Customer Reviews

This Is Easy: The Best of Marshall Crenshaw

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The liner notes say it all - "the fact that... any of the... songs on this CD aren't pumping out of every pop radio station in these United States is not only a mystery but a miscarriage of justice."

Marshall Crenshaw is one of the best rock and roll songwriters of the modern era, and during the 1980's (and continuing today), he created a number of "should-have-been hit singles" - beautifully crafted songs with clever lyrics, perfect pop hooks, and top-notch musicianship - practically year after year... but after his 1982 splash and the moderate success of "Someday, Someway" - radio began ignoring him, despite continued critical success and albums which were often artistic triumphs.

I have been waiting for a collection to truly represent Marshall's music and to introduce people who may have heard one or two songs to his large body of top notch songs and also to give fans a good not-too-concise collection for their Marshall fix. This is the collection I have been waiting for. Since I purchased this CD, it has moved from my house to my car and back on a regular basis. Rhino always does a nice package - great liner notes, a good selection of songs. They don't disappoint here.

If you are pondering purchasing this CD, then I must tell you - ponder no longer. This CD is worth every penny. You will not be disappointed. Marshall Crenshaw writes great songs, and you will enjoy his music if you enjoy a good well-crafted catchy pop song. There's many of those here.

Thanks a million to Rhino Records for releasing this fantastic --and long overdue --collection!! The great Marshall Crenshaw, a grossly underappreciated American Treasure has, for two decades, produced some of this country's best pop music. Sadly, though, he remains a fringe cult figure ignored by radio, the public and the trend-seeking media. Yes, a guy who creates beautiful pop confection a la Buddy Holly and John Lennon can't get arrested while the airwaves are polluted with gangsta rap, Eminem and the Backstreet Boys. That's tragic!!

Hopefully, this "Best Of" compilation, which chronicles much of his career, will introduce Mr. Crenshaw to the droves of fans he so richly deserves. Most listeners will be familiar with "Someday, Someway", which propelled Marshall into the limelight in 1982. While the irresistable "Someday" was his only big radio hit, many of the tunes on this collection are equally catchy and ultimately, just as deserving of recognition. First time listeners will be blown away by the pop craftmanship so evident on tracks such as "Mary Anne" and "Starless Summer Sky". And who wouldn't be moved by the clever tongue-in-cheek antics of "You're My Favorite Waste of Time", or the deliciously comic overtones of "Cynical Girl"? This stuff's so perfectly written, it ought to be titled "Songwriting 101". If you like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Tom Petty or Fastball, chances are you'll dig Marshall Crenshaw. And chances are you'll be miffed as to why this guy, who belongs in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, has been virtually ignored.

It's hard to believe that this is the first compilation on Crenshaw's careeer (not counting a promo-only release in 1991). But the folks at Rhino have done a great job. Seven of his eight studio albums are covered. The only one not covered is his 1999 Razor & Tie effort (#447). But, otherwise this picks up all the highlights. What you get are catchy, hook-filled songs that are hard to shake from your brain once you hear them. These are some of the best pop-rock songs of the 80's. He wrote or co-wrote all but 2 of these, and while there are no unreleased tracks we do finally get the B-side of "Someday Someway": the homemade demo of "You're My Favorite Waste Of Time", which is definitive and "Something's Gonna Happen" which was only released as a 12" single. Crenshaw has often been accused of being a Buddy Holly rip-off, but his music touches base with Power-Pop as much as it does with 50's Rock and Roll. If you've always been curious about Crenshaw then this is the perfect introduction. From there, pick up his debut self-titled album. There's only one other Warner Brother album in print, the fine Field Day, and his 2 Razor & Tie studio efforts, and a live and Demos album, but all of his other Warner and (one) MCA album are out of print as of August 2000. So, this is the way to go. The liner notes are by the late, great Cub Koda with Crenshaw adding song-by-song notes. One of 2000's best reissues and a must-have for your collection.

Those of us who have listened to and loved Marshall's work for years owe it to him to buy several copies of this CD and distribute to the un-anointed. This is the first truly great pop collection of the century. I saw and talked with Marshall several years back in a small club in LA where he performed many of the songs on this collection; I could not believe this great talent was on stage knocking out these remarkable songs for only a dozen or so people. Most singer/songwriters would sell their soul to write even one great classic song and Marshall has bunches of them to spare, this hits package is a good overview. Now lets get busy and spread the word!

You must own this CD! Simply put, it is pure intelligent pop power. Marshall Crenshaw is one of rock's best kept secrets and has been consistently releasing intelligent and incredibly catchy albums since the early 80's. Crenshaw's work is thoughtful and all the songs are well written pop 'pieces'. None of his songs are throwaway (as most pop music is).Crenshaw's compositions are decievingly simple, but will reward after repeated listening. If you like the song-writing qualities of other intelligent pop artists like Elvis Costello and Crowded House, then you will enjoy this. As for the Crenshaw fans, this is a standard 'best-of' package with really well-written liner notes (including song by song comments by Crenshaw himself), but the selling point is the sound! It is so clean, you will hear instruments you didnt know exsisted on the tracks! A must-have for Crenshaw fans.

