I could wax nostalgic for the "old" Marshall Crenshaw for about as long as somebody would be willing to listen, which is why I was eager to move forward and re-introduce myself to his music with the help of this new release, What's in the Bag?  In other words, I'm the wrong person to give any real retrospective of his music over the course the last two decades, but so what?  What I was pleasantly surprised to find out is that Crenshaw's sound now, which has lightly mellowed with age (is that so wrong?), still shows that same facet of creativity and talent that caught me from the start.

Simply stated, the first track, "Will We Ever," left me very satisfied.  Pleased. Amazed.  Thankful.  What a beautiful song, especially if you enjoy the evocative sounds of a slow steel guitar.  Track two, "Where We Used to Be," didn't let me down, either.  As the tracks progressed, it became readily apparent to me that this was to be the new companion to my morning paper and Baileys & coffee for the next several Sunday mornings. 

Even when Crenshaw covers Prince's "Take Me with U" (so long, Buddy Holly), it's a very likeable rendition, although not my favorite track.  His singing throughout the album seems to reflect a certain sense of modesty and simplicity, which to me is almost his trademark.  Two instrumental numbersboth strong examples of Crenshaw's skill at the guitarfurther endorse this album as a suitable soundtrack for chillin' out in the living room.