It's The Ones Who've Cracked That The Light Shines Through
Encyclopedia
It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through is the second album by anti-folk
artist Jeffrey Lewis
. It was released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records
.
Reviews:
"At first, Jeffrey Lewis’ songs seem like jokes. His voice sounds nerdy, the lyrics ramble nonsensically and the guitar chords are the most primitive you’ve probably heard since grade-school music camp. But stick with it long enough and the payoff comes in smart and detailed narratives that nail the human condition. Lewis made his debut in 2002 with “The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and Other Favorites.” The latest CD, recorded with his brother Jack, on bass, boasts the equally fetching title above. On both records, Lewis’ primitivist music and surreal lyrics recall ‘60s folk satirists the Fugs and David Peel
. In fact, the songwriter sprang from the “anti-folk” movement which recalls those East Village performers. Lewis also has a career as an underground comic-book artist. Like his drawings, his music is witty, animated and true." – Jim Farber, New York Daily News, August 9, 2002
"There’s no doubt ‘It’s The Ones Who’ve Cracked That The Light Shines Through’ will end up in Best Of 2003 lists everywhere come the end of the year. Because it really is a genuinely superb record – sharp, dry and wry, it should make Lewis (who’s also a comic book writer) famous. And this despite its simple approach to musicianship - mostly it’s just Jeffrey and his guitar. Immediately striking is the wit embedded in the opening number, ‘Back When I Was 4’, you’ll laugh out loud or die trying not to, and from there on in will be bowled over by some acute observations and unusual warmth. He weaves his tales of growing up particularly well, and such yarns can’t help but connect. There are elements of Loudon Wainwright III
, Tenacious D
and Bright Eyes
here, though it’s Lewis’ individualism that’s really the key. Inspired stuff." - (4 stars of 5) Barfly
"As Bob Dylan
proved early in his career, there’s a very fine line between outsider folk and a comedy record. The shaggy dog, talking blues about post-apocalyptic monkeys and farmers’ daughters from Another Side Of may have sunk to the bottom of Dylan’s catalog, but their rambunctious goofiness shines on in Jeffrey Lewis, one of a new generation of New York anti-folksters. On his second full-length for Rough Trade, the 27-year-old cartoonist brings his cracking voice to bear on the pressing issues of the age: rampaging ghouls, towers of turtles and the fact that no, he doesn’t want to do any acid, thank you. The wackiness of Cracked is charming, but the real highlights of the record are songs where Lewis turns his wide-eyed language on more personal matters. “I hope that the art school enjoys your big painting of ruin,” he sighs on “Alphabet.” “We’ve all got good things to do, and it’s good when we do them.” Packed with these strangely perfect bons mots and buoyed by a heroically unhip sense of wonder, Lewis’ lyrics are as tight as his guitar playing is weak. But so what if his musicianship has all the finesse of a dorm-floor sing-along? Lewis specializes in a rambling, autobiographical style that reassures and entertains more than it startles or amazes. It’s good, but not great, and Lewis will likely never quite get around to penning his Blowin' in the Wind
or My Back Pages
. But the stories on Cracked are bright, funny and warm-hearted. Sometimes, that’s more than enough. " - MAGNET
's "Anthem" on his 1992 album "The Future". (There is a crack in everything / That's how the light gets in. ) Lewis also references Cohen in his track "The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song".
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
artist Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic book artist.-Early life:Lewis attended State University of New York at Purchase and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Literature...
. It was released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
.
Reviews:
"At first, Jeffrey Lewis’ songs seem like jokes. His voice sounds nerdy, the lyrics ramble nonsensically and the guitar chords are the most primitive you’ve probably heard since grade-school music camp. But stick with it long enough and the payoff comes in smart and detailed narratives that nail the human condition. Lewis made his debut in 2002 with “The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and Other Favorites.” The latest CD, recorded with his brother Jack, on bass, boasts the equally fetching title above. On both records, Lewis’ primitivist music and surreal lyrics recall ‘60s folk satirists the Fugs and David Peel
David Peel
David Peel is a New York-based musician who first recorded in the late 1960s with Harold Black, Billy Joe White, and Larry Adam performing as David Peel and The Lower East Side Band...
. In fact, the songwriter sprang from the “anti-folk” movement which recalls those East Village performers. Lewis also has a career as an underground comic-book artist. Like his drawings, his music is witty, animated and true." – Jim Farber, New York Daily News, August 9, 2002
"There’s no doubt ‘It’s The Ones Who’ve Cracked That The Light Shines Through’ will end up in Best Of 2003 lists everywhere come the end of the year. Because it really is a genuinely superb record – sharp, dry and wry, it should make Lewis (who’s also a comic book writer) famous. And this despite its simple approach to musicianship - mostly it’s just Jeffrey and his guitar. Immediately striking is the wit embedded in the opening number, ‘Back When I Was 4’, you’ll laugh out loud or die trying not to, and from there on in will be bowled over by some acute observations and unusual warmth. He weaves his tales of growing up particularly well, and such yarns can’t help but connect. There are elements of Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
, Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
and Bright Eyes
Bright Eyes
Bright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music...
here, though it’s Lewis’ individualism that’s really the key. Inspired stuff." - (4 stars of 5) Barfly
"As Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
proved early in his career, there’s a very fine line between outsider folk and a comedy record. The shaggy dog, talking blues about post-apocalyptic monkeys and farmers’ daughters from Another Side Of may have sunk to the bottom of Dylan’s catalog, but their rambunctious goofiness shines on in Jeffrey Lewis, one of a new generation of New York anti-folksters. On his second full-length for Rough Trade, the 27-year-old cartoonist brings his cracking voice to bear on the pressing issues of the age: rampaging ghouls, towers of turtles and the fact that no, he doesn’t want to do any acid, thank you. The wackiness of Cracked is charming, but the real highlights of the record are songs where Lewis turns his wide-eyed language on more personal matters. “I hope that the art school enjoys your big painting of ruin,” he sighs on “Alphabet.” “We’ve all got good things to do, and it’s good when we do them.” Packed with these strangely perfect bons mots and buoyed by a heroically unhip sense of wonder, Lewis’ lyrics are as tight as his guitar playing is weak. But so what if his musicianship has all the finesse of a dorm-floor sing-along? Lewis specializes in a rambling, autobiographical style that reassures and entertains more than it startles or amazes. It’s good, but not great, and Lewis will likely never quite get around to penning his Blowin' in the Wind
Blowin' in the Wind
"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of questions about peace, war and freedom...
or My Back Pages
My Back Pages
"My Back Pages" is a song written by Bob Dylan and included on his 1964 album, Another Side of Bob Dylan. It is stylistically similar to his earlier folk protest songs and features Dylan's voice with an acoustic guitar accompaniment...
. But the stories on Cracked are bright, funny and warm-hearted. Sometimes, that’s more than enough. " - MAGNET
Track listing
- "Back When I Was 4"
- "Alphabet"
- "No LSD Tonight"
- "Don't Let the Record Label Take You Out to Lunch"
- "Gold"
- "Texas"
- "Sea Song"
- "Arrow"
- "Zaster"
- "If You Shoot the Head You Kill the Ghoul"
- "I Saw a Hippie Girl on 8th Ave"
- "Graveyard"
- "You Don't Have to Be a Scientist to Do Experiments on Your Own Heart"
Information
The album and track title is similar to a lyrics in Leonard CohenLeonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Anthem" on his 1992 album "The Future". (There is a crack in everything / That's how the light gets in. ) Lewis also references Cohen in his track "The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song".