Marshall Crenshaw was recently on Marc Maron’s podcast. Great interview- I suggest you give a listen to it sometime. There was one thing that “M.C.” Said that I can agree with to a certain extent. He doesn’t want his music to be strictly categorized in the “power pop” label. I get it. You’ve made other music that would not fit in that box. Fuck- what artist wants to be thrown into a box with a specific label? I doubt many- if any at all. So I getcha “M.C.”- loud and clear.
With that being said-
Marshall Crenshaw’s self titled is the epitome, the exact definition of a power pop album. Sorry, dude- it just is.
“Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, clear vocals and crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are usually kept to a minimum, and blues elements are largely downplayed.” – Wikipedia
On the extremely unlikely chance that “M.C.” Reads this article- I’d like to take this opportunity to say-
A. You rule.
B. Don’t stop making music.
C. Sorry.
No artist in any format, wants their work to labeled as something they don’t view it as- or just labeled in general. It’s like that typical hipster conversation I’m sure everyone has had:
H: “Have you heard of _____”
You: “yeah”
H: *immediately deems said band as no longer listenable and describes the said band in so many hyphenated sub labels it makes your head spin, literally*
The example is meant to show that people suck. It’s mostly true. But- maybe Someday… Someway people will learn that just because you can be categorized in a little box- doesn’t mean you have to stay there, or agree that those sub labels of Rock and Roll are helpful to music writers/bloggers. OR Maybe-we-can-outlaw-hyphens.
OR we can agree just because some blogger who isn’t a great writer cuts and pastes from Wikipedia for an accurate description of an awesome, defining album, even if the artist hates the “box” she’s putting him in. – doesn’t mean she’s all that bad.
OR
We can agree that this album is in fact amazing power pop.
Again- sorry”M.C.” Marshall Crenshaw, can I call you “M.C.”? Oh, it’s too late. Damn.
