Customer Reviews

Cracker

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great no nonsense, rock record the likes of which is very rare today in an age of cheesy boy bands and one hit wonders. Cracker got it right on this album and haven't been able to repeat in their later works but this record is great. Songs like "Cracker Soul" and "Happy Birthday to Me" show an example of understated yet effective guitar playing and funny, intriguing lyrcs. There are also two songs which I consider to be all time greats. "Satisfy You" shows what a great rock song should be, and "Another Song About the Rain" showcases Cracker's soulful style. If that song, with it Neil Young-esque guitar fills doesn't appeal to you check your pulse. A definite must have, not a mediocre track on the album.

Such classic songs, just great rock music at its best. (and Dr. Bernice is eastern european waltz meets the desert west at its best, too!)
(Why am I writing so many Amazon reviews now, when I could be doing so many other things? nevermind...)
I think Teen Angst still gets played in some parts of the world, there is still hope for humanity.

After bailing out of the pretentious college rock band Camper Van Beethoven, David Lowery formed Cracker, stripping down his sound to the basics in the process. Lowery has a good feel for country rock, but he's always been a bit too hip and jaded to take it completely seriously. Lowery's biting wit shines most brightly on the song "Mr. Wrong," an almost pure country tune in sound the lyrics of which are a biting redneck send up Jeff Foxworthy would appreciate. Similar themes are heard on the otherwise funky "This is Cracker Soul" and the NRA spoof "Can I Take My Gun Up to Heaven?" The album starts with its its two best songs, the rocking "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" and the catchy mid tempo number "Happy Birthday to Me." Unfortunately, the second half of the album is not nearly as strong as the first, containing several obvious filler tracks.

Overall, a strong debut CD from a band who made great country rock even while poking fun at it.

I bought this album when it first came out after hearing the single "Teen Angst." I was in a local rock band and occasionally, we would play covers. We would always gravitate towards this album and ended up covering probably 4 songs off of it as well as several off of Cracker's sophomore effort as well. This is definately one of the best albums I've evered owned and listened to and would recommend it as a must-have cd for anyone with pop-rock sensibility. I gave the cd to a friend after I felt I had worn a pretty descent groove into the cd after listening to it countless times. I never got the cd back and now I regret ever giving it up! And for those of you who haven't seen Cracker in person...check 'em out. You won't be dissappointed.

This album is packed with great songs filled with intelligence, humor, sadness, and truth. It never once gets smug, either. If you like hanging around with smart, funny, unpretentious people who aren't making as much money as they should be, you'll love this album. It's perfect for any mood--wild, depressed, drunk, angry, silly--and I've never grown tired of it. How can you ever get sick of lyrics like, "I got a one-eyed Malibu without a muffler/And a tape deck that works if you kick it hard enough" and "I see a light at the end of the tunnel/Somebody please tell me it's not a train"? A perfect, understated masterpiece.

If you have recently stumbled across Crackers latest disc and your interested in checking out their older music this is the place you want to be. Their self titled disc is the most creative and vibrant disc in their collection complete with humor, great guitars and 'in your face' lyrics. Their first disc is very consistent with no experiments or circus songs, just straight rock. A college favorite of mine and my friends, we still get drunk and crank this disc....you can't find music like this anymore.

I won't write a long winded undecipherable album review like Rolling Stone would. I'll just say that there isn't a bad song on this disc. My favorite is the riotous country romp "Mr. Wrong"; close seconds are "Someday" and "Cracker Soul". It may be categorized as alternative but it's really just great rock and roll. One year from now, this will be on most "Top ten CDs of the decade" lists.

Just a great album of well writen songs, not a bad track on it and some great guitar work by Johnny Hickman. Overlooked album by a great band.

I picked up this out of print Cracker debut for $0.25, and it's pretty good. I only knew the "What the World Needs Now' song, but I have almost every other Cracker title, so it was good to add this to my collection for so little. Excellent album, great price, Amazon rocks!

If you are like me you heard Kerosene hat's "low" and were hooked if not then you really need to check out cracker the early nineties and not easy to find debut album . Humor,soul,and good musicianship make this band one of my top picks of the nineties . Raw, heartfelt with A little something everyone can relate to!