David Lowery Incarnations Sample Playlist

I really like both of the bands David Lowery has fronted – Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. David and I share the same birthday although he is older. What are the odds of that?

If you like John Hiatt (see my earlier blog) you should have some interest in Cracker. Davey Faragher was the original bass player in Cracker before leaving to join John Hiatt’s band, The Nashville Queens. On the other hand, Michael Urbano joined Cracker after being the drummer in John Hiatt’s earlier band, The Guilty Dogs.

Anyway, here are ten songs worth giving a spin:

1. Teen Angst – Cracker: Here’s a line for ya, “I don’t know what the world may need, and I never grasped your complexities. I’d be happy just to get your attention.” That wasn’t a problem in college. It has been ever since. If this continues I’m going to end up with issues with women.
2. Take the Skinheads Bowling – CVB: Another line, “Some people say that bowling alleys got big lanes.
   Some people say that bowling alleys all look the same. There’s not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything. Had a dream last night, but I forget what it was.” Sometimes I almost think I am capable of writing outstanding lyrics… or at least lyrics like this.
3. Low – Cracker: Okay, every song will have a line in this blog. “A million poppies gonna make me sleep. Just one rose and knows your name, the fruit is rusting on the vine, the fruit is calling from the trees.” I have no clue about this other than when Dorothy falls asleep in the poppy field in The Wizard Of Oz.
4. Happy Birthday To Me – Cracker: “I remember you, I crashed your wedding, with some orange crepe paper, and some Halloween candy.” If only he had crashed my first wedding… everyone else did.
5. Euro-Trash Girl – Cracker: “Well I’ve been up to Paris, and I’ve slept in a park. Went down to Barcelona, someone broke in my car. And I’ll search the world over for my angel in black. Yeah, I’ll search the world over for a Euro-trash Girl.” I think I’m in lust! 
6. Get Off This – Cracker: “Let’s get off this, and get on with it. If you wanna change the world shut your mouth and start to spin it.” Am I supposed to spin it faster or slower? A little direction would be nice.
7. Pictures Of Matchstick Men – CVB: This is a cover of a Status Quo song. “Windows echo your reflection. When I look in their direction now, when will this haunting stop?” Dude, she was only a woman. Keep in mind, a lot of guys have a good woman until a better woman comes along. Uh oh. Did I just say that? I think I’m going to get some comments…
8.  Something You Ain’t Got – Cracker: I’m not sure anyone outside of the band besides me ever heard this song. “Well the first dance cost me a quarter,and the second dance cost me my heart. Now I’m here on this barstool, like a circle it ends where it starts. And it goes something like this, always a swing and a miss.” I’m starting to sense a theme.
9. Ain’t Gonna Suck Itself – Cracker: “It was 102 degrees I was feeling kind of hot, so I walked across the street for one of those Mexican frozen popsicles. Couldn’t buy just one so I bought myself a box. When I come back the assistant she’s standing in the parking lot. No hard feelings do you want one of these? But she looks at me like I was speaking Chinese. The security man walks up he helps himself to one. Coincidently Chinese and hot from standing in the sun.” And I bet you thought this song was going to be about something other than Mexican popsicles. Oh wait. It is. It’s D. Lowery having his say with Virgin Records. I wonder if he realizes just how rich Richard Branson is.
10. This Is Cracker Soul – Cracker: “Hey hey it’s okay to never know the answer but ask why. (why oh why?). ‘Cause you don’t need another burden come and party with your spirit guide.” Words to live by. What a great way to end this!