Search - Cracker :: Forever (Limited Edition Bonus CD)

Cracker's latest a real value

Shaun Stief | St. Louis, MO | 01/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw that Cracker had a new album out, after several years of nothing new from the band. After listening to the album, I'd have to say that I am really impressed with the quality. With Rock anthems like 'Don't Bring Us Down' and a quirky 'Shameless', you can't go wrong with this album. With several diverse tracks, there is a taste of something for nearly everyone on this disc. Camper Van Beethoven fans will appreciate the gem cover of Status Quo's ever popular 'Picture's of Matchstick Men' that is included on a bonus disc. Also of note is the song 'Merry Christmas Emily'. The song is not what you'd expect, but more of a tribute to ex girlfriends of sorts. 'Ain't That Strange' is another very catchy tune, that is immediately 'stuck in your head' so to speak. I hope this review helps everyone that is curious, and or wondering what the band still has in them. An excellent effort, and well worth the money."

Best Rock Band On The Planet

johnny wilson | Bristol, VA | 02/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By and large I am a Classic Rock fan. I like rock music all the way back to the late 60s, from Hendrix to the Doors to Neil Young to Led Zepp to the Allman Brothers to Pink Floyd to U2.
However, after five or six years of torture trying to like the Hair Bands, I was looking for some new music as the 1990s began.
Got into some blues under the Alligator label, but by 1993 or 1994 I was bored again.
Discovered the Grunge movement a couple years late, and I got into Pearl Jam, STP and the like. But Grunge wasn't the answer either, so then I caught on to Radiohead and Live in 1995, and thought I'd found keepers with them.
But Live has gotten too commercial in the last couple years, and Radiohead ... well, I don't know what's come over Radiohead. Too "out there."
In 1996 I was recommended to Cracker by a friend, and picked up its Golden Age CD in a used bin. BINGO. Excellent!!!
Cracker offers it all - a GREAT, rockin' guitar; some beautiful ballads (no wimpy stuff, however); some countryfied efforts; some blues, lots of great lyrics, and a violin, a mandolin and an accordian at times.
A fun band, too, one which perhaps requires you to acquire a taste for them.
There are those who would argue with how I've entitled this entry, "Best Rock Band On The Planet." But to those people I say, "Try it!" You would find out that Cracker is at least the most versatile band on the planet.
Although I doubt that its fifth studio album, "Forever," will be able to measure up to its second (and best) album, "Kerosene Hat (1993)," I have no doubt that this 2002 release is a good effort to most Cracker fans.
And Cracker has a base of FANatics. Cracker isn't the Dead or does it have that kind of following, but those who love their music will drive hundreds of miles to see a live show.
Leadman David Lowery (vocals) and guitarist Johnny Hickman have been together with this band now for 10 years. They blend like coffee and cream.
This album has much of the diversity this band is known for, although I would've liked to have seen a countryfied song in there (like a Mr. Wrong or a Eurotrash Girl). Basically, it's a rock album, but not really a hard rock album.
And the bonus CD, recorded live in 1999 in Chicago, is a delight. Many Cracker "staples," like Low and Teen Angst, and its concert favorite, its cover of Pictures of Matchstick Men.
On the Cracker website, regarding the studio album, the fans all talk about One Fine Day, Guarded By Monkeys, Miss Santa Cruz County, Brides Of Neptune, Merry Christmas Emily (which was performed on the Craig Kilbourn Late Show on Dec. 21, 2001), Don't Bring Us Down, and Shine (performed on Letterman on Jan. 28, 2002).
My favorite cut, however, is Sweet Magdalena Of My Misfortune. Great song. Reminds me of something Dylan would do.
That's the thing about Cracker: This band has something for everyone.
And like the quirky, tongue-in-cheek closing song on the CD, it is Cracker with a C not a K, and lots of music fans out there don't know What They're Missing if they haven't tried this band.
Be one of the COOL, and get to know this band.
Cracker ... Forever!"

Excellent effort. Great CD

Kirk C. Bryson | Chapel Hill, NC USA | 02/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say. I am a long time Cracker/Camper van Beethoven fan and I must say that this CD is incredible (probably one of their very best (if not the best)). Cracker has a very mature sound on this CD (similar to the feel of Golden Age, but a lot more mature).
This CD is different from other Cracker albums, yet it has a similar feel. One thing of note is the more dominant presence of keyboards (Rhodes, etc.) in the songs, plus no over the top fast rockers (which is good because Gentleman's Blues tried too hard to have too many). There are strings and lots of backup vocals on this album as well as some very unique and fun songs. Notable in the weird but very well done songs are " Guarded by Monkeys", "Superfan" (with its kind of world music feel), " Merry Christmas Emily", and especially "What You're Missing" (which is a very funny "rap" type song poking fun at many topics and having A LOT of inside Cracker jokes (jokes you'll get if you have been a long time fan of Cracker)). This is a very solid album that works as a whole album rather than having a few singles and filler.
The bonus disc that comes with this version is nice. A live CD from a show in Chicago with a lot of "hits" including Pictures of Matchstick men. Great to include for this price."