Cracker - Countrysides

Merle Haggard meets Jimmy Buffett

This album is something a little different for alternative rockers David Lowery and Cracker, a tribute to country music. I bought it for the cover of Ray Wylie Hubbard's Up Against the Wall Redneck Mothers. Ironically, it's one of the weakest tracks on the album. There are some real gems here, though, especially the version of Hank Williams Jr's Family Tradition, Haggard's Reasons to Quit, and Lowery's own suggestive ballard Ain't Gonna Suck Itself. September 17, 2007

Sounds exactly the way you think it would

For those of you who have followed Cracker from the moment Camper Van Beethoven first broke up, you will realize that Cracker recording an album of country covers isn't the artistic curveball that others would believe it to be. In fact, it's entirely within the band's character to play a string of country bars under the monkier Ironic Mullet, record an album of said material, and be dropped by Virgin. It all just seems, very...Cracker.

For all of its faults, Countrysides is a pretty fun album. It's not meant to be taken very seriously. If you do, you will find yourself disappointed by the fact that David Lowery sings the Hank Williams Jr.-penned Family Tradition with the California valley/surfer accent that he's had all of these years. You will also be disappointed by the fact that Johnny Hickman, for once, can't play lead guitar worth a darn. You'll also be disappointed by the fact that the album is so short.

But who cares? It's a country album that Cracker made after they rolled out of bed one day (or so it sounds). And depending on your mood, this can be very enjoyable or very irritating. Most of the time I find it enjoyable. But this is not Cracker at face value, not in a million years. Just turn off your brain, drink your Pabst, and listen. December 20, 2004

Kick Ass!

Folks, I love Cracker. And I love alt-country music, like the recently disappeared Americana channel on DirecTV. Damn them! Why does all the good stuff disappear, while Rap and Easy Listening lives on forever? I dunno.

Nevertheless, while Cracker is being seriously ironic, the music still kicks ass. Especially after four or five drinks. The only reason they don't get five stars for this disk is that they don't have "Okie From Muskogee" on the CD itself, only on the video, and then only part of it. Sorry, guys. It takes "Okie From Muskogee" to get five stars. "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" and "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mothers" is only worth four stars.

But I loved "It Ain't Gonna Suck Itself" which is probably worth an extra 1/2 star, so we'll give you 4-1/2. July 17, 2004

A touch disappointed

I LOVE Cracker, their country sounding stuff most of all. Some of these songs are good, but this lacks a bit of the cleverness of past albums. Don't expect "Lonesome Johnny Blues" quality. I think something happened to these guys before "Forever." Anyway, I would borrow this one first before you buy it. You may love it, but I was a bit sad. May 25, 2004

i was surprised - but like it

i always like cracker, especially their first two albums. i really liked this one and would heartily recommend it. i agree with a previous reviewer in that it is kind of country but not too country. February 22, 2004

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