By Ken Paulson
In 1982, two promising young talents released debut albums. Marshall Crenshaw’s self-titled record drew considerable attention, fueled by airplay of “Someday Someway.” Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Tommy Keene released Strange Alliance, largely unnoticed until his breakthrough EP Places That Are Gone two years later.
Remarkably, both men remain vibrant recording artists 33 years later, and have just released new albums.
Crenshaw’s #392 The EP Collection is exactly that – six new songs and six covers culled from a series of six vinyl EPs he’s recorded since 2013, plus two bonus tracks. By happenstance, it resembles Todd Rundgren’s Faithful from 1976, half covers and half originals.
The new songs are strong, leaning toward the melancholy, although “I Don’t See You Laughing Now” is straight-up vindictive. “Driving and Dreaming” is the highlight, a song of reflection and weariness.
The covers are wonderful, with great versions of the Bobby Fuller Four’s “Never to be Forgotten” and the Carpenters’ hit “Close to You.” “Didn’t Want to Have to Do It,” the flip side to the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?” sounds like Marshall Crenshaw wrote it, a clue to the artist’s influences.
Keene’s new album Laugh in the Dark also reflects his influences, particularly the Beatles-flavored album closer “All Gone Away.” Keene’s last album was a covers project and he says it freed him up for the new release.
“Hence you have a direct concoction of the Beatles meet the Who by way of Big Star with a little Stones for good measure,” he says in press materials.
That’s a pretty good concoction. “Out of My Mind,” “Dear Heloise” and “Last of the Twilight Girls” open the album with an exhilarating rush, and the album builds from there.
I’ve admired Keene’s work over the years, but this album has a special resonance, with guitars unleashed and rock ‘n’ roll attitude from start to finish.