#213
June 15 1985
Marshall Crenshaw
Downtown
Genre: Rock and Roll
4 out of 5
Highlights:
Terrifying Love
I’m Sorry (But So is Brenda Lee)
Right Now
In another thread we’ve been talking about alt-country vs rock and what’s the difference, etc.
it strikes me that, while he doesn’t fully answer that question, Marshall represents AN answer. He is a throwback. More Buddy Holly than Chris Isaak could ever hope to be. Gentle with good tunes, a rock and roller forging ahead in a genre and trope that seems to have no real place.
There’s nothing bad here. In fact, it’s mostly good. But it’s never great. And I’m not sure Crenshaw ever wanted to be. He writes his songs well, sings them just as well and, pfft, just like that it’s over.
Like the era he seems to be beholden to.