It's criminal that Crenshaw is virtually unknown to most pop music fans. His lack of radio airplay belies his prolific ability to craft hook laden pop songs. He delivers simple, straightforward pop music invested with remarkable melodic ingenuity; his material is timeless, fresh, witty and utterly infectious.

This is one of the rare examples of a greatest hits album that actually captures the artist's best work and accurately reflects his growth as a songwriter and musician. From the straightforward power pop arrangements of "Someday, Someway" and "There She Goes Again" from his debut album to the vibrant "Better Back Off" Crensahw displays remarkable verbal facility and pure pop craftsmanship that withstands play after play.

THIS IS EASY is a way above average greatest hits collection, for the simple reason that Marshall Crenshaw has been one of the finest writer/performers of the past twenty years. Beginning with his stunning debut album MARSHALL CRENSHAW, in 1982, he has produced a string of first rate albums filled with superb songs, the vast majority written by Crenshaw, with an occasionally gem by someone else, like the incredible "I'm Sorry (And So Is Brenda Lee)," written by Ben Vaughan.

The bulk of the great songs come from Crenshaw's first three extraordinary albums (all well worth owning) the eponymous first album (1982), FIELD DAY (1983), and DOWNTOWN (1985). Over half the album derives from these three albums. These contain what is arguably the best pop rock produced by any American performer in the early 1980s. I've played the album for friends who were only slightly familiar with Crenshaw, and while they recognized and liked the songs, I have wondered why they weren't far more widely known than they are.

I have become increasingly convinced that record companies play no useful role in a society where methods of music distribution have changed so dramatically. If one could eliminate the record companies, eliminate monopolies like Clear Channel (the first of these is inevitable, the second unfortunately not), perhaps talent rather than hype and promotion and the monopolization of the airwaves would determine whether or not performers would rise to the top. There are literally hundreds of bands and musicians who have been forced down our throats because the record companies have built them up and then overexposed them. Meanwhile, first-rate talents like Marshall Crenshaw don't receive the hype, and don't get the exposure that they deserve. The record companies and the monopolies don't deserve to control the airwaves if for no other reason than the fact that they have done such a miserable job of promoting talent.

In a better world, where talent determined whether or not someone's music was widely heard, Marshall Crenshaw would have been huge. This isn't a hard conclusion at which to arrive. In fact, it is easy.

There are very few albums that I would label as "must haves." "This is Easy" is one of them.

The word "underappreciated" is tossed around all the time in regards to Crenshaw. I don't think this word fairly applies. I think that the people who've heard his music appreciate it a great deal. "Underheard" is probably a better choice of adjective.

As it says in the liner notes for "This is Easy," it is almost a crime that Crenshaw's work didn't get played on the radio, or MTV or - well - much of anywhere. His songs are catchy, his lyrics earnest without seeming dopey and his musicianship first class. Perhaps his sound was just too "old fashioned" for the New Wave '80s and Grunge '90s, but I propose that his work has stood the test of time much better than many of the bands with whom he competed for airplay.

Hats off to you, Marshall.

It's tough NOT to love Marshall Crenshaw's music. And this CD really is a 'Best Of' collection in every sense. They've chosen the best songs from just about every one of his albums, and in chronological order to boot! Now, every fan of his already has all this stuff, but it saves us all the time and energy of making a great 'mix tape.' It's all here, from the pop sweetness and sleighbells of "Someday, Someway", to the country twang of "I'm Sorry (but so is Brenda Lee)", to the harder, louder, but no less sing-along-able "Whenever You're On My Mind." This collection does a good job of showcasing Marshall Crenshaw's ability to craft a pop song, from jangly guitar to fantastic melody to intelligent lyrics. And he's always had great producers working with him. This is one fine 'Best Of' collection for a severly underrated artist.

Marshall Crenshaw's new "This Is Easy: The Best Of Marshall Crenshaw" CD is pure songwriting perfection from a master songwriter and musician who writes better songs than most anyone working in rock and pop today. Crenshaw fans will see this new CD as a 'must have' purchase, and if you do not own any Marshall Crenshaw CDs, shame on you, and get a move on. This fine new "Best Of" collection is the place to start for new fan.

I could quibble about a few missing favorites from Marshall's extensive collection of great songs, but there are only so many minutes on a CD. The only problem is that Marshall Crenshaw has too many pop gems from which to choose. Song after song, they are all wonderful, and Marshall's winsome vocals and often overlooked melodic (and rocking!) guitar playing sell you the song every time.

Buy this CD, then the just reissued debut "Marshall Crenshaw" CD, with bonus tracks. If you have ever tapped your foot along to a classic Beatles, Beach Boys or Dave Clark Five tune, or loved a John Hiatt or Elvis Costello song, you will enjoy Marshall Crenshaw.