Customer Reviews

Kerosene Hat

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the first albums in my now gigantic collection, Kerosene Hat is an odd man out, difficult to categorize despite its familiar roots-rock sound. Oddly romantic-sounding without trying to be (actually, all the more so for the fact that its blunt irony and unforced wittiness removes all "romatic" cliches leaving it sounding surprisingly honest and clear of hackneyed sentimentalism) it seems closer in hindsight to "alt-country" than to any of its grunge-rock contemporaries. I'd place it in the same basic category as the Jayhawks' "Hollywood Town Hall" which came out around the same time. What amazes me is that an album like this actually contained some "hits" which appealed to the popular consciousness enough to get Cracker on MTV and all over burgeoning alt-rock radio stations. Usually bands this intelligent are doomed to obscurity, for record geeks like me (and possibly you) to find and treasure while our girlfriends roll their eyes.

Like one reviewer below, I too would listen to this album back in high school and dream of beautiful women. I see no shame in that. It's an album that induces such hopefulness (or wishful thinking), and that's saying something for it. No it's not "Exile on Main Street" but it's in that vein for those of us who lived and breathed the early alt-rock movement, before crass commericialism sucked all the life out of it.

I'll conclude this diatribe by urging Cracker to create another album this good. I know they'll never read this, but in case someone who knows them does, please pass on the message.

I'm ordering Cracker's The Golden Age, which, for some reason, I don't own, and I started reading the reviews for Kerosene Hat. It's very validating to read that others feel like I do--that this album is pure brilliance from start to finish. I've had it for years, of course, and keep returning to it again and again (along with the 3 other Cracker albums I own). It's one of the 15 or so CDs I have that never get to rest for long. One of my best memories of it, however, came only a couple of years ago when I discovered that, like me, my cousin is a huge Cracker fan. A few months later, a group of us were walking to a free Cracker show at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York, and he and I started singing "Take Me Down to the Infirmary" at the top of our lungs. Every time I listen to the album, I hear something new to love. The songs are so well written and executed while sounding spontaneous and real, not slick and manufactured. I like that Cracker is not hugely popular. I don't want to share with just anybody. In conclusion, here's a great description of the band I read in some online review a few years ago (can't remember where, or the exact wording, but thanks, whoever you are....): "Cracker is the most normal weird band out there and the weirdest normal band out there."

A follow-up to their debut masterpiece, this collection brings more electric guitar-work to the mix in a way reminescent of Keith Richards and Mick Taylor. Full of catchy riffs, a stellar rythtym section, and open-throttle vocals, this melodic work represents what a four-piece rock band is all about. "Nostalgia" captures the wonder of the space age in an upbeat, contagious, guitar-woven gem. The intros to "Take Me Down To The Infirmary" and its sister song "I Want Everything" are beautifully sculpted phrases for which the Gibson Les Paul was created to inspire. The fun secret track #69, "Eurotrash Girl", is a live favorite. Three chords never sounded so good as in "Get Off This". David Lowery and Johnny Hickman harmonize to like a boy-girl team adding another sweet dimension to their songs. The second and last of their great albums and last one with bassist, backing vocalist and co-writer David Faragher and drummer Michael Urbano.

Hidden tracks and tomfoolery highlight this effort from Central Virginia transplants, Cracker. Often featured artists at the Capital City Barn Dance, this band lends itself to utilizing all available means to produce lighthearted entertainment. From hardrocking tracks such as 'Let's go for a Ride' and 'Movie Star' to the melancholic anthem on the hidden track 'Eurotrash Girl,' (Suggestively hidden on track 69 of the CD)this Disc is sure to provide a wonderful soundtrack for any sort of frivolity. Frontman David Lowery displays the full range of emotions from happy-go-lucky to shit-out-of-luck. Guitarist Johnny Hickman's soulful eclectic style complements Lowery and his very emotional presentations.

From the opening chords of 'Low' it becomes immediately apparent that this album is going to be something special, and the band to not disappoint. Not as overtly humerous as David Lowery's 'Camper Van Beethoven' writing there is still a skewed style to his lyrics, and the musical tapestry wrapped around it by the band match it perfectly. There is a vital & exciting quality to the writing, and playing, that convey the sound of a talented group of artists at the top of their game. And the joyous rock that suffuses Eurotrash Girl', 'Let's Go For A Ride' and the aforementioned 'Low', can't help but get you singing along blasting out that air-guitar. You can always count on Cracker to deliver the goods & this time out they've done that in spades - what a great record.

