429 Records
At a point in their career when most of their peers are unplugging turning down and wussing out Cracker has tapped into some unchecked aggression and started rocking out like never before. Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey still delves into twangy alt-country and bluesy slide guitar but the bulk of these 11 songs are amped-up fuzzed-out ravers. Searing solos gang vocals and maximum riffage grab the ear but it’s the lyrics that will keep you coming back. David Lowery has reverted to the frenzied yelping and the quirked-out word play that made the band’s debut so charming. Luckily he hasn’t lost the emotional baggage he’s picked up over the last 15 years. Whether its “Hand Me My Inhaler” blowing itself apart in 92 seconds or the title track finding its road-ready groove the band’s most collaborative album to date is also one of its best.
