You Should be Celebrating: Cracker by Cracker

(I wanted to thank John for letting me post this week)

The 90’s is turning 20 this decade (depending on the year you’re referring to) and since a lot of the internet was either born in or a kid in the 90’s a lot of people are getting nostalgic. I saw a lot of coverage about albums like Nevermind, Gish, Ten, and Blood Sugar Sex and Magik (a VERY abridged list of successful albums) turning the big two-oh. This got me thinking: I grew up in the 90’s, and thanks to my Dad I was exposed to a lot of different bands early, so what other good albums are celebrating? I found my answer in the band Cracker.

My Dad bought the self-titled after hearing them on 88.5 XPN (a radio station in Philly.) Their single "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" reached number 1 on Billboards Modern Rock Tracks, and their album was getting good reviews. (Fun fact: they were even nominated for MTV’s best new artist…but Nirvana, a band formed 5 years earlier, and already put out an album won.) This album was followed by some more critically, and even commercially successful albums. Despite all this I feel like Cracker still managed to be very obscure.

This is an album that I’ve learned to like more and more as I’ve grown up. Between Johnny Hickman’s twangy, bluesy guitar playing, and David Lowery’s clever word play, ranging from somber to irreverent, the album’s true work of a band that truly loves music (also they have accordion which is something I don’t think you hear nearly enough of in alternative music.)

This album turns 20 on this date March 10. I included the song “Happy Birthday To Me” obviously for the anniversary of the album, but also because they use it a lot at things like sporting events when announcing birthdays. Every time I hear it when I feel like Cracker isn’t getting the recognition for a genuinely fun, rocking Birthday Jam.

Look for their new stuff coming out in 2012.

Happy Birthday David Gilmour!!!

Today the man that brought the world three of the greatest guitar solos of all time turns 66. Yes David Jon Guilmour, the guitarist behind Comfortably Numb, Time, and Money is celebrating one full year of social security (if he wasn't a Brit)!

David Gilmour was brought in to Pink Floyd as a lead guitarist to play for Syd Barrett when the later was having one of his episodes. One night the band decided to not pick up their leader for a gig, and Gilmour took over the role of lead guitarist and joint lead singer with Roger Waters. With this, Syd was outed from the band and the classic Pink Floyd line up was formed, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. David Gilmour became the main music composer for the band with Waters focusing on the concepts and lyrics.

Where would music be without David Gilmour? Would Pink Floyd have continued to exist beyond their debut album? Unlikely seeing as Syd's downward spiral would have held the band down; as much as he was amazing and they loved him, he wasn't up to the task. So in came David Gilmour to bring the band forward to modest success, you know, mildly popular albums like Dark Side of the Moon (the 2nd best selling album of all time), Wish You Were Here, and The Wall, not to mention all of their other fantastic albums. Pink Floyd created a genre of music, were champions of the concept album, and have influenced more bands then Gilmour has years under his belt. Without David Gilmour this may have never happened, and to that glorious achievement I salute him (though the solo in Comfortably Numb would have been enough by itself).

I give you the incredibly famous song from The Wall and scene from the movie, Comfortably Numb.

Happy Birthday Johnny Cash!

DISCLAIMER: I am but one man (or maybe I'm 2 smaller men in a trench coat trying to pass as one taller man). Either way there is probably a good chance I will miss a lot of deserving artist's birthdays. I'll do my best, but I'm sure some will, unfortunately, be overlooked...here is an artist that wasn't.

Johnny Cash is an artist, actor, bible scholar, musician but above all, in my opinion anyway, a songwriter. He was able to use his deep, seasoned voice to paint detailed pictures, and tell classic folk stories. His outlaw image clashed with his heavily Christian faith making the man himself as interesting as the music he created.

"The Man in Black" who was a friend of many artists, and an influence on so many more died in 2003, but the songs are still playing, and that train keeps a rollin'

Happy Birthday Kurt Cobain!

It’s always weird writing b-day shout outs to people you don’t know (just ask anyone on face book,) but I figured I needed to try for Kurt for two reasons: 1 in a way I think he was a lot like a few of the guys here on the blog, and 2 he’s kind of a big deal.

I’ll start with the second one. Some people could argue Nirvana sold out, signing with a big label, putting out poppy songs that weren’t really grunge at all. But that’s not what this article’s about (although my retort would probably contain the phrase ‘one of the greatest post-punk albums ever’.) He was the front man and creative force of one of the most important “generation x” bands of all time, sold millions of records, and changed music for better or worse. How have you spent 1991, probably not that I would wager.

The other reason is I think he was a profound music lover, just like the guys I have the privilege to work with on the blog. He was able to walk the line where he loved obscure artsy bands like the Vaselines, Pixies, raincoats, Meat Puppets (the list goes on), as well as successful mainstream artist like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Black Sabbath (again the list goes on). If it was good he liked it no matter how big or small they were. That’s something that I feel we don’t have enough of, even today where everything a band has ever put out ever is one click away.

So Happy Birthday Kurt! I hope wherever you are they have the radio on.

Happy Birthday Bob Marley

I am a big fan of Mr. Marley. Not only that, but a lot of my musical idols including Bradley Nowell and Joe Strummer were also deeply influenced by this fantastic musician. Since I have unrestricted access to an "internet blog" (regretting that yet Steve?) I can post some spear of the moment Happy Birthday sentiments to that late Reggae great! And to help me is my good friend Bradley Nowell (as mentioned above) in a Marley Medley off the album Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell and Friends.