Cracker has taken nothing for granted on The Golden Age. Lyricist David Lowery after years of deftly operating in obscurity, has merged into the pop slipstream with strident post-grunge anthems, lanky country ballads, Morricone in the West-isms ("Bicycle Spaniard") and irresistable pop. This is not to say that you still shouldn't expect something at least a little weird from Lowery, and collaborator/lead guitarist Johnny Hickman.

Cracker has refined its musical direction, its aesthetics (excellent philatelic cd package, and haircuts), and its appeal in its brief four year history. This cd presents a strong follow up to the million selling Kerosene Hat. Recorded in Richmond Va, Memphis (at Ardent Studios) and Nashville, Golden Age offers a novel "what if" take on Southern influences such as country, soul and gospel. On Golden Age these forces often come together magically as a Neil Young-ish guitar figure leads to a unique irresistable chorus on "How Can I Live Without You (if it means I gotta get a job)".

Cracker has also become an alterna-rock juggernaut moving in unpredictable directions. For comparison's sake the album parallels some of the best aspects of REM's 90's output. Lowery and Hickman carefully employ string arrangements on this cd to bend the sounds in subtle ways not possible with rock guitar as on Automatic For the People while brutalizing us with crunching guitars Monster-style on other cuts. Take for example the Lowery/Hickman composition "Sweet Thistle Pie" which combines gospel choruses, harmonica from Hickman, and Bob Rupe's loping bass with a contrapuntal three guitar stomp break.

The odd juxtopositions long common to Lowery's surreal lyrics have blended into the music with suprising results. Remember this is the man who once wrote an ode to Patty Hearst which included the line "We carry your guns deep within our heart for no better reason than our lives have no meaning and we want to be on television." While the lyrical vision has perhaps cooled a bit, the seamless musical delivery has more than picked up the slack. There is no doubt that Cracker has done it their own way reaching a Golden Age.