Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Marshall Crenshaw - The 9 Volt Years (1998)


Subtitled "Battery Powered Home Demos & Curios (1979-198?)"

I'm not normally a fan of demos and b-sides but for Marshall Crenshaw I'll certainly make an exception. 16 tracks, only three break the 3 minute mark. A few cuts appear in different forms on other Crenshaw albums and a couple appear on Rhino's excellent 'best of" compilation. No matter - they're all remarkably enjoyable. Jason Ankeny of allmusic.com puts it best in a ★★★★½ retro-review: "Far from the collection of scraps and throw-aways its humble title would suggest, [this album] is instead a showcase for Marshall Crenshaw at his most engaging and refreshing."

Package includes brief notes on each track from Crenshaw himself which greatly enhance the listening experience.

Press of the time:
  • Billboard: "these tracks range from 'hi -fi' to 'medium -fi' to 'lo -fi' to 'no -fi.' Whatever the level of "fi," the music always cuts through."
  • Entertainment Weekly (B+): "recalls an era when a chiming guitar, a winsome voice, and a charming hook could soothe any romantic despair."
  • Washington Post: "this new collection is a welcome reminder why his first two albums are still so fondly remembered."

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: All. Play it from top to bottom. There's two surprises here: 1) a cover of Bo Diddley's I'm Sorry, and 2) brother Robert Crenshaw takes over the writing and singing on track 5, the Bacharach-esque Everyone's In Love With You. Track 11 is unnecessary, but it's only 9 seconds long.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Jaggedland (2009)
What's In The Bag (2003)
The Best of Marshall Crenshaw (2000)
Life's Too Short (1991)
Field Day (1983)
Marshall Crenshaw (1982)

4 comments:

  1. Agreed. My take: https://everybodysdummy.blogspot.com/2020/08/marshall-crenshaw-9-9-volt-years.html

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    Replies
    1. Always appreciate your take on an album - thanks!

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  2. I love the Billboard Magazine comments!!

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