Customer Reviews

Crackers International

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

 

 

Erasure is perhaps my favorite synth-pop groups from the '80s. Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode/Yaz fame) and Andy Bell have an uncanny ability to churn out some of the catchiest pop music I have ever heard. One of my all time favorite Erasure songs is the melancholy "She Won't Be Home". The melodies are so sweet and catchy yet if you listen to the lyrics, the song is pretty sad. Only Erasure could combine melancholy lyrics with infectious pop melodies. "Stop!" is a groovy little dance song. I prefer the original over the 12" remix but I wouldn't go as far as say that the remix was bad. I just can't get into remixes as I once was when I was in college. "Knocking On Your Door" epitomizes new wave music with its catchy synth beats. In the case of this song, I got into the 12" remix. Although "Crackers International" had no "A Little Respect" or "Chains of Love", it is still a worthy edition for Erasure fans I think.

I bought this tape on a whim years ago, and I am very much considering getting another copy on CD. Somebody compared this to Chorus, and I don't think that is fair. This is a totally seperate album - more upbeat than Chorus, it makes you want to get up and dance. Two totally different moods. I think the "knocking on your door - 12 inch remix" is one of the best songs Erasure has ever made. I would not reccomend it as your first Erasure album, but, as a big Erasure fan, I have to say that I loved this album.

This EP is a nice little diversion. A few great songs ( STOP! is excellent ) and a few great B-sides. By the way, Joe Diaz ( who reviewed this cd here ) , check your facts, "the Hardest Part" is NOT a Blondie cover !!!

I was always kind of bummed that "Knocking on Your Door" never made it on the greatest hits album. At a brief 2.55 couldn't they have fit it on there somewhere? Anyway "The Hardest Part" is not a remake of the famous BLONDIE song (playing time 3.38). It sounds better after repeated listenings. "She Won't Be Home" is a lovely Christmas ballad (playing time 3.27). "STOP" Remix has a 5.44 playing time, while the "Knocking On Your Door" Remix has a 6.03 playing time (a little long but the first version I ever heard -- at a club in 1988). I bought the ep at the time and just now got the cd because I had an itch to have "Knocking on Your Door" on cd. Its nice that this cd is still in print.

'Crackers International' is enjoyable, but overall, only one of the songs is a true standout, and nobody seems to remember it.

The EP opens with "Stop!" a thoroughly decent dance single, and follows with the slowed-down vocals of "The Hardest Part." These songs certainly aren't bad, they just don't seem to stick in the mind much. The closing song, a 12" remix of "Stop!" seems gratuitous. The song is more effective in its shorter version.

Side two has another up-tempo, dance-oriented song with "Knocking on Your Door," which holds up better to repeated listenings than "Stop!" Following is the album's undiscovered gem, "She Won't Be Home," a Christmas song, but more melancholy than standard fare. Andy Bell's vocals have never been more aching, and Vince Clarke gives the song a memorable melody line. Very well done, but once again, the 12" dance mix on side two, of "Knocking on Your Door," is not as good as the short version.

This EP seems a bit of a waste, as the songs aren't really memorable, and Erasure probably should have ditched the dance mixes in favor of two other tracks. Was "She Won't Be Home" ever released as a single? If so, buy that, and skip the EP. Especially coming on the heels of so brilliant an album as 'The Innocents,' 'Crackers International' disappoints.

"Stop!" is one of my favorite Erasure songs. Upbeat and melodic, it's a classic. The 12" version is ok. "The Hardest Part" is a mid tempo track that is simple and sweet. "She Won't Be Home," with a Holiday theme is mellifluous and light, a gem. The versions of "Knocking On Your Door" are fair, I liked the other songs better...

If you have not heard this CD, go back up to the sound samples and take a listen to the clip of "The Hardest Part". There's something about that song that's...that's...well, anyway it made me want to buy the album. Stop! is a fine song, reminding me a bit of Drama! but not close to as good. Knocking on Your Door certainly isn't bad either, but stick either of these songs on an album like Chorus and they'd be the low points of the disc. The remixes are an interesting touch, and I think the Stop remix improves the song, adding extra sound effects and beats, while Knocking on Your Door's remix serves simply to drag out the song and make it boring. The other track, She Wont Be Home, is my second favourite from this CD and was really quite fitting to me (since I ended up recieving this album for Christmas!). Anyway, I reccomend this disc to add to your collection. For me, the Hardest Part of it all was to stop playing that song over and over and over and...

Crackers International ranks right up there with Erasure's best works. This is a necessary album for any Erasure fan! And just so you can refer this against your personal Erasure tastes, I judged this album against "The Innocents" and "Wild", which I believe to be their best albums.

Every christmas I break this out.Its got some christmas type songs on it. Its a must have for die hard erasure fans. Its a must have for die herd synth new wave music lovers. I wish Erasure would make a christmas cd.How cool would that be?

Ok, I wont say that this is the best but i have to say that there are a couple of gems in this, "The Hardest Part" is an excellent cover of Blondie's original. The obvious great is "Stop" but dont buy it for just that, gosh go buy the greatest hits for that! The other is "She wont be home" which is always played around Christmas time and rightfully so. Enjoy