Customer Reviews

Sunrise in the Land of Milk & Honey

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to believe that it's already been three years since Cracker released their "comeback" album, Greenland. Greenland picked right up where their better material from the 90s left off, adding a newfound maturity and some sonic diversity to the mix. The album quite frankly blew me away and to this day is one of my favorites. However, I think they just may have upped the ante yet again.

Whereas Greenland seemed very much like a product of the studio, SITLOM&H is a harder-hitting collection of songs that sounds like it was recorded by a seasoned touring band. The group sounds focused and energetic, playing it tough and loose on new classics like "Hand Me My Inhaler," "Time Machine" and "Show Me How This Thing Works." Other reviewers have correctly pointed out that the band owes a debt to the classic-era Stones, but there is also a punky streak here that hasn't surfaced quite so strongly since 1996's The Golden Age. However, this album also contains the band's best outright country song since "Mr. Wrong" (from their debut) in "Friends" as well as two wistful ballads, "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me" and the surprisingly unironic "Darling One." I had missed Lowery's balladry and am glad that it has resurfaced. Each song is distinctive and superbly crafted, yet together the whole is still greater than the sum of its parts. The album has a natural, unforced flow stretching from the vaguely apocalyptic opener "Yalla Yalla (Let's Go)" to the edgy title-track closer.

David Lowery's lyrics, a key part of every Cracker release, are in finest form here. He is funny and ironic as only he can be, but some of his lyrics display a newfound weight and gravity which first became fully evident on Greenland. Take for example the following, from the title track:

"Sunrise in the land of the Pharaohs
I see my broken arrows scattered
cross the plain"

There is nothing as self-consciously ridiculous as "Everybody Gets One For Free" on this disc, although "Friends" has that same over-the-top quality. Lowery also seems to be paying attention to world affairs, as references to the Middle Eastern world pepper some of these songs (especially the opener). It's probably his most consistent set of lyrics yet, and with the short length of these songs there is nothing that wears out its welcome in any way.

Even the guests are a perfect fit for the band's sound and approach. The contributions of John Doe, Adam Duritz, Patterson Hood and Brooke Fauver (among others) blend in seamlessly, never hijacking any of the material. That the band has fans of such great artistic credibility speaks strongly of their status as elder statesmen of truly classic rock n roll.

Cracker has come a long way since their early days, and each successive release has been nothing short of engaging and deeply satisfying as only pure rock n roll can be. This is easily the best rock n roll record I have heard yet this year, and will likely top my 2009 list (or tie with the new Wilco release, if it's as good as the pre-press seems to indicate). I think this one will vie for best of the decade too. This is the kind of album you can listen to many times in a row, take on a road trip, keep beside you for decades and never stop digging. Yeah I'm getting gushy. C'mon it's a great new Cracker disc. Get excited fans, it's everything you've ever hoped for and more. Play it LOUD.

I don't care what else comes out this year. This is one of the best Rock and Roll records of 2009, and probably 2008 and 2007 for that matter. Cracker has revisited their roots -- leaving a little taste of their country side, but mostly just straight ahead rock and roll. Great songwriting. Driving, passionate, skillful performances, flawlessly recorded. A must-have. I am really impressed. This could possibly be my favorite Cracker album. It left me wanting more.

Love love everything David Lowery is involved with, but this is by far, one of his best ever. I highly recommend EVERYONE grab a copy of this cd to hear true wordsmithing and rhythm at it's best. Love, "Turn On, Tune In". Should be the national anthem for the year 2009.

The internets are full of Cracker groupies who, literally, don't dislike anything they have ever done. I'm not afraid to say that I did not care for Greenland much, nor a number of tired songs they play live regularly. I was down on Cracker for a few years now and couldn't be happier with this new release, it's brilliantly fun, classic, and Hickman shines again. Lowery's voice is still in great shape, showing guys in their mid-40's can still rock with the best of them, if they want to. They could play this album from start to finish live and I'd be perfectly happy.

There are legitimate singles here, the title track, "Hey Bret," and the already released "Tune In, Drop Out."

"Friends" produces a chuckle or two, but would be my least favorite, but wow I can't believe how good this is as a whole. Absolutely a top 5 Cracker album.

I am an objective Cracker fan, you don't see that often, and I love this album as much as anything they've ever done. What a surprisingly fun, old school Cracker album that just makes you happy.

I grabbed this album with some hesitancy - not because I've ever really disliked a Cracker album, but because I wasn't sure it was truly Cracker! The packaging (where identifying mainstays Lowery and Hickman was a little bit difficult) and the sticker about a "hit single" on the cover threw me completely.

BUT....

