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Cracker — The Golden Age
Album: The Golden Age
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1418









Released: 1996
Length: 3:39
Plays (last 30 days): 5
This is the Golden Age
It's hard to imagine
With the way I feel today
That this is the Golden Age
The Golden Age

Somewhere I failed
Somewhere I lost you
In a black crowd of crows
And shiny things
I can't remember

This is the Golden Age
This is the Golden Age
The Golden Age

It seems like I'm high
But baby I'm crawling
In the unbearable days
I threw away
But I should have savored
The flaxen light
Off of the dying wheat
Your rye whiskey mouth
And your dandelion teeth

This is the Golden Age
This is the Golden Age
This is the Golden Age
This is the Golden Age
Comments (132)add comment
Gets me every time,
"Your rye whiskey mouth and your dandelion teeth"


 RodneyAjax wrote:

I sort-of like the song, but please make that awful whiney slide guitar stop!



Uh...it's a pedal steel. 

And this is country rock.  Ya need pedal and slide.  And sometimes some dobro.  
I sort-of like the song, but please make that awful whiney slide guitar stop!
can i rate it 1 multiple times?
Big Cracker fan, but this track is a bit twangy for me
Also in Novato. Great show and pretty amazing that such an amazing band is accessible in a small setting!
Saw them in Novato in June. They still got! Love them.
 Ipse_Dixit wrote:

Given the dystopian hellscape in which we now reside (choking on smoke, pandemic, reality tv star clown as president), this song really was prophetic. 1996 was a golden age....


Yea, and it's only getting worse...

Born in the 60s or 70s, we had the best of what there was ever going to be, i guess.
But i guess we just didn't know it at the time...

"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
Joni  Mitchell
Brings to mind the song Golden Age by Cook da Books.  (Just the title.)
I'm so glad RP likes Cracker.
I just hope they tour in Summer 2022 and I see them. So I can make amends for choosing to not see them in 2019. in a bar. 

Such a fool was I. 
One of my favourite songs...and certainly Cracker's best! Can't believe the low ratings! Great poetry and imagery....very sad and bittersweet look at the human condition.
This totally channels the melody from "Someday We'll Be Together".
 Pioneer_Sing wrote:

The verses sound very Bowie...



You're right, never noticed that.
 sjccroquet wrote:

These guys aren't wrong - who wouldn't take 1996 over 2020 in a heartbeat?




That's a hard call. In 1996 I was swimming in a pool with nazi revolutionaries. Now in 2021 everyone in the nation is in the same pool. I was 25 years ahead of my time. 

I realize this comment could be understood as endorsement of that ideology. It is not. Simply an observation that many militias still subscribe to this ideology. They are not ignorant (some are but this was a surprise). One guy who tried to recruit me was an aerospace engineer. In this sense, we did not prevail in WWII because we fought a ground war and neglected to attack the eugenic based philosophy which the Nazi's embraced.
 sjccroquet wrote:
These guys aren't wrong - who wouldn't take 1996 over 2020 in a heartbeat?
 
That said, 2020 (thru 1/6/2021) is a pretty low bar to rank against. 
The verses sound very Bowie...
I do miss the 90s.
Given the dystopian hellscape in which we now reside (choking on smoke, pandemic, reality tv star clown as president), this song really was prophetic. 1996 was a golden age....
 LYS wrote:
love me some cracker! always fresh and crispy
 
and a little salty
These guys aren't wrong - who wouldn't take 1996 over 2020 in a heartbeat?
More Cracker!
Solid 10.
Thanks Bill.
_^ Cracker Paradise ^_
 Proclivities wrote:

There ought to be some Ian Dury on the playlist, though I'm not sure how much he and Pure Prairie League would've worked out.

 
As long as it was from his New Boots and Panties album something might have worked out
 hayduke2 wrote:
his voice brings to mind Ian Dury perhaps singing along with The Pure Prairie League  {#Tongue-out}

 
There ought to be some Ian Dury on the playlist, though I'm not sure how much he and Pure Prairie League would've worked out.
May be I heard that already somhere, may I ?
his voice brings to mind Ian Dury perhaps singing along with The Pure Prairie League  {#Tongue-out}
I love this lyric.  It is apropos of the song's title:

The flaxen light
Off of the dying wheat
Your rye whiskey mouth
And your dandelion teeth
7 > 8
 LYS wrote:
love me some cracker! always fresh and crispy

 
You are a very wise person.
 kcar wrote:

A lot of Cracker songs that I've heard don't have great lyrics. The singer sounds so emotionally detached on this one that he reminds me of the "singer" from Cake. 

 
You need to listen to more Cracker.  Try the Gentleman's Blues album first,
love me some cracker! always fresh and crispy
 tiare wrote:
Seems like he is more in love with the sound of his voice, than singing anything substantial.

