therefore is the kind of underrated artist that you pull for without a second thought. I so much wish it were more than this, but it's only cuts 1, 2, 7, 10, 11 and 12 that go right to the next Best Of. As for the others, he's a great songwriter still in need of an equally great producer. Don't get me wrong, six new and great Marshall Crenshaw songs is a reason for celebration. But a great album this is not.

Maybe my favorite CD this year. The whole CD is solid, but I think "Sunday Blues", "Jaggedland", "Right on Time", "Passing Through", "Never Coming Down", and "Live and Learn" are my favorites. There's something about "Sunday Blues" - what a great melody - it's been in my head for days. I hope to see him in concert this year - would love to hear these songs live.

Marshall Crenshaw once said that he writes a lot of his songs in his car. That makes sense--the groove-laden rhythm of his songs, along with his catchy melodies and lyrics, capture the poetry of the turnpike wonderfully.

His new release, Jaggedland, while not ostensibly a 'car' album, definitely shows off that side of his personality. We have the rhythmic, self-performed "Gasoline Baby," the languorous grooves of "Just Snap Your Fingers" and "Stormy River," and the catchy-but-experimental instrumental "Jaggedland," which suggests that frustrating start-and-stop we get during rush hour in any metro area.

The tunes are up to the usual standard--bright, crystalline power-pop with solid hooks, occasional country touches, and simple, evocative lyrics that deal mostly with the human condition, especially interactions with the opposite sex ("Call my name and I just stare a hole through you").

The surprise for me, here, was in the vocals--while Crenshaw can still do the bright, clear tones we've become accustomed to, on this album he chooses to sing to the song--the opening track, "Right On Time," serves as a stellar example of this--he starts off quiet, low but melodic, giving the song more gravity than it might have otherwise. Of course, when he does kick in that brightness it makes the tune that much more special. He's becoming an interpreter of his own material, and that's a very good thing.

Overall, while Jaggedland doesn't scale the heights of earlier albums like Marshall Crenshaw or Life's Too Short, it's a rewarding effort from one of the best practitioners of guitar pop of the last 30 years. Well done, Mr. Crenshaw.

I can't get some of these songs out of my head. Wonderful medodies by Mr. Crenshaw. I've been a fan of his for 25 years now and although I hadn't bought one of his releases recently, I decided to give this one a chance...and I'm so glad I did. Excellent, excellent melodic rock.

The latest CD from singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw shows one of the most underrated performers at the top of his form. After a six-year hiatus, the Detroit native has put together one of the best CD's to be released this year. From the opening chord of "Right on Time" to the poetic "Live and Learn," Crenshaw shows that the time off has reenergized his creativity, producing one of the best albums in his career. For those familiar with the fifty-something musician, his relative unknown status remains a mystery. Crenshaw has made many top-notch albums and yet only has 1 hit single to his credit. He also co-wrote the Gin Blossoms hit, "Til I Hear It From You."
If there's any justice "Jaggedland" will reach a larger audience. In addition to the aforementioned bookends, other outstanding tracks include: "Passing Through," "Just Snap Your Fingers," "Never Coming Down," and "Long Hard Road." The only hiccup on the project is the 2 minute "Gasoline Baby."
Crenshaw's guitar prowess is evident throughout the disc, and his songwriting remains as strong as ever. If only he could release music at a faster pace, his fans would have more reason to rejoice.

Marshall Crenshaw has a wonderful return to form with Jaggedland. I was there when Marshall Crenshaw was released and I have stayed with him through every album since. Oh, I longed for the days of Someday, Someway and Cynical Girl -- and believe me, Crenshaw always produced songs that were fresh and listenable on every album -- but Jaggedland is the most diverse, lyrically complex, rockin', bluesy and just great set of songs since his second or third album. It took a little while to grow on me since I am always hoping to recapture the lightning in a bottle of those early songs but I now find this is my favorite set of tunes to play in the car. It's a great album folks, and time will hold this to be true.

I always appreciated Marshall Crenshaw as a singer/songwriter, but only had purchased his greatest hits. I read a positive review of Jaggedland in a guitar magazine and decided to take a chance on it. Boy, am I glad I did! This is a supremely great pop album, great melodies, lyrics and guitar playing! It has been on constant rotation in my cd players since I got it this summer. If you like tuneful pop, you really can't go wrong with this. These songs stay in your head (in a good way), and I don't really skip over any of them when I put it on. Special mention has to go to "Never Coming Down", which starts as a beautiful country sounding song, and then (as another reviewer has noted) goes Beatley Abbey Road style, ear candy of the highest order! I also love the instrumental "Jaggedland", which reminds me of a Pearlfshers (David Scott) type interlude, sort of a bridge to the next tune. "Live and Learn" is a neat closer with a fine chorus, catchy as all getout! A fine effort, as Marshall plays most of the instruments as well. Highly recommended!

Marshall Crenshaw has a pop history I was not aware of (as I was not aware of him as an artist, period). But, after my wife bought this very listenable CD, I read his Bio and learned that he wrote "Somebody, Someday" in 1982. I-tunes lists his songs on this album as "folk". They are not. Its easy-listening, singer/songwriter, rock in the vein, sorry about this fans of either, in the vein of Ben Folds and of late, T Bone Burnette's recent releases. The title track is an enjoyable 2:15 acoustic number featuring Diego Voglino on drums; Crenshaw on bass, guitars, mellotron, keyboards, and shaker; Strings recorded and conducted by Rob Morseberger; Deborah Assael on cellos; Sarah Worden on violas. The opening track sounds so much like, both musically and vocally, a T-Bone Burnette song that I was quite surprised to see no collaroration with him. Interestingly enough, as well, the name of the album is T-bone like, but this is just me, I guess as there is no hint he even knows of T-bones work. This is not a criticism of me, Marshall or T-bone as T-bone is worthy of imitating. If you like Ben Folds and his pop sensibility, you'll dig this new album of Marshall's.

Great album, most are outstanding songs! Only 1 we skip. Wake up and fall asleep with melodies in our heads. Saw him in Santa Barbara and he was amazing, playing a lot of old favorites plus a few from this new album. The Long Hard Road is our favorite, playing it over and over for 1.5 hours while we exercise. Some that we thought were just ok at first are among the best after a few times listening. Thanks, Marshall, for enriching our lives again.