Relive a little bit of a band's decade-long past. without ever leaving your driveway!

The band is Cracker and this is their story up till now.

"Garage D'Or" features sixteen of their best, worst and quirkiest-well maybe we'll save that for disc two-songs that each were plucked from their first four releases in succession from the point at which they began with their self-titled start.

The music, judging by our slow ascent up the ladder to the rooftop where the two members stand looking down at the passing years having contemplated their role in a society that's lacked a solid rock and roll footing, remains relatively stable.

The team of Lowery and Hickman, the voice and guitar that made the "Cracker Soul" soar to the prominence in which they find themselves today, have remained one of the true rock, alternative, rock, blues, rock, something else, and so on that have managed to switch gears smoothly throughout their existence without so much as a slight indication of grinding to a halt-the three new songs at the conclusion go far in revealing that.

Manageable and dynamic, Cracker's music generally walks on the sunnier side of the yard, in spite of titles like "Teen Angst," "Low," and "Get off This," all of which put 'em immediately on the radio fast track to top 40 success.

Similarly, a song like "Low," or the underground fan fave "Euro-Trash Girl" shows, as pleasant sounding as they could be, they wouldn't be against passing under a shady tree from time to time.

As we delve further into these hand picked selections, their groovin' cover of the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action" plays the role of dividing line between the first and last two albums here, and the guys do a charged-up Clash-like rendition of what first appeared on the "Clueless" movie soundtrack.

Moving away from the self-titled debut and '93's "Kerosene Hat," which is hard to believe is even that old, one of their best recordings from an adventuresome wandering in "The Golden Age," and "Sweet Thistle Pie," steamrolls its way into the picture.

I can almost visualize old Neil Young scowling his way onto the credits here with this edgy guitar sequence-or is that him doing the harmonica?

Very yesterday sounding, a little against the traditionally pop-hearted playfulness of earlier on-this one rocks and grinds-very Stone's-like, with sugar-coated female backing to deliver the. gospel!

Another off the same record, "I'm a Little Rocket Ship" sees the return of the upbeat nature, still in possession of a larger guitar strum, and very Oasis-like melodies on a habitual chorus.

And let's just finish this one off with "Big Dipper," which has the nostalgic feel that rides a gentle piano-based breeze over light guitar parts leading you back to that one shining moment of your past.

"The Golden Age," which came out in '96, judging by only the three songs found here, could well be Cracker's most expansive stretch in recording. Rounding up, with two cuts from their most recent "Gentlemen's Blues" release from '98, "Been Around the World" has the vibe going for it, ala Mr. Petty in one of his Southernmost moments.

Twelve minutes later we're almost ready to close the door here at the conclusion of three new songs that reach more toward their past, with an interesting, very English sounding take on "Eyes of Mary," that wouldn't be far off to suggest a potential head turner at modern rock radio.

Disc 2 features twelve tracks that must have seen the Cracker duo highly influenced by a Country/Western spin at some time in their lives. With the grit and grime of a Hank Williams Jr., seemingly every song here ranges from bluesy, to folksy, to swing and sway, hand clapping, foot tapping appeal.

Lets look toward "Surfbilly," to momentarily rock the waves, "Hollywood Cemetary," don't know why but great title, "I Want Out of the Circus (live)," one of those quirkier pieces first mentioned about an hour ago, and let's go with "Rainy Days and Mondays" for that mood it puts you in.

Released by Virgin Music

Review by Vinnie Apicella