''The Golden Age'' is the third studio album by American

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band Cracker. It was released on April 2, 1996, by Virgin. Three singles were released from the album: "I Hate My Generation," "Nothing to Believe in," and "Sweet Thistle Pie."

Critical reception

The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' wrote: "Although irritatingly self-indulgent and arrogant at times, Lowery occasionally borders on brilliance. It’s possible that someone in the future will delve deeply into ''The Golden Age'' and find the portent of Sly Stone’s ''There’s a Riot Going On''. For now, the album just feels slightly uninspired." ''Alternative Rock'' called it "drily disappointing."

Track listing

All tracks written by David Lowery and

Johnny Hickman John Arthur Hickman (born September 10, 1959) is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Cracker (band), Cracker. Biography Early years Hickman is a native of Redlands, California, Redlands in San ...

, except where noted. # "I Hate My Generation" – 2:57 # "I'm a Little Rocket Ship" – 3:23 # "Big Dipper" (Lowery) – 5:40 # "Nothing to Believe In" (Lowery, Hickman,

Bob Rupe The Silos is an American rock band formed by Walter Salas-Humara and Bob Rupe in New York City, United States in 1985. History Prior to starting the Silos, Salas-Humara had been a member of The Vulgar Boatmen, and Bob Rupe was in Florida band ...

) – 3:25 # "The Golden Age" – 3:44 # "100 Flower Power Maximum" (Lowery, Hickman, Rupe) – 2:39 # "Dixie Babylon" – 7:09 # "I Can't Forget You" (Lowery) – 4:08 # "Sweet Thistle Pie" – 5:00 # "Useless Stuff" – 2:19 # "How Can I Live Without You" – 3:27 # "Bicycle Spaniard" – 4:26

Chart performance

Musicians

Cracker: * David Lowery – lead & backing vocals, guitar, synthesizer, Peavey analog filter, mellotron, handclaps, string arrangements, bass *

– lead guitar, backing vocals, guitar three hand, synthesizer, baritone guitar, talkbox, harmonica *

– bass, synthesizers, synthesized bass, backing vocals *

Charlie Quintana Gonzalo Quintana III (January 29, 1962 – March 12, 2018), also known as Charlie Quintana or Chalo, was an American rock and punk drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band The Plugz and as the drummer for the punk rock band Soci ...

– drums Guests: * Dennis Herring – acoustic guitar, mellotron, string arrangements *

Charlie Gillingham Charles Thomas Gillingham (born January 26, 1960) is a keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist best known for his performance on the Hammond B-3 organ, accordion, piano, and keyboards for the band Counting Crows. He has also played the bass guitar ...

– organ *

David Immergluck David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

– pedal steel, backing vocals *

Johnny Hott Johnny Hott was the drummer for the House of Freaks, a musical duo with singer/guitarist Bryan Harvey. He was also one of three drummers for the band Cracker. He has also played drums for indie supergroup Gutterball and drums and keyboards fo ...

– percussion, programming * David Campbell – string arrangements * Eddie Bayers – drums, percussion * Jim Cox – piano * Rob Hajacos –

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

* John Hobbs – piano * Tony Maimone – bass *

Joan Osborne Joan Elizabeth Osborne (born July 8, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, and interpreter of music, having recorded and performed in various popular American musical genres including rock, pop, soul, R&B, blues, and country. She is best kn ...

– backing vocals

Strings

* Arranged & conducted by David Campbell * Bob Becker, Denyse Buffum – viola * Larry Corbett – cello, viola * Armen Garabedian – violin * Peter Kent – violin, concert master *

Sid Page Sid Page is an American violinist who has been active in many genres of music since the late 1960s. He has been a member of Dan Hicks (singer), Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. From 1973 to 1974, he was a member of Sly and the Family Stone and appea ...

– violin, concert master * Suzie Katayama – cello, contractor * Bob Peterson – violin *

Katia Popov Katia Popov ( bg, Катя Попов; 3 March 1965 – 18 May 2018), born in Bulgaria and later living in California, was a violinist, playing as soloist, in chamber music and in orchestras; she was concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. ...

– violin * Michelle Richards – violin * Bonnie Douglas Shure – violin * Paul Shure – violin,

theremin The theremin (; originally known as the ætherphone/etherphone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox) is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer (who is known as a thereminist). It is named afte ...

Production

*Produced By Dennis Herring & David Lowery *Joe Chiccarelli – engineer, recording *Wayne Cook – engineer *Chris Fuhrman – engineer, overdubs *Richard Hasal – engineer, overdubs *Amy Hughes – assistant engineer *Jim Labinski – assistant engineer *

Marc Mann Marc Mann is an American keyboardist, guitarist, programmer, arranger and conductor. He has a Master's Degree in Music from UCLA. Mann is known for his work with Oingo Boingo, Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra. Mann is credited as perf ...

– engineer *Skidd Mills – assistant engineer *John Morand – assistant engineer *Csaba Petocz – engineer *Steve Sisco – mixing * Andy Wallace – mixing *Howie Weinberg – mastering *David Work – digital manipulation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Age, The 1996 albums Cracker (band) albums Virgin Records albums Albums arranged by David Campbell (composer) Albums produced by David Lowery (musician)