Marshall Crenshaw: This Is Easy: The Best Of Marshall Crenshaw

Peerless pop craftsmen shouldn't have to labor in relative obscurity, but listen to Stephin Merritt or Fountains Of Wayne and you'll figure out that brilliance isn't always the determining factor in pop success. Or, step back a couple of decades and look at the career of Marshall Crenshaw, the uncannily gifted singer-songwriter who emerged in 1982 with a self-titled album that's the definition of pop perfection. Mixing the driving energy and catchy songcraft of early rock 'n' roll with a sophisticated new-wave-era appreciation of rock history, the disc sounds more like a greatest-hits collection than a debut. Deluxe Edition adds a generous selection of B-sides, demos, and live tracks, nicely filling out the album's picture of Crenshaw's early career. Of this period, Crenshaw has said, "The songs were just coming nonstop. Every time I took a step, a new one fell out of my back pocket." It sounds like it, too, particularly when "You're My Favorite Waste Of Time" can be relegated to a B-side. This Is Easy carries the story a bit further, with highlights from Crenshaw's almost-as-good second album Field Day and its little-heard successors. Substituting diversity and maturity for youthful enthusiasm, Crenshaw's later records may not possess the instant appeal of his early work, but they're terrific on their own terms. This Is Easy helps lend perspective to one of pop's most overlooked brilliant careers, piling on music that's as easy and irresistible as it comes.