I liked Cracker from the first time I saw them at Doug Weston's Troubador. I've now seen them many times, and I realize I'm not alone. Last time I saw them at House of Blues, they were joined by Joan Osborne, Counting Crows, and Graham Parker. The amazing thing about the duets was that the "special guest stars" new the songs like their own, and genuinely enjoyed being there. Osborne wouldn't even leave the stage when she wasn't featured, she just sat on a speaker and sang along like the rest of the crowd.

The reason is clear: Cracker rocks, and especially on this album. For those who don't know, I think the music is a mix of rock, punk, country and blues, with a strong dose of alternative, whatever that is. More than anything, its creative and unique.

Make sure to stick around for the hidden track.

I missed out on Cracker's first album (as well as the entire career of Camper Van Beethoven), but luckily songs "Low" and "Get Off This" somehow attracted mainstream attention. I was a junior in high school when Kerosene Hat came out and the airwaves at the time were dominated by "grunge" artists like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots or dreck like Ace of Base's The Sign. Not that the "grunge" bands were necessarily bad, but Cracker was a welcome shot in the arm when compared to their somewhat bleaker counterparts.

Cracker injected sly humor into well-crafted lyrics backed by a sound that defied easy categorization. Some tracks sounded like "alternative" rock, whatever the heck that was. Some wandered into country-ish territory before the even sillier "alt-country" label came into vogue. All I know is that the album totally rocked. The aforementioned "Low" and "Get Off This" had great hooky choruses and some smoking guitar courtesy of Johnny Hickman. This one-two punch was ably backed up by the rest of the album material; the frenetic "Movie Star", the acoustic drone of the title track, the wistful "Take Me Down to The Infirmary", and the swirling spaghetti western Dead cover "Loser". As a bonus, secreted among 80 some odd hidden tracks of nothing are the puckish "Take Me (Back) to You" (#88) and the brilliant "Euro-Trash Girl" (#69) with its singalong chorus. Add in other great songs like "Sweet Potato" and "Nostalgia", and you have one great album. Highly recommended.

I bought this album as part of a reduced price deal cause I liked one of the hidden tracks "Eurotrash Girl" Well after a couple of listens I had to admit this was an undeniably great album. In fact, I have bought everything Cracker has ever put out since, they really are a great band that just knows how to write great songs. You will not be disappointed with this one.

A relic from the era when everything was "alternative" and radio played actual rock music (doesn't seem like that long ago, does it?). Most of this album is brilliant; the psychadellic grunge of "Low" couldn't be improved on as a song or a single and "Get Off This" is an irresistable sing-along, while the haunting nonsense of "Kerosene Hat" manages to evoke just a touch of The Legendary Pink Dots, and "Eurotrash Girl," is an epic of listless, world-weary beauty. The two or three country numbers might catch the listener off-guard the first time through, but most of them grew on me (still not totally sure what to make of "Lonesome Johnny Blues.") "I Want Everything" and "Take Me Down to the Infirmary" are a little smarmy for my taste, but i guess that's subjective. Overall, a solid, original rock album, with a lot of diversity in style and a couple moments of true genius.

Cracker's best albumn. Flavorful notes of 70's classic rock, hints of punk, a distinct 80's college radio nose, and a long southern blues finish. As much as Lowery gets (or takes) the credit (or heat) for being the up-front front man of this band, it is clear that Hickman deserves a lot of the credit for making their sound so rich and diverse.

"Kerosene Hat" is extremely strong thru the first ten tracks. In fact, taking away "Kerosene Hat" (song), this album is an absolute masterpiece thru "Lonesome Johnny Blues". "I Want Everything" is beautiful and powerful anthem--even more moving live! "Sweet Potato" is a gem reminescent (in a good way) of 1970 Led Zeppelin.

Then, after 10 tracks, Cracker forget when to shut up. "Let's go for a ride" is unremarkable and why they saw fit to re-record the Grateful Dead's "Loser" is absolutely beyond me. Track 69 ("Eurotrash Girl"), however, is worth wading thru all the empty tracks!!

In short, 30 minutes of genius packed into 45 minutes of listening.