The 11 Best Songs By Cracker

The big news of the day is that White Stripes are breaking up.  For good.  Or so they say.  It's definitely sad news for die hard rock fans.  But they're on good terms...and there's only 2 of them.  The chances of a White Stripes reunion in the next 5 years probably falls under the category "highly likely."


The big news should really be about the Decemberists hitting number one on the Billboard 100 album charts.  Not only have the folk rockers ripped the #1 spot away from the pop divas, 4 out of top 5 slots went to rock albums.  Yes, rock and roll won the week.  Maybe there is some hope for a new rock music revolution.


Cracker reminds me of a 90s version of Decemberists.  They were pigeon-holed with other alternative bands and genre of the decade, but always persevered with their own sound.  David Lowery has a respected 25-year career to show for it, Decemberists have a #1 record.  I call that a win-win.


Here are the 11 Best Songs By Cracker:

1. Teen Angst (Cracker)

2. Low (Kerosene Hat)

3. Forever (Forever)

4. I Want Everything (Kerosene Hat)

5. The Golden Age (Gentlemen's Blues)

6. Been Around the World (Gentlemen's Blues)

7. We Shine A Light (Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey)

8. 100 Flower Power Maximum (The Golden Age)

9. I Hate My Generation (The Golden Age)

10. Turn On Tune In Drop With Me (Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey)

11. Another Song About The Rain (Cracker)

Buy David Lowery's new solo album, The Palace Guards now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Cracker

Second bands are never supposed do as well as first bands. Mars Volta is great...but At The Drive-In is still better. Crowded House has some great hits...even great albums...but the Split Enz are still superior. And don't even get me started on Porno For Pyros. That's why Cracker's long-term success is such a fluke. Camper Van Beethoven was such an indie rock darling, it was hard to imagine that Lowry's follow-up band could be anything more than a novelty. But almost twenty years later, Cracker is still going strong. What makes their succes even more shocking is that they are one of the last bands standing from the early 90s. Many of their grunge peers are already having "reunion" tours, while Cracker has never bothered to leave the stage.

I was lucky enough to get an advance of the new album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. I surprised how alive the album sounded. This is easily Cracker's best release in a over a decade and solidly on par with Kerosene Hat or Gentlemen's Blues. On this release, Cracker isn't just churning out more tunes for their catalogue to keep their core fans happy, on this album, they're making a statement. With guest spots from John Doe, Patterson Hood, and Adam Duritz, they are showing that not only are they as good as the bands that they influenced, they are proving that they match up with bands that influenced them.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Cracker:

1. Teen Angst (Cracker)

2. Low (Kerosene Hat)

3. Forever (Forever)

4. I Want Everything (Kerosene Hat)

5. The Golden Life (Gentlemen's Blues)

6. Been Around the World (Gentlemen's Blues)

7. Another Song About The Rain (Cracker)

8. 100 Flower Power Maximum (The Golden Age)

9. I Hate My Generation (The Golden Age)

10. My Life Is Totally Boring Without You (Gentlemen's Blues)

11. Ain't Going To Suck Itself (Countrysides)

Buy Cracker's new album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. (get a bonus track at my Amazon store)

I never do this...but here's one of the new tracks because I think the album's that good.

Show Me How This Thing Works