THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160039
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Review
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Cracker, ``The Golden Age'' Virgin
David Lowery is a quirky rocker who's starting to grow up. Cracker's founder and lead singer shows off more musical and lyrical dimensions on ``The Golden Age'' than he has on the band's previous albums, or anything produced by his previous band, the rambling and eclectic Camper Van Beethoven.
While straight-ahead rock is the anchor for Cracker, as is well-stated by the opening blast of ``I Hate My Generation,'' Lowery and co-writer Johnny Hickman also reveal a variety of softer, subtle moods.
``Big Dipper'' is a stark, quiet track that comes off as a warm but lonely country ballad. Joan Osborne checks in for a guest spot on ``Nothing To Believe In,'' and pretty soon you feel the soul of this disc completely engulf you. It's not just rock, or country - it's flavors of both combined with blues and sweat.
At 35, Lowery is puzzled by the younger rock generation and cynical about life and his own age group. But he's found a delicate balance that smokes.
Matt Pensinger, Knight-RidderPop/rock
Store-Bought Superhero, ``how.i. learned.to.love.the.media.&.the. man.'' (Coup De'tat)
On their new CD, homegrown foursome Store-Bought Superhero jab at pop-culture ills - media glut, commercialism, consumerism - with mixed results.
The Superheroes, who play pop-rock with a decidedly funky undertow, stumble with too many tried and typical, bouncing-bass-happy tunes: ``Freddie Hampton,'' with its earnest, pseudo-soul vocal, comes off like a Lenny Kravitz outtake; ``So. Central Funk'' and ``Sucka'' are Chili Peppers wanna-bes.
The fellas are at their brightest when they stretch. The gentle-to-giant jam of ``Roy G. Biv,'' the goofy rapping punch of ``Barn E. Miller'' and ``Noam Chomsky Love Songs'' odd G. Love-meets-the-Allmans mix hint at something truly heroic.
Sue VanHecke
The Virginian-Pilot
The Cranberries, ``To The Faithful Departed'' (Island)
The ubiquitous video for the Cranberries' ubiquitous single ``Salvation'' finds heretofore dour frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan, one of rock's most distinctive voices, looking and sounding positively perky.
From the opening ``Hollywood's'' metallic charge to the grandly quivering ``Bosnia,'' the urgent energy of the anti-drug anthem pervades the Irish quartet's latest LP, dedicated to ``all those who have gone before us.''
In between, downright delicious sounds - ``When You're Gone's'' dreamy doo-wop, ``Electric Blue's'' gorgeous Gregorian-esque chanting, ``Will You Remember's'' eerie calliope - utterly fascinate.
Sue VanHecke
The Virginian-Pilot
Hip-hop
Various artists, ``The Great White Hype'' (Epic); ``Sunset Park'' (Flavor Unit/East West)
Planning a house party? Looking for that perfect disc, featuring new tracks from a host of hip-hop heavyweights? Then scoop up these stellar soundtracks.
``Sunset Park'' has the bigger names, such as 2Pac, who smokes blunts till he passes out on ``High 'Til I Die.'' Tha Dogg Pound, Onyx and Queen Latifah also check in. MC Lyte, with Xscape, contribute the hot single ``Keep On Keepin' On.''
Clownin' is a major theme of ``Hype'' - check out comedians Jamie Foxx and Dolomite on ``Knocked Nekked,'' and the outlandish pairing of Lou Rawls and Biz Markie on Cole Porter's ``I've Got You Under My Skin.''
Speaking of clowns, Detroit's Insane Clown Posse rocks the house on ``Chicken Huntin.' '' Platinum rappers Bone Thugs-N-Harmony roll in with ``Shoot 'Em Up,'' and the Wu-Tang thang gets plenty of play, thanks to Method Man and Ghostface Killer, who also appears on ``Sunset Park.''
Mike Floyd, Knight-Ridder MEMO: Cracker, 9 p.m. May 31 at the Boathouse, Norfolk. $11 advance; order at
671-8100.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by VIRGIN
Cracker's latest release, ``The Golden Age,'' is not just rock, or
country - it's flavors of both combined with blues and sweat.
by CNB