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Music from the Cube: What Am I Listening to Today?
Marshall Crenshaw, Field Day Rating=$$$$$
[Support the Artist; Artist's MySpace Page]
How I Got This CD: Bought used in Rhode Island.
Note: To stream the sample tracks, click on the thumbnail image in this post.
Continued from the previous Marshall Crenshaw posts: Part 1.
This is a solid follow-up to Crenshaw's debut album. The tunes are equally catchy, and equally well-crafted. The sound isn't as stripped-down as it was in the debut album and there is more of a world-weary sense to the lyrics. In many ways, Field Day is the prefect bookend for Crenshaw's debut, much like the second chapter in a really good book.
Like the debut album, this one was very, very hard to narrow down to some key MP3s. The good news (or maybe it's bad news), a lot of the songs are not well-known on this album. As a result, it's both a delight and surprise, especially since at the time I bought it, it had become devilishly hard to find. It's since gotten a lot easier to get your hands on it, in large part because it's easily available online.
Of course, I had to include my all-time favorite tune, 'Whenever You're On My Mind,' what is easily the most perfect pop song ever, made its actual debut in the public eye on this album. Nothing makes me smile more than the opening bars of this song. Nothing. This is the must-have, so much so that even if it was the only song on the CD that was any good, the CD would still be worth buying. Question: Can you write a love song where the word 'love' or any other mushy sentiment is never, ever used? Answer: The song says, "Oh, yes!"
'One Day With You' is more orchestrated, especially in comparison to 'Whenever You're On My Mind,' so much so that Crenshaw's vocals seem to be almost overwhelmed. Despite that, the lyrics are too good to get completely lost. What really makes the tune is the retro-rock guitar riff. Ahhhh, they just don't make them like this any more.
For some reason, 'Monday Morning Rock' cracks me up. I don't know if it's the clever lyrics, or the picture of a guy who's so sick and tired of being a good-time Charlie on the weekends that he actually looks forward to the weekdays so he can relax into a little everydayness. Even with the pop-y beat, there's something relaxing about this tune.
'All I Know Right Now' for some reason reminds me of Crowded House, from lyrics to musical feel to even the sound of Crenshaw's voice. Since this CD came out before Crowded House even existed (although it would be contemporary with the Finn Brothers' first band, Split Enz), it's funny state of affairs — at least I think so.
[Support the Artist; Artist's MySpace Page]
How I Got This CD: Bought used in Rhode Island.
Note: To stream the sample tracks, click on the thumbnail image in this post.
Continued from the previous Marshall Crenshaw posts: Part 1.
This is a solid follow-up to Crenshaw's debut album. The tunes are equally catchy, and equally well-crafted. The sound isn't as stripped-down as it was in the debut album and there is more of a world-weary sense to the lyrics. In many ways, Field Day is the prefect bookend for Crenshaw's debut, much like the second chapter in a really good book.
Like the debut album, this one was very, very hard to narrow down to some key MP3s. The good news (or maybe it's bad news), a lot of the songs are not well-known on this album. As a result, it's both a delight and surprise, especially since at the time I bought it, it had become devilishly hard to find. It's since gotten a lot easier to get your hands on it, in large part because it's easily available online.
Of course, I had to include my all-time favorite tune, 'Whenever You're On My Mind,' what is easily the most perfect pop song ever, made its actual debut in the public eye on this album. Nothing makes me smile more than the opening bars of this song. Nothing. This is the must-have, so much so that even if it was the only song on the CD that was any good, the CD would still be worth buying. Question: Can you write a love song where the word 'love' or any other mushy sentiment is never, ever used? Answer: The song says, "Oh, yes!"
'One Day With You' is more orchestrated, especially in comparison to 'Whenever You're On My Mind,' so much so that Crenshaw's vocals seem to be almost overwhelmed. Despite that, the lyrics are too good to get completely lost. What really makes the tune is the retro-rock guitar riff. Ahhhh, they just don't make them like this any more.
For some reason, 'Monday Morning Rock' cracks me up. I don't know if it's the clever lyrics, or the picture of a guy who's so sick and tired of being a good-time Charlie on the weekends that he actually looks forward to the weekdays so he can relax into a little everydayness. Even with the pop-y beat, there's something relaxing about this tune.
'All I Know Right Now' for some reason reminds me of Crowded House, from lyrics to musical feel to even the sound of Crenshaw's voice. Since this CD came out before Crowded House even existed (although it would be contemporary with the Finn Brothers' first band, Split Enz), it's funny state of affairs — at least I think so.
