Customer Reviews

Garage D'Or

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Usually when a band gets around to releasing a greatest hits compilation, the time has come for long-time fans to mourn about the passing "golden age" (Cracker-specific pun) of their musical height, and expectation for the bandmates to spend the rest of their limelight careers rehashing old glories. Thankfully, such will not be the case with Cracker, as David Lowrey has assured us that they are not breaking up, just releasing a retrospective after the first marvelous decade of "Cracker Soul." Which is a very good thing, as I think that David Lowrey and Co.'s Camper Van Beethoven and descendant Cracker has been the best thing to happen to Rock music in the post-punk landscape. "Garaged d'Or " is a serviceable introduction for the uninitiated to the unique eclecticism of Cracker's country/blues/grunge post-alt rock hybrid career, that never loses its edge of irreverent cynicism. Cracker pundits (all 10 of us per 1 million citizens) may bicker over the selection of hits on the album, I tend to agree with Amazon.com that "Get Off This" never deserved to be a hit, and "Shake Some Action" doesn't make much of an impact, probably because David Lowrey isn't the main singer on it, but for the most part you can't argue with what's available, and for Cracker completists the addition of three new tracks makes "Garaged d'Or" worthwhile. "Be My Love" and "Eyes of Mary" play like enjoyably low-key additions from "Out Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart," and "Heaven Knows I'm Lonely Know" is worthy country-drawl material ala the latter half of "Gentleman's Blues."

The limited edition second CD of Cracker rarities and live recordings is mostly a disappointment, even for Cracker cultists. However noble David Lowrey's intentions are, he tends to let his boot-kickin' countrified roots overtake his material from time to time (a problem that proto-alternative Camper Van Beethoven never had, as it was one of many diverse influences, which is why I rate Camper slightly above Cracker in my mind), and his live tracks have a markedly UN-live sound, rendering them inferior to the studio originals. However, "Surfbilly" and "China" keep it from being a total loss, and the cover "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a solid, stripped-down melancholic ditty.

Speaking of compiled oddities, David Lowrey has recently produced a collection of the Camper Van Beethoven's answer to "Garaged d'Or," entitled "Camper Van Beethoven is Dead, Long Live Camper Van Beethoven" (Amen!). For the Camper Van Beethoven aficionado, be sure to check it out, for a uniquely surreal experience (but would you expect anything less?). It's only available at Lowrey's indie-record label Pitch-A-Tent, so check it out while you can!

Cracker's new retrospective CD is an excellent collection of some of Cracker's more commercially popular songs and the songs popular with hard-core cracker fans. The bonus CD contains some great rareties that are difficult, if not impossible, to come by any other way. I absolutely love their new songs "Be My Love," and "Heaven Knows I'm Lonely." This is a great CD to give to introduce someone to Cracker for the first time and be able to communicate the breadth of their style, but it's also great for long-time fans to have so much in one place.

The inclusion of three previously unreleased tracks make this worth the purchase alone, not counting the bonus disc of live cuts and rarities. While some here at Amazon.com have complained about song selection (no "I Hate My Generation", the inclusion of "Get Off This"), I feel this is like nitpicking (I would make the case for inclusion of "Dr. Bernice", "Movie Star", or "Another Song About the Rain", but I digress). Most of their well known hit songs are here, as well as some fan favorites.

A great overview of a great band, and not just an inclusion of your standard "radio hits".

Put it on and revel in the memories of the great Cracker albums to date. What can I say? Every track is a trip. Every song is a either an epic drama, a familiar friend or call to arms! No album collection is credible without this CD. Buy it now!

I never miss Cracker when they visit Charleston, SC. You can always find me upfront (near the stage).

This CD is Cracker at their best. ALL of my friend rotate this one into their random play at parties.

A must have in your collection.

This is a excellent collection of songs from this So. Cal. duo David Lowery and Johnny Hickman. The hits package only misses "I hate my generation", but you can get that on the "The Golden Age". The theee new songs "Be My Love", "Heaven Knows I'm Lonely Now" and "Eyes Of Mary" maybe show's a kind of new direction on there next cd, these are great additions to the Cracker catalog. Disc 2 was my favorite part of the collection. It open's up with the surf sounds of "Surfbilly" recorded originally for the Johnnie Walker Saturday Show on B.B.C. Radio 1. "the Golden Age" live sounds better than the studio track. The Dylan Classic "You Ain't Going Nowhere", sounds great here, I think people will like this version. "Hollywood Cemetary" an outake from the Gentleman's Blues'. "Whole Lotta Trouble" from the Empire Records Soundtrack, good rocking. The live "I Want Out Of The Circus" my 2 young girls love this song especially the circus intro. "Steve's Hornpipe" is just plain fun. "Mr. Wrong" live true Cracker at thier Countryfied best. "Sunday Train" personally one of my favorites. This song is an outtake from "Kerosene Hat". The Rock-a billy "Lonesome Johnny Blues" live Johnny Hickman at the top of his game. "Rainy Days and Mondays" the Carpenter's song, done very nicely here. And the disc closes with a demo song from the 1st Cracker Cd, "China". At this price you get 28 Cracker classic's go for it you won't be disappointed!

Since Mr. Wheatley has written the definitive in-depth review, I'll echo Jessica in writing from an amateur's perspective. I unfortunately was turned off to Cracker years ago by their single "I Hate My Generation," which struck me as contrived in every aspect. It's not here, and just about everything else is (within reason). I was amazed by how consistently good disc one is from beginning to end, as well as by the incredible value of this package: twenty-eight songs for the price of one new album (on sale). While diehard fans of Cracker may want more for their money, I can't imagine anyone else buying this and not finding something to justify the purchase. I personally found twenty-eight reasons to justify it.

"I'd Really Like To See You Now In Your Father's Combat Boots" (I See The Light) Cracker.

Anyone with the chutzpah to start a song off like that earns my respect or deserves to be taken seriously.

Cracker's music has always had a comedic appeal to me. "Lonesome" Johnny Hickman is one hell of a guitarist (Check out "Nostalgia" from Kerosene Hat). I really wanted to write reviews for the first four Cracker albums individually, but this Greatest hits collection will help sum them all up perfectly.

The places vocalist David Lowery takes you in his narratives are amazing and totally set apart from mainstream Country (Getting tattoos in Berlin and sleeping in Parisian parks) "Euro Trash Girl" Kerosene Hat. He also goes into extremes that mainstream Country would never be caught in (Drinking cheap wine and popping pills).

Kerosene Hat was the first Cracker album I listened to, but their self titled debut is my Bible, though. I loved Golden Age and Gentleman's Blues and was kinda vexed that "My Cinderella" from Gentlemen's Blues did not make the cut, because I felt it had chart potential. The inclusion of the cover of The Flaming Groovy's "Shake Some Action" (Another Great Hickman guitar solo) from Clueless: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack made up for "My Cinderella" exclusion.

Although they've gone through many bassists, they have all been great.

The second disc is great and full of live performances and rare cuts.

Never had so much fun with Country since Johnny Cash's Rick Rubin produced debut album on American Records.

That's "Cracker" with a "C" not "K" or an "Uncle", understand.

What a great collection! The first disk is a nice 16 retrospective that has most of the hits and key songs. A couple of puzzling omissions are "Happy Birthday to Me" and "I Hate My Generation.". The second disk is live stuff and rare stuff. This disk really seems to be designed for their core audience. It's hard to believe their catalog is made up of only 4 albums. It seems like they have done so much more.

Never heard of the band; bought the album because of ONE song (disk 1, #7), and I love the whole thing!