 
A lot of Cracker songs that I've heard don't have great lyrics. The singer sounds so emotionally detached on this one that he reminds me of the "singer" from Cake. 
Is this a dude from Camper Van Beethoven? Please: skip!!!
Would've been (only slightly) better as an acoustic song.
Beck next? Anything could top this. Boring as hell.
'Silver, Blue and Gold'?
Andrew Gold?
ANYthing.
 
 MojoJojo wrote:
He sings like...
 
I don't actually agree but I totally needed to see that today
relaxing
 
Bill's doing a gold theme. How appropriate since the price of gold is at an all-time high today.
Also very nice!
Seems like he is more in love with the sound of his voice, than singing anything substantial.
 Stranglersfan wrote:
I love Cracker!
 
nice with cheese

CRACKER - a misunderstood band!

PS
DAVID LOWERY just released a solo album!


TIP: DO NOT MISS "CRACKER live"...!
I love Cracker!
 holborne wrote:
Yeesh. I usually like Cracker, but this sounds to me like the sort of Lite Country stuff I'd hear on the local easy-listening station. Is it supposed to be ironic or something?
 
If an easy listening station played this... I would tune in.

This is the golden age for CEOs and Wall Street bankers....{#Grumpy}

,,now here's a Cracker song i like,,#8
He sings like...

 holborne wrote:
Yeesh. I usually like Cracker, but this sounds to me like the sort of Lite Country stuff I'd hear on the local easy-listening station. Is it supposed to be ironic or something?
 

Personally I listen here not because I'm expecting to hear specific genres,  quite the contrary I am looking for creative music played by great musicians and whether it is "lite country", jazz, R&B or whatever, I could care less.  This is certainly a good song played by one of the better bands of this decade. 
Going to see them next week.  Very excited!
crazy wrote:
sure it's not a peddle steel?
 
 
Hannio wrote:
Sure it's not a pedal steel?
 
I guess it depends on if you are trying to sell it or play it. {#Lol}
 crazy wrote:

sure it's not a peddle steel?
 

Sure it's not a pedal steel?
 Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
I can't decide what this song is trying to decide it wants to be.
ed 5/14/09—-sure took me a long time to get on board with these guys.  Just ordered their last album.  Like 'em.

 
I'm talking to myself now


Yeesh. I usually like Cracker, but this sounds to me like the sort of Lite Country stuff I'd hear on the local easy-listening station. Is it supposed to be ironic or something?
Ooh that beginning hurt me after the end of After the Goldrush.
Love Cracker. More Please!
i like beck's golden age much better
 lingchih wrote:
Nice slide guitar.
 
