Cracker Factory

Cracker Factory is a band operating on blind audacity. You’re not supposed to make music that sounds as grungy and bare bones rock as theirs anymore, but please don’t tell them that. Since their first effort way back in the early aughts they’ve been unable to write anything but drum and guitar driven, proggy rock songs, whose anachronistic feel is easily forgotten because they’re just so fun to listen to.

RL Heyer (Flowmotion, True Spokes) is in full freak-flag-flying-form as the Factory's foreman, and his guitar work and writing immediately overshadow his other efforts (save for maybe that little festival he’s been putting on for over a decade now). This happens partly because of the production work of Scott Colburn, but mostly because of the questionable shit happening on their albums. It only takes the band until the second, eponymous track to veer from their stoner rock trail into a twelve minute epic adventure of cynicism slaying guitar heroics; antics that got me questioning, why the hell not have a howling, defiant, good old fashioned rock and roll freak out right at the start of the album? Who wants to wait for that? Not me. Then the next song "Thruster" is just is a minute and half of someone playing what sounds like the worlds smallest marimba, which as a transitional piece is pretty effective. "Modern Age" follows, with an amazing intro, though, full of delay effects and distorted apreggio that writhes its way into a progressive rock number.

In truth, Cracker Factory was already baring these kinds of bones on their 2007 effort Mouth Breather, but that album was once again born in the wrong era. A sweaty, rusty album completely devoid of pop sheen (save for some ingenious hooks) is probably what landed the band on hiatus, to work on other, less funky projects which people might understand.

Nowadays, though, the kids are more open minded, eager to glom onto the next noisy thing, download it into their lives, and distribute it to the annoyance of everyone around them, bombarding their surroundings with microwaves hoping for a single echo to return, a blip on the radar, a bright spot in the bleak unknown that says “ you’re not alone”. Cracker Factory shouts the sentiment themselves on their song "Even Tempered": “I wish that I / Was more even tempered / But maybe that would make me less in-tune” and in truth, RL Heyer's singing in this particular song couldn’t be more out of tune, but his choice to let it ride (despite having grammy award winning options for vocal alteration at his disposal) is what gives the band their rubbed-raw, off kilter, perfectly comfy with who we are sound.

No One Knows We’re Here ends with what feels like the beginning of a long journey. Sitar drops meditatively over the intro to "It's Nice To Believe", as song that states “And I care if you don't believe it / You'll be fine / If and when you do”. The sitar effect is soon shrouded in guitar licks and cymbal crashes. Heyer wails every lyric. The song could have been recorded in 1994. It could be a Mad Season track, or a Temple Of The Dog B-side, but it’s here now, and you can see it for free at their album release party at Seamonster Lounge on Nov. 30th. - The Stranger

“From simple things great things sometimes emerge. I Know Two Notes from Seattle’s Cracker Factory is like a zen mantra from a sensei that loves Anvil and The Stooges. Listen once and you will not shake this lil’ melody, and when combined with the freakish bong hit cousin of a classic Atari console game video (delivered with aplomb by director Andrew Woods) it’s even more memorable. Cracker Factory dedicates themselves to big balled gonzo rock in a wholly appealing way. They’re currently working on their third album, No One Knows We’re Here, which is being co-produced by engineer/producer Scott Colburn – always a sign that one should pay attention since Colburn only messes with the good shit.” - Dirty Impound