Cracker "Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey" (Freeworld 2009)
Date review added: Thursday, May 07, 2009
Reviewer: Dan Wilkinson
Reviewers Rating: 9 out of 10

Return to top form for the Kings of Quirk

Critically, Cracker has been a criminally under-rated enterprise for nigh on twenty years. It was therefore no great surprise that their last album (2006’s ‘Greenland’) received several plaudits in the UK, while being their most conventional sounding, and least ‘fun’ album to date.

This listener would like to think that David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have made key changes to the writing process on this album, as a result of deciding that having fun while sounding great is the only way to run a rock band. For the first time the members of Cracker are writing collaboratively as a band. They have recruited Drive By Truckers producer David Barbe (and Patterson Hood on one track) and sound like they are having the time of their lives.

There isn’t a duff track on ‘Sunshine….’. Lowery has re-discovered his keen sense of lyrical mischief, while Hickman still knows how to make his Les Paul wail like no other. Particular highlights on the album include the post punk of, ‘Hand me my Inhaler', the groove laden ‘I Could be Wrong, I Could be Right’, and the tender ‘Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me’. The only slight criticism would be that Hickman’s ‘Friends’ has been dusted down for the third time (although it still sounds great).

Crucially, long time band member Frank Funaro and relatively new bassist Sal Maida dovetail with Lowery and Hickman to form the most rocking version of the band since Davey Faragher jumped ship back in the mid-nineties.

It will probably come as no surprise that this reviewer is a huge fan of Cracker, but anyone who likes their Americana to rock, with little pretension will find plenty to enjoy on ‘Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey’.