Crenshaw's eponymous first album was acclaimed as a pop masterpiece upon release, proving him a first-rate songwriter, singer and guitarist. His second album, Field Day, sported a somewhat heavier sound that displeased some listeners, but the album is regarded by many critics as Crenshaw's best[http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=889&name=Marshall+Crenshaw], and one of the classic power pop statements, although Crenshaw's work, like Alex Chilton's, transcends the genre. "Some of the stuff I've done you could call power pop," he told an interviewer, "but the term does have sort of a dodgy connotation."
Although Marshall Crenshaw has never sold enormous numbers of records, he enjoys a reputation as one of the finest songwriters of the era, with roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly--to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba. In 1989, he compiled a collection of Capitol Records country performers of the 1950s and '60s called Hillbilly Music...Thank God, Vol. 1, which was extremely well-received. In 1993, he made an appearance in the cult TV show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, in the role of a guitar-playing meter reader. In 1994, he published a book, Hollywood Rock: A Guide to Rock 'n' Roll in the Movies. He continued to record in the 1990s and 2000s, and, in 1999, released the critically acclaimed #447. In the 2000s, Crenshaw played guitar as a special guest with the reunited members of the MC5. Crenshaw penned the title track from the 2007 film Walk Hard starring John C. Reilly; the song, as sung by Reilly, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. .
Crenshaw's latest release, Jaggedland, was released in June of 2009 on his new record label '429 Records'.
Crenshaw is also a noted guitarist who uses offbeat chord progressions (almost verging towards jazz) and tight leads.
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