Miracle of Science

Personnel: Marshall Crenshaw (vocals, various instruments); Jay Sdad (acoustic, electric, slide & lap steel guitars); Bill Lloyd (acoustic, 6-string & 12-string electric guitars, mandolin); Andy York (electric & baritone guitars, E-bow, background vocals); Greg Leisz (dobro); Chris Carmichael (violin, cello); Brad Jones (fake cello, electric bass, background vocals); Crispin Cioe (saxophone); Larry Etkin (trumpet); Kenny Margolis (piano); Byron House (acoustic bass); Les James Lester (drums, bongos); Fenner Kastner (drums).
Engineers: Brad Jones, Elijah Shaw, Will Schillinger.
Principally recorded at Alex The Great, Nashville, Tennessee and Pilot Recording, New York, New York.
MIRACLE OF SCIENCE was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
1996's self-produced MIRACLE OF SCIENCE is Marshall Crenshaw's first studio offering since LIFE'S TOO SHORT (1991). While his days on the majors seem to be behind him (for the time being, anyway), MIRACLE is one of his strongest albums. Recorded primarily in Nashville, with some bits recorded here and there, and in various peoples' homes, the album is a bracing mix of original romantic pop ("What Do You Dream Of?," "There And Back Again," "Laughter") and instrumentals ("Theme From 'Flaregun'").
Crenshaw tosses in a few well-chosen covers for variety. Much can be learned about songwriters from their taste in other writer's material. Crenshaw's live album, MY TRUCK IS MY HOME, included an early-Beatle-esque take on The MC5's "Tonight." On MIRACLE, he discovers the line that links him with Grant Hart by covering the ex-Hnsker Dn-er's "Twenty-Five Forty-One." But Crenshaw kicks up dust as well as he polishes gems. Hy Heath's "Who Stole That Train" finds Crenshaw and his cohorts digging a fine and deep groove.