David Lowery has always been the articulate, inspired, not-afraid-to-let-go-on-stage type of singer for which I am a sucker. Show some passion and an ability to both understand and play music that has roots to songs that came before it, and I may be hooked. And I really like it if they can politely rock the shit out of their own tunes.
Lowery is the frontman for the band Cracker, and also – for those with any memory of 80’s college rock – Camper Van Beethoven. He’s launched a blog that may prove to the the best rock music writing of 2010. On 300songs.com, Lowery writes about each of 300 songs he has penned. But the genius of the execution – the reason the writing becomes more than simple narcissism – is because of the detours he takes, into stories that feel like letters from a friend.
Stories about taking his band into Las Vegas with his band for th first time. Squaring old disagreements. Explaining the history and intrigue of the Lost Coast of California. Including chord charts and lyrics for the featured song. How’s that for a start?
Always, Lowery is writing interesting prose -the Hunter Thompson version of the truth. Real and slightly psychedelic.
Whether or not you are a fan who has seen the band at The Vogue or Birdy’s or a festival in Indy, you can trust me: the music he’s made with Cracker has been some of the best rock/Americana/alt-country/whatever of the past 20 years.
Now we get a proudly woozy blog – about songs I haven’t even heard, but know I need to. Especially now., because Lowery made me want to.
Read it here
Lowery is slated to release his first-ever solo record, The Palace Guards on February 1, 2011 on Savoy/429 Records.
VIDEO: Cracker – “Eurotrash Girl”, with some of guitarist Johnny Hickman’s fine raunch.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Vun2LYnoY]