just forget about the usual thing: the marshall crenshaw MARSHALL CRENSHAW poll

hard to exaggerate my affection for this album. i don't think there's a weak track on it. even semi-filler stuff like "girls" is still pretty perfect. my first inclination is to say "cynical girl," but there are so many that i love.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 13:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'm gonna be boring and vote There She Goes Again. I liked Crenshaw more later on in the 80s, tho, like around the Mary Jean & 9 Others and Good Evening times.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 13:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

i like plenty of his subsequent stuff (including the new album, which is pleasant), but i guess i'm in the dull canonical crew who think he never really improved on this one.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 13:38 (3 years ago) Permalink

he definitely never improved on the cover photo. it's so exactly 1982.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 13:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

"Cynical Girl," although classic for the intro to "Girls" alone.

he's never had an album poll, no? I'd be very curious to hear the late eighties stuff that Johnny Fever (and Christgau, etc) are so high on.

― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 13:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

"Mary Anne." And I think Field Day is even better.

― Matos W.K., Wednesday, 8 July 2009 14:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

my main hangup with field day is lillywhite. and i'm sort of a lillywhite fan, i just think he kinda drowned crenshaw. i should get it again, tho -- i haven't heard it in years. (and i know there are people who don't like the production on the first one either. but i like its reverby brightness.)

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

I like the debut and Field Day both a hell of a lot, but FD's big sound just seems perfect to me: ridiculous overblown drums and guitars making post-teen love plaints sound adolescently end-of-the-world. It was my favorite album in high school.

― Matos W.K., Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:04 (3 years ago) Permalink

"whenever you're on my mind" is definitely my favorite crenshaw single. (stupidly, the video doesn't seem to be available anywhere.) and that's one where lillywhite's production really makes the guitar line shimmer.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:07 (3 years ago) Permalink

Another vote for "There She Goes Again." The turnaround at the end of the bridges, the "Go have fun, little girl, I can live without you," is just so beautiful and plaintive.

If there were a Field Day poll I'd be voting for "Monday Morning Rock," just to register my preference in advance.

Great live Crenshaw show from 1992 available here: http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=158

― Chubby Checker Psycho (Pancakes Hackman), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:10 (3 years ago) Permalink

on a side note, i'd never til just now heard the beatles' version of "soldier of love"

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:12 (3 years ago) Permalink

my main hangup with field day is lillywhite. and i'm sort of a lillywhite fan, i just think he kinda drowned crenshaw. i should get it again, tho -- i haven't heard it in years. (and i know there are people who don't like the production on the first one either. but i like its reverby brightness.)

The way the chorus soars on "Our Town" until the comedown ("before he whole thing's gonna CRUMBLE to the ground!") is my favorite Crenshaw moment. The song's first few verses work as a subtle nod towards Lillywhite's production touches.

― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:20 (3 years ago) Permalink

First-rate performance:

― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

There She Goes Again

― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 16:19 (3 years ago) Permalink

It was kinda a bummer seeing him a couple years ago with the Figgs, since the Figgs whupped ass on their own set and then seemed to pop ludes before backing up Crenshaw—totally sucked all the life and fun out of them, and Crenshaw just couldn't give the same level of energy to his work that the Figgs did to theirs (and seemed to want to do with his).

I do enjoy telling my girlfriend that Crenshaw Blvd. in LA is named after Marshall Crenshaw.

(There She Goes Again, I think. Time to give this another listen just to see if my impulsive vote was the right one, but that means buying it or dl it some other way, since my tapedeck doesn't work anymore.)

― THESE ARE MY FEELINGS! FEEL MY FEELINGS! (I eat cannibals), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 17:38 (3 years ago) Permalink

Someday, someway

― Mike Crandle, Financial Analyst, Bear Stearns, New York, NY 10185 (res), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 18:15 (3 years ago) Permalink

Mary Anne is one of his best songs if not his best.

― Jim, Saturday, 11 July 2009 17:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

i love the chorus harmonies on "mary anne": doooon't cry mary aaaaannnn etc.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 11 July 2009 18:11 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― System, Sunday, 12 July 2009 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― System, Monday, 13 July 2009 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

haha damn, only four songs repped for here? craziness.

― Matos W.K., Monday, 13 July 2009 23:24 (3 years ago) Permalink

love "You're My Favorite Waste of Time" more than any of these

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 00:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

those are probably my 4 favorites, tho i might bump one for "she can't dance." or "the usual thing."

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 02:10 (3 years ago) Permalink

I was so torn up at having to choose, I didn't vote for any.

― Jaq, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 02:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

The answer is "The Usual Thing," assholes!

― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 21:45 (1 year ago) Permalink

i know it's not one of the more celebrated songs on here, but i've been loving the shit out of "girls" lately.

― charlie h, Tuesday, 18 September 2012 11:11 (8 months ago) Permalink

there is something really Alex Chilton/ Big Star about that track (and various others).

― charlie h, Tuesday, 18 September 2012 11:37 (8 months ago) Permalink