THE GOOD: Cracker - Greenland

Once upon a time, a little band called the Status Quo did a song called “Pictures of Matchstick Men.” It was 1968 and everybody was either stoned or fighting Communism in a far off jungle. Little did they know that 20 years later, it would be covered and practically launch a career for a young David Lowery. At the time, David was singing for the group Camper Van Beethoven, who reached their first batch of notoriety with that song. Too bad they decided to break up because there’s no telling how far a band with a violin player can go. Well, flash forward to Lowery forming a new band called…Cracker. As alternative music hit the mainstream, Cracker made a name for themselves instantly with the hits "Teen Angst" and "Low. " They were minor hits at best only because they were considered grunge-lite when they were anything but. Sadly, the band seemed destined for rock mediocerdom. Only, no one told Cracker. Focusing more on the country side, they continued to release solid material until the sound they had cornered the market on, was suddenly being peddled by others like Wilco, Son Volt, and Ryan Adams. Ten years later, they were hip again. That is until now. Greenland is decent but you can feel them slowing down and starting to veer off into alternate directions, which can sometimes be good for a band but other times can be disasterous. For now, let’s just enjoy what we have.

Greenland

1. Something You Ain’t Got – A Memphis-style tune very reminiscent of Frank Black’s Honeycomb album.
2. Maggie – A lively mid-tempo beat has an early morning feel to it. A morning when you feel like you want to get up and at them…not go back to bed.
3. Where Have Those Days Gone – A pick up and go song. Makes me want to drive to Vegas just for the drive.
4. Fluffy Lucy – Lowery shows how tender he can really be.
5. The Riverside – Stealing a riff from the Smashing Pumpkins (no really) they spice up a their country stew with a little salsa.
6. Gimme One More Chance – This was the song I heard the first time through that made me not want to listen to the rest of the album.
7. I’m So Bad She Ain’t Coming Back – Reminds me of the song the guy from Deliverance plays.
8. Sid Ifni – Dark Side of the Cracker Soul
9. I Need Better Friends – Pure Cracker
10. Minotaur – Musically reminds me of something Pearl Jam would do during a drunken jam. This song also goes nowhere.
11. Night Falls – The kind of song someone plays on a piano after everyone has left the party and it’s just him and his girlfriend.
12. Better Times Are Coming Our Way – Noir reggae.
13. Everybody Gets One For Free – A solid Cracker tune leaves you happy you listened in.

How it compares...

1. Cracker – A-
2. Forever – B+
3. Kerosene Hat – B
4. Countrysides – B
5. Greenland – B-
6. Gentlemen’s Blues – B-
7. The Golden Age – C

For the audio nuts

1. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Bob Dylan cover)
2. Rainy Days and Mondays (Carpenters cover)

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Buy now: Cracker - Greenland
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