Cracker
Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey

2009 is about to become a year with a concentration of excellent albums like we haven't seen in many years. I would mention the latest from the Silversun Pickups, the debut from the Dead Confederate, and others. Even the old J.J. Cale has done an outstanding job with his latest "Roll On", like he hasn't in ages (perhaps excluding his work with Clapton).

Getting to the Cracker, the album is "Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey". Who are they and what do they do?

They are a band from the States that finds its origins in a band that is a favorite among music critics, namely the "Camper Van Beethoven". They played a kind of farcical and recreational folk-punk,their leader was David Lowery who, after the "Camper" experience ended, formed our "Cracker". Their debut dates back to 1992 followed "back-to-back" by a second work the following year. Both are not to be missed. If you listen to their latest work we are discussing, I'm sure you'll end up listening to the first two as well. So it's up to you to explore their entire discography.

The latest work of this 2009 "Sunrise...." belongs to the kind of music dear to me that I am happy to see is not dead. That is, music that lifts the spirits. Throughout their journey, Cracker has finally reached Rock and Roll. Lowery should be acknowledged for the gift of finding the right melody with ease. In a direct and essential way. Put the CD on and the songs flow one after another for the pleasure of the listener. It's music whose only claim is to please and entertain us, to lift our spirits as I already mentioned. In short, I believe an album like this should be in the collection of any respectable "rock leftover". If, after listening, you agree with me, you will find a synthesis of Cracker in their best compilation from 2002, "Garage D'Or", perhaps the one with the second complimentary CD containing Live versions (you will appreciate the compactness of Cracker as a live band) and some excellent rarities.

A band to discover with pleasure and therefore, from my side, more of a suggestion than a true review. I won't express myself on the rating even at the risk of seeming snobbish. Keep in mind, however, that I don't waste time writing about my musical disappointments. So until next time, I hope..

Alex