sure it's not a peddle steel?
Nice slide guitar.
Excelsior wrote:
If you look up 'mediocre' in the dictionary, Cracker's discography is listed there. Edit: Ok, the chorus just kicked in and now it's downright vomit-inducing.
Yeah, well if you look up "excelsior" in the dictionary it says: "Excelsior is a wood product made of aspen fibers, used in packaging, cushioning, stuffing of stuffed animals, and for the cooling pads in home evaporative cooling systems known as swamp coolers." So there. :-P
Excelsior wrote:
If you look up 'mediocre' in the dictionary, Cracker's discography is listed there. Edit: Ok, the chorus just kicked in and now it's downright vomit-inducing.
I agree
xkolibuul wrote:
I like Cracker, but when the chorus kicks in on this song, all I can think of is Peter Garrett belting out the identical chorus on Midnight Oil's 'The Golden Age'. And there's just no comparison.
You're right - there is no comparison. Despite the same line in the chorus, they are totally different songs meant to evoke different emotions in different styles, and I love them both!
Excelsior wrote:
If you look up 'mediocre' in the dictionary, Cracker's discography is listed there. Edit: Ok, the chorus just kicked in and now it's downright vomit-inducing.
Whatever.
Excelsior wrote:
If you look up 'mediocre' in the dictionary, Cracker's discography is listed there.
...oh please, greenland is first-rate work...
If you look up 'mediocre' in the dictionary, Cracker's discography is listed there. Edit: Ok, the chorus just kicked in and now it's downright vomit-inducing.
...that violin line in the background reminds of something by the church - from seance, maybe?..
is it just me or did it sound like Randy Newman was singing the chorus?
jimoore wrote:
This would sound good played buy some killer country guys. Kinda dumb and dull sounding here.
Yeah it does sound sorta silly. I looked up to see who was singing the silly song, and thought, "Oh. Cracker. Well."
I like Cracker, but when the chorus kicks in on this song, all I can think of is Peter Garrett belting out the identical chorus on Midnight Oil's 'The Golden Age'. And there's just no comparison.
Mari wrote:
This is The Golden Age!
This would sound good played buy some killer country guys. Kinda dumb and dull sounding here.
Fond of Cracker, but I just find this song boring and trite. If one is going to use a phrase like "Golden Age," one better make the song a true jewel. This isn't one.
Oregon_Steve wrote:
Awesome band, great album, great song.
I am really, really starting to like Cracker tons and bunches. I hated that song Low that was on every ten seconds, but it made me unfairly overlook the other stuff they have done, most of which is very good indeed.
Umm - it's fine. Kind of like an Old Milwaukee beer.
Since we are in a country vein, how about The Supersuckers "Must've Been High"? Just a wish...not expecting it here.
I can't decide what this song is trying to decide it wants to be.
ed 5/14/09—-sure took me a long time to get on board with these guys.  Just ordered their last album.  Like 'em.
Oregon_Steve wrote:
Awesome band, great album, great song.
Amen to that,
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Meh.
Ditto. Meh...
Pantagruel wrote:
Not bad at all: simple voice, simple drums ..reminds me of a Ringo Star song.
...damned with faint praise.
For me, discovering a new album for the first time usually occurs in my car. I always remember the scenes out the window and these landscapes become imprinted with the music I'm hearing (and vise versa). I always think of hot summer days when I hear this album (lazy days in June, Girls in summer dresses). Ahh, David Lowery is a great poet
-relayer- wrote:
Oregon_Steve wrote:
Awesome band, great album, great song.
This is The Golden Age!
Meh.
Love that steel guitar!
Not bad at all: simple voice, simple drums ..reminds me of a Ringo Star song.
eh, so-so.
jpeiv wrote:
My opinion, if you can't do it live at every show, then don't do it at all.
Fool.
Awesome band, great album, great song.
ralphcanoe wrote:
Love Cracker! Garage D"or was a great cd as well. What's up with these guys?
These guys are also Camper Van Beethoven with a slight change in the line-up. They have a new album out recently. Makes for a great night of music when both bands are on the same bill.
dig that low guitar bit..
Love Cracker! Garage D"or was a great cd as well. What's up with these guys?
Good Tune, damn good band.
Love this song!!!!!!!!
Most seem to like this song a lot so why the low 6.8? I gave it a 9!
I thought I was listening to a new Tom Petty tune. I like this band; once again RP has introduced me to something new! Thanks Bill!
Love Cracker! Great fit for RP!
What a great song, and a great sound!
I've seen Cracker on several tours and they were at their best when they toured behind The Golden Age. Sure the strings weren't there, but they are one of the tightest bands I've ever seen. Johnny Hickman is a ROCK STAR. I just wished it worked out with Bob Rupe.
Got it cranked and singing along. Love this song. Great way to end a work week. Thanks RP!
One of my favorites from an incredible band...brings back some good college memories.
KevDogRedux wrote:
I'm glad The Beatles didn't feel that way.
I knew I didn't agree with him, but couldn't figure out HOW to say it. You said it PERFECTLY!
jpeiv wrote:
When did they add a steel guitarist and a string section to the band? Sounds like a studio only thing to me. My opinion, if you can't do it live at every show, then don't do it at all.
I'm glad The Beatles didn't feel that way.
This song is so good. It's like riding to the beach or going home for the holidays.
At the very beginning, it had a Neil Young or CSN&Y sound. Maybe it's the pedal steel, which I really love when it's not paired with some twangy country singer.
So where's the Camper Van Beethoven?
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands.
I wish I had discovered Cracker in college . A friend turned me on to them about 5 years ago and they are a top five band for me now. They still tour too, though I've yet to see them. Will get around to it one of these days.
aslegros wrote:
... many of us become lost along the way.
Often, by reading others' posts... :-s Nice song, though.
Without a doubt, their best song! - The average man, in many ways, lives better than the ancient kings, in terms of comforts, and options (i.e. the availability of knowledge, travel opportunities). Yet, somehow, the spirit of man is looking for something else. Most of us are still searching for fulfillment or happiness somewhere else, and many of us become lost along the way.
DBCinCA wrote:
mmm, cracker yummy! Camper van Beethoven?
Yep, same lead singer.
mmm, cracker yummy! Camper van Beethoven?
I LOVE that RP appreciates & plays Cracker so much!!!
There is nothing like the sound of the pedal steel. This is a beautiful track.
Great stuff. I never get tired of Cracker.
no offense, but ENOUGH with the incessant Cracker already guys! :roll:
If I didn\'t know better I\'d swear this was The Kinks-- vocal style sounds just like Ray Davies. I like it... but can\'t help feeling an acoustic version would be better.
Originally Posted by Enrique: I think you are confusing maudlin with ironic.
Irrelevant - maudlin and ironic are not mutually exclusive.