David Lowry, the mastermind behind
Cracker's first big hit was "Teen Angst," off their self-titledCracker cd in '92. I was living in D.C. at the time that single wasreleased and the once greatWHFS played that song like it was the cure to cancer. It fucking rockedyur nuts off and spoke to how people were feeling about the whole musicscene. The 80's hair bands really could have caused the universe to collapse inon itself, if not for the industry anarchists like Lowry. His tongue-in-cheek lyrics and sex-drenched growling vocals, gave a huge smackdown to the critics and music industry tools blatant ignorance of indie bands.
I don't know what the world may need/but I'm sure as hell that is startswith me/And that's a wisdom/I've laughed at/I don't know what the world maywant/but a good stiff drink it surely don't/So I think I'll go and fixmyself a tall one/Cause, what the world needs now/is a new kind oftension/Cause the old one just bores me to death/Cause, what the world needsnow/is another folk singer/like I need a hole in my head/I don't know whatthe world may need/
I'd be happy just to get your attention/And, I don't know what the world maywant/but your long, sweet body lying next/to mine could certainly raise myspirits
Cause what the world needs now/is a new Frank Sinatra/so I can get you inbed/Cause what the world needs now/is another folk singer/like I need a holein my head. .
In '93 Cracker released Kerosene Hat. I listened to that cd EVERYfucking day for about six months. "Low," "Get Off This," "Take Me Down ToThe Infirmary" and "EuroTrash Girl" had grooves worn into them fromexcessive play. "Low," was a huge hit for the band and the Kerosene Hat wasby far their best selling album. David Lowry's simple, but cutting lyrics speak tome, hell they speak to anyone who has a fucking ounce of cool intheir body. Cool like a tall glass of ice tea on a hot Alabama day,sitting on your back porch with your feet up watching the grass grow andclouds drift by.
Article comments
1 - Scott Chaffin
Cracker's first two albums were genius, and I was like you about playing them over and over. I never bought their other ones, because I was busy with other things. Now you make me want to hear this new one. Heck, I didn't even *know* they had a new one.