On the back cover of Marshall Crenshaw’s second of his six EP album by segments kickstarted project Stranger And Stranger, is a picture of his father, Howard H Crenshaw and the legend August 14th, 1927 – December 14th, 2012. Which would have made Marshall’s pop 83 years old when he died late last year.
It would also maybe make some sense of rock nyc writer Robert Ross mentioning how when he interviewed Marshall last month, Marshall brought up that “Stranger And Stranger” is about someone who died. “Sad to say, I’m confronted by this fact, she’s gone away and is never coming back”, is how the the wonderful and sad title track goes. Though wrapped in a story of another lost love, Crenshaw’s father’s death is probably the subtext: “I have to find a way, to see past the dark and the danger”, Crenshaw sings and really, perhaps he chose a girl break up because he feels like a lost boy singing about it. You are never too old to be devastated by losing your father and Marshall sings the song with his heart firmly affixed to his sleeve.
The Crenshaw in segments is a major pain in the ass; you have to buy the vinyl and then have to wait two weeks for it to be delivered and it is expensive. Fifteen bucks for three songs after shipping and handling. But Crenshaw is worth $5 a song. Last years I Don’t See You Laughing Now, was one of 2012’s best EPs , despite the Jeff Lynn cover “No Time” and the “There She Goes Again” live version being a little disappointing. It didn’t matter when “I Don’t See You Laughing Now” has one of the most wonderful guitar breaks, pure melody. A chiming beauty.
But “Stranger And Stranger” is as great as “Laughing Now” and the Carpenter’s cover “(They Long To Be) Close To You” with a full orchestra and the oldie “Maryanne”, rerecorded for a movie in 2008, are even better than their counter parts.
So a pain in the ass but always worth the time, you can buy em on marshallcrenshaw.com
Grade: A