The Severed Cortex

Link: http://www.crackersoul.com/

It's no secret that Cracker is one of my favorite bands.  I think over the years we've established that.  When I tell people that Cracker is one of my favorite bands I most often get a quizzical look.  Cracker?  Who is that?  Only after you play Low, or Eurotrash Girl, or Get Off This or Teen Angst for them does the light bulb go on.  Oh!  Those guys.  Yeah, those guys.  When you point out that Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey is their 10th real studio release, you have to wonder why these guys aren't more of a household name.

I listened to Camper van Beethoven long before Cracker was around and for good reason.  David Lowery is one hell of a witty songwriter.  Because Lowery is out front in both of those bands it's no surprise that they sound similar, and thus I like them both.  Even for the initiated, it's hard to tell a Camper song from a Cracker song.  Even Lowery admits he blurs the line sometimes.  One sure way to know it's Cracker is if there's a kick ass Johnny Hickman guitar riff.  This record has several of those riffs, but at the same time it plays along the same themes as Camper van Beethoven's latest release New Roman Times.  (I bought it but never reviewed it).  Suffice it to say there wer plenty of witticisms on the U.S. war machine, the end of the empire, culture (at large), and chewing gum.  This release talks slightly less about chewing gum.

There's plenty of the U.S. war machine though, starting off with the brilliant Yalla Yalla.  Lowery is able to produce a character study complete with authentic military slang.   In typical wry fashion, those that relate to the character probably don't understand that he's deliberately poking fun.   At the same time those who realize the character is a stereotype now know their CHU from a pogue.  It just proves that it's possible to learn and be a smart ass at the same time.   If the smart aleck doesn't appeal to you maybe your inner slacker will relate to Turn In, Tune In, Drop Out With Me.  You can probably guess the theme of the song.  No wryness needed.  I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right is just a good old fashioned blues rock song featuring the guitar god that is Johnny Hickman.  On top that that, this Cracker release does have something a little different.  There are several big names that guest appear.  John Doe, of the seminal West Coast punk band X, appears in the  anti-war song We All Shine A Light.  Adam Duritz, of Counting Crows fame, sings on Darling One and  Patterson Hood from Drive By Truckers sings alongside Lowery on Friends, which can somewhat arguably be called a take on the Merle Haggard/Willie Nelson duet Pancho and Lefty.  It certainly is within the spirit of the song, updated for the new milleneum of course.  You could see why Patterson Hood would make a good choice for something like that.  The same could be said about David Lowery.

The rest of the album does what most every other Cracker album does and that is provide you with solid songs told in flavors of country, blues, pop, and rock and roll.  There's even a somewhat punk tune.   None of this will make you stand up and say wow.   There is no instant gratification.  Instead you'll get a good solid journeyman rock and roll kind of record that will give you something good every time you listen to it again.  Enjoy my friends.  Enjoy.