Album Notes

With the release of their 4th record, Call It What You Want, Crackpot have returned with renewed power and energy and an ongoing sense of appealing pop-rock melody and hooks. Playing music and making records together for 10+ years, the Chicago-based trio of Colm Stephens, Jimmy Timble and Kevin Stephens continue to rock forward finding the thrill and excitement in an oftentimes thankless and grueling business.

Comparisons to The Replacements, Dinosaur Jr., Uncle Tupelo and Superchunk aptly describe the sound and feel of Crackpot's latest release. Reunited with recording engineer/producer and diehard Cubs fan, Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, Duvall, Uncle Tupelo), Crackpot have produced their strongest material to date--so says Richard Milne of WXRT 93.1FM Radio Chicago. "Better than the Buffalo Tom version," says Chris Colbourn of Crackpot's cover of his song "Impossible". "One of Chicago's hidden gems," says WLUW 88.7FM Loyola University radio host Jed James.

Infamous Chicago rock 'n' roll poet, Thax Douglas calls Crackpot one of his favorite bands. And with 3 different Crackpot-inspired poems, Douglas has placed Crackpot in the company of indie rock heavyweights Wilco, Conor Oberst, M. Ward and Local H among others. In basement bars across the midwest as well as Chicago strongholds Metro, Double Door and Schuba's, Crackpot can rock just about any room including their home away from home Phyllis' Musical Inn on Division St.

The spirit of Crackpot is probably best captured by their 1990 Dodge van prominently featured on the cover art for Call It What You Want, band T-shirts and posters. Often written off as dead or dying, the van displays surprising stamina and wherewithal and perhaps like the band itself a knuckle-headed desire to keep on going.