Despite the promising title, upbeat acoustic guitars and song titles like "Happy Family," "Hero's In Town" and "Hanging With the Clowns," Another Day by the decade-old Dutch band Racoon is a dark slab of what seems like laid-back alterna-pop circa the mid-Nineties. But this album goes beyond commercial music – hell, it's too smart for most mainstream audiences – and grabs you with its lyrical depth, melodic retro roots and savvy sense of composition.
Another factor that sets Another Day apart from your average North American release is that U.S. promotion and marketing of this, Racoon's third album, is bankrolled by the Dutch government. That's how much international promise these guys hold in the eyes of their countrymen. The band has only performed a single show in the United States, but Another Day is steeped in American music, taking influences from Lindsey Buckingham, Live, Paul Simon and Counting Crows. Other reference points include Crowded House and U2. Another Day, whose 14 songs whiz by in less than 45 minutes, has already earned platinum status in Holland; it deserves at least the same fate in the United States.
Track Listing:
1) Happy Family
2) Hero's In Town
3) Love You More
4) Laugh About It
5) Blow Your Tears
6) Couple of Guys
7) Got To Get Out
8) Brother
9) Kingsize
10) Lose Another Day
11) If You Know What I Mean
12) Walk Away
13) Hanging With the Clowns
14) Close Your Eyes
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