April 10, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CRACKER...Kerosene Hat  (1993)
Kerosene Hat, the second album from Cracker, was released 20 years ago in 1993 and it reached number 59 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Cracker put a lot of musical elements into this album (hard rock, blues, a bit of country) and I quite enjoyed it, so I give it 3 out of 5 stars.  The opening track "Low" was a hit at Mainstream Rock but that wasn't the highlight for me.  "Get Off This" was a jumpy catchy rocker, while the title track "Kerosene Hat" and "Take Me Down To The Infirmary" were very cool bluesy type tracks and were very enjoyable.  "Sweet Potato" is a nice little toe tappin' rocker.  I had always thought that Cracker belonged in the grunge category but that is definitely not the case. This album is more in the Rolling Stones-Black Crowes-Grateful Dead type category, whatever you might want to call that.Also, the track "Lonesome Johnny Blues" sounds like it could have been recorded by some of the newer country artist. I recommend this album. 
(CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR APRIL 10
Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats is 54; Reni of the Stone Roses is 49; Tim "Herb" Alexander formerly with Primus is 48; Mike Mushok of Staind is 44; Bryce Soderberg of Lifehouse is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1962 The Beatles original bass guitarist, Stuart Sutcliffe, dies of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 21 in Hamburg, Germany
1970 Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have broke up
1994 At the Seattle Center a public memorial is held for Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
2007  Fans of Jim Morison of the Doors send a petition to Florida governor Charlie Crist asking him to pardon Morrison for charges that were on appeal when he died in 1971.  Morrison had been convicted of exposing himself while in concert in Miami
2013  It is revealed that in 2010 charges had been filed against Tim Bachman, formerly of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 14.  There had been a ban on reporting the story in order to protect girl.  Bachman was on trial in British Columbia, Canada for the charges