Marshall Crenshaw

Marshall Crenshaw is yet another one of those pop craftsmen who's content being a critic's darling. The bespectacled Crenshaw draws not unwarranted comparisons to Elvis Costello. Both came to prominence in the '80s with guns blazing refurbished '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll smarts and a lively countenance (in contrast to the dinosaur dust of '70s guitar rock). "Someday, Someway," from Crenshaw's 1982 self-titled debut, is a hopeful, twangy bit of pop bliss that relies on a Buddy Holly-esque simplicity. He's a devotee of traditional rock 'n' roll forms who defies the retro tag with smart lyrics that never opt for mere cleverness.