CRAIG MARSHALL - Point Of View

2008 and third album album from Not Lame fave, whose debut "Popular Crimes" and second album �Before The Fadeaway� continue to slowly, surely and inexorably connect with many customers here. You`ll hear hints of Matthew Sweet, Parthenon Huxley, Marshall Crenshaw, Bill Lloyd, Pete Ham(Badfinger) and Richard X. Heyman will find familiar, comforting territory. Some of the material here reminds me of Minibar, as well. And like those artists, the song is what holds thing in place, it`s all carefully constructed and the album has a singer/songwriter arc of grace attached to it. �Singer/songwriter Craig Marshall is Austin's best-kept power pop secret, and has been quietly releasing records of true melodic grandeur in recent years.�-PopCulturePress. �This third album clearly places Marshall in the pantheon of pop songwriting in the vein of Aimee Mann, Neil Finn and Freedy Johnston. While best known as the crooning front man and creative force behind The Lucky Strikes - a Sinatra-style swing band that predates the resurgence of the �90�s - Marshall now emerges as a prominent figure in the pop scene. The ten songs on Point of View are smart and infectiously catchy as Marshall once again proves his ability to put forth radio-friendly pop songs. Resisting categorization, critics cite artists as diverse as Richard X Heyman, Badfinger, Marshall Crenshaw and XTC to describe Marshall�s sound. Evident is his natural �McCartney-esque� melodic sensibility coupled with smart lyrics that speak to the universal. Point of View is also Marshall�s first foray into producing and he demonstrates that his talents go well beyond the lyric sheet with arrangements that are succinct and appropriately lush, yet dynamic. Point of View tips the hat to iconic pop styles but is clearly in step with contemporary indie-pop records.�-TexasMusicRoundup.

�This THIRD solo CD (after "Popular Crimes" and "Before the Fadeaway") includes some of my all-time favorites, led by "Lost in Space" and"Radio Girl," but all of the songs are singable, catchy tunes that bring back that feeling that anything is possible for those with a song in their hearts. "Why IS everything so difficult?" for people to recognize that this guy is writing songs as good as Lennon and McCartney? "I Know What It's Like" just marches along until the very end, when Craig slows it down (catch the harmonies!) before the final explosion that makes you want to mimic the Butabi brothers and their headshake. "When the Camera's On You" slows it down (Ricky Stein should steal this song) so you can focus on the lyrics -- "hiding in the negative, quickly gets repetitive, something's gonna have to give, I know, you know .. the camera's on you ..." And, really, it always is. "When You Come Back Down" just has to be sung by the whole HOUSE FULL of people, "Will you remember me, when you come back down?" This is a true HIT SONG! If you liked, "That Thing You Do," you gotta have this record! "Paper Cut" is a true ballad -- sounds like the 1950's and feels like dancing at the prom. Live, you cry out for a real piano solo -- why wasn't this song in any of those Sixteen Candles movies? [the whole genre?] You get to kiss the girl at the end of this one -- to heal the hurt -- "now that we've had some time, now that we seem to know, now you can let your mind get some rest." Just wonderful! But next up is "Lost in Space," complete with sound effects -- and that great signature riff! "It's right between the reds and greens in life that you're floating through." Another song you just have to sing along with -- and light a candle! This is date music! Especially for the long-wed! Okay -- "Radio Girl" is just as special -- another jukebox necessity! This is another one that the whole crowd just stands up close to the stage and bounces up and down to the music -- and shouts out the lyrics back to the band. Then there's the title cut -- great harmonies -- almost Beach Boys half an octave lower but with a little Beatles psychedelia mixed in -- and yet, some of the lyric structure hearkens back even earlier to 1950's style harmonies (can you say Four Freshmen?). But squeeze your sweetie stuff to be sure. Thankfully, "One Face in the Crowd" just flat out rocks -- vintage style. [How often do I start thinking "Revolver"?] Last (but there IS no least here) we get a "Small Reminder," one of those songs you just stop dancing to and just squeeze her tight. Reminds me of the Hollies (did I leave anybody out in my quest to get across the fact that this is great great pop music?) Once more -- this is absolutely the perfect record to put on when you and the one you love are stuck at home on a rainy day. And be sure to thank Craig for the great memories!�-FanFlare.com. Very Highly Recommended.

Song #1 - mp3

Song #2 - mp3

Song #3 - mp3

Song #4 - mp3

Song #5 - mp3