Wow. Easily the hardest rocking Cracker album yet, "Sunrise" is also a strong contender for the best. David Lowery can write lyrics about anything, literally, and make them intriguing, and Johnny Hickman is always an impressive guitarist, but everything just comes together at a whole new level on this album. In some ways, there are the best elements of what Cracker has done in the past, but "Sunrise" is more energized than anything I've heard from them before.

It's hard to pick stand-out tracks (though "We All Shine a Light", "Hey Bret" and "Darling One" would be my first choices if I had a gun to my head!). And the reworking of "Friends" (a track from Johnny Hickman's "Palmhenge" CD) is very cool; I always thought that would sound even better if Cracker took it on.

At every Cracker release, I wonder why this band isn't more popular. This one will probably get by largely unnoticed as well, but I think if any one of theirs since "Kerosene Hat" ever stood a chance of grabbing some well-deserved commercial attention, this is it!

I have long considered Cracker one of the last true rock bands, but this album blows me away - No one is making music like this anymore.

Might be the best Cracker album released to date - which is saying a lot as they have released some very outstanding albums.

Buy it.

I've been a fan of Cracker since around the time that Kerosene Hat came out. I saw them open for the Spin Doctors and realized that most of the songs I'd heard recently on the radio and liked were Cracker songs. I ran out and bought the band's first album and Kerosene Hat on CD and played them both so many times that my wife threatened to kill me if I didn't give them a rest. Kerosene Hat is still one of my favorite albums of the 90s, and I've enjoyed every album they've put out since, even "Countrysides" (and I'm not much of a fan of country music). So this review is coming from someone who really likes Cracker.

That said, on first listen to "Sunrise", I didn't like it at all. It hardly sounded like the same band. "Countrysides" aside, the band's albums were usually a great mix of influences from hard rock and punk to country and psychedelia. But as each song from "Sunrise" came over my car's speakers, I kept thinking "well, that's the album's punk song...and so is that one...and so is that one...". Other than one over-the-top country song and one pseudo-ballad, this album seems to be entirely hard rock. There's nothing wrong with that, except that Cracker always seemed good at mixing styles and having lots of dynamic range to their music. There's no range here - it's all full-tilt, all the time.

And speaking of no range, we come to the mastering. Whoever mastered this disc should be kept away from a recording studio for the rest of their life. They compressed the living snot out of the thing, until EVERYTHING IS AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE. I ripped the songs to my PC and looked at them in a WAV editor and they all look like a solid block of noise. Any trace of Cracker soul has been pounded flat, and that's what ruins the CD for me.

It makes for a disc that's difficult to listen to for extended periods of time, especially through headphones or on a good stereo system. Another side effect is that Lowry's lyrics, which are as clever and snarky as ever, are really hard to make out amongst the wall of sound, unless you read the liner notes. It's a shame, because with a better mastering job and a little room to breathe, I think this would easily be a four star album.

My other gripe is a very minor one - the album is under 40 minutes long, even with a remake track thrown in. I know, quality not quantity, but I just think the short running time is another indicator of the lack of inspiration that went into this album.

Despite the bad sound, some of the songs are starting to grow on me, so I'd say the album is worth picking up if you're already a Cracker fan and don't have audiophile ears. But if you're new to the band or heavy-duty compression drives you nuts, avoid this one and go with Kerosene Hat or Greenland instead.

Cracker is a great band that most people know from their hit "Low" and I have been listening to them off and on since I heard that song.

I do not have all their records, but decided to pick this one up based on how well received it was and it met all expectations with a good blend of rock, with nods to punk and classics like the Stones, coupled with the humor that Lowery is known for.

Yalla Yalla starts with a great infectious drum beat that brings you into the groove and continues with great staccatto guitars. Turn On is another favorite of mine with strong melodic riffs and wonderful lyrics - the title is sung in a manner in the song that ties into doubt and concerns. Hand Me My Inhaler is straight forward punk roots shooting through then slips into the country Friends in a wonderful job of sequencing that works well.

Overall a good musical experience.

This album is a masterpiece. Cracker keeps kicking out great albums -- this one, Greenland, and many great prior discs. I have never understood why Cracker is so under appreciated by a wider audience. If you *get* Cracker and love them, buy this -- it's excellent. And see Cracker live. I saw them a couple of weeks ago and they played much of this album with energy and enthusiasm. Great show.

Read the other 5 star reviews here and you'll get the picture - Cracker has released a classic disc, one that can easily take its place alongside any of their other masterpieces. As if that weren't enough, they're also a killer live band who just keep getting better. Check 'em out, if you get the chance. You'll see one of the best rock shows of your life.