CRACKER
The Golden Age (Virgin) ***1/2
Cracker has been popular with the younger set since vocalist David Lowery formed the band five years ago. Their first single, "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" was the first in a string of radio favorites, and any regular Letterman watcher could not help but recognize the opening chords of "Low," used at least once a night before fading to commercial. As if to further establish their reputation as a youth-friendly outfit, Cracker's last offering was a track on the Clueless soundtrack.
The band's third album, The Golden Age, is the usual Cracker blend of mournful, soothing "old country"-esque ballads and smooth, trusty pop numbers. This time, the mix feels tilted to the side of heavier guitar work over molasses-C&W tempos. Still, a lot has changed in the time between Kerosene Hat and now, including the departure of bassist Davey Faragher and the additions of Don Rupe and David Immergluck. Lowery has also, apparently, moved on from teen anxiety to discussing his (thirty-something) generation. The first song, "I Hate My Generation," consists primarily of Lowery screaming the title plus a few "alright"s. While he reiterates this hatred quite a few times, he never bothers to say why. This is a disappointment, especially in light of where they could have taken the song. "I Hate My Generation" ends up being more annoying than enjoyable.
However, this abrasive opener is the exception rather than the rule on a solid collection of Cracker soul. The lyric-squelching screaming manages to take little away from the rest of the record. The Golden Age includes far more shouting than any previous Cracker album, but it is for the most part well tempered-and overshadowed in a few cases-by other techniques, such as inclusion of Mellotron, violin, and female voices. Joan Osborne and others help give the album a more well-rounded sound without intruding on Lowery's work.
Golden Age won't disappoint many current fans, and should continue Cracker's march toward widespread recognition that began with Kerosene Hat. Detached from its college band roots, Cracker is reaching out to a broader audience, moving from clueless teen angst to liberated middle-aged carelessness.
-Dan McGarry
Copyright 1996, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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