I am among the many Marshall Crenshaw fans who love this album. Its Steve Lillywhite production was never much of an issue to me, because the songs are so strong. And this is a case where they saved the best for last. For some reason, the song "Hold It" evokes one of the most ebullient responses I've ever had to Crenshaw's music. It's one of those songs I could listen to 10 times in a row and still never get enough of it. The rest of the album has a lot to recommend as well. "Our Town" also captures the feeling of freedom and electricity I used to feel about driving through Manhattan when I was a teenager. "For Her Love" and "All I Know Right Now" are vintage wistful Crenshaw love songs, simultaneously tinged with longing and hope. This album is a surefire score for anybody who appreciates intelligent guitar pop.

This album came out when I was 10 years old, and I bought a half-share in a copy with my best buddy, Joe Schwartz. We were both huge Beatles fans, but we also loved this album, too. The record used to trade hands every week or so, and somewhere not very far along the line, one of us (I think it was him, he thought it was me) put a nick in the groove of the song called "Ram On" (hence the name of my review). My fave song was "Smile Away." I can't say this album (I subsequently bought my own copy in the 80s) held up all that well for me, but it's a sentimental favorite.

I laughed so hard that I thought I was going to burst something and become the first entry in an appendix to this book