Uncle Kracker 'Happy Hour' album

Uncle Kracker closes a five-year gap between albums with the September 15th release of "Happy Hour," his fourth full-length effort and first outing since "Seventy Two and Sunny" in 2004.

"Smile," the first single, which impacts Hot AC on July 13th, from the 12-song set and "probably the most positive song I've ever written," says Uncle Kracker is streaming at his official web site, unclekracker.com. "Happy Hour" (Atlantic) was produced mostly by Rob Cavallo, with one track produced by Kid Rock ("Good to Be Me") and another by S*A*M & Sluggo ("Hot Mess").

"It's a pop-rock record, still with a little country (and) soul fused through it, not a big departure from anything I've done before," Uncle Kracker (real name Matt Shafer) reports. "There's more uptempo than there is on my last three records. I'm pretty stoked about it."

Uncle Kracker, whose greatest success came with his hit 2002 remake of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away," says that he actually recorded an entirely different album about three years ago but ultimately "wasn't really convinced that I had the right record." He wound up scrapping the set and went to work with Cavallo, who he says "kicked my ass...There was a lot of cussin' going on at first. It took me out of my comfort zone. It took me out of everything I knew and backed me into a corner pretty much. Everything just felt different, but I got to a point where I thought different was better for me. I couldn't be happier, to tell you the truth."

Uncle Kracker wrote two songs on the album ("Good to Be Me" and "I Hate California") with Brett James, who co-wrote "When the Sun Goes Down," his 2004 hit with Kenny Chesney, and another, "Corner Bar," with Martin "Tino" Gross of Detroit's Howling Diablo. The latter features Dave Matthews Band trumpeter Rashawn Ross.

The overall tone of "Happy Hour," he says, "is pretty positive in light of everything that's going on in the world," and certainly in comparison to "Seventy Two and Sunny," which dealt with since-resolved problems in his home life. "I made a conscious decision to try something positive. It's what I needed. it's a positive spin on everything."

A promotional tour is being set up, and he's hoping to launch an extensive concert tour in the fall. Uncle Kracker knows he's been out of sight for longer than he anticipated, but he's confident fans will still turn out for "Happy Hour."

"When I do play I see 'em," he notes. "I see people come out and people come up and we get emails and the fan mail. I know the people that are there are still there. You just always hope to pick up a few more along the way. It doesn't concern me much, really, not as much as it may concern other people, I guess."

more Uncle Kracker information
Uncle Kracker has announced the forthcoming release of his eagerly anticipated new album, "HAPPY HOUR." The Detroit-based singer/songwriter's 12-song collection arrives in stores and at all digital retailers on September 15th.

"HAPPY HOUR" is being preceded by the first single, "Smile." The track landed at Hot AC radio outlets nationwide on June 16th, while a companion music video is currently in pre-production, with plans to shoot in the Motor City later this month.

Produced by multiple Grammy Award-winner Rob Cavallo (Kid Rock, Green Day, Paramore), "HAPPY HOUR" sees Uncle Kracker continuing to craft his idiosyncratic blend of country-flavored pop and rock 'n' roll. Although initially known for his role as DJ in Kid Rock's legendary Twisted Brown Trucker band, Uncle Kracker has also played a significant role as Kid Rock's songwriting collaborator, with co-writing credits on such blockbuster hits as "Bawitdaba," "Cowboy," "Forever," "Only God Knows Why," and 2008's #1 classic, "All Summer Long."

"'HAPPY HOUR' is undoubtedly sonically his best record, and I also think it's his best written record," said Kid Rock about his best friend's new album and latest release on his Top Dog imprint. "And it should be, 'cuz he's had like 4 or 5 f*cking years to write it."

In 2001, Uncle Kracker stepped into the spotlight, making a stunning solo debut with "DOUBLE WIDE." Fueled by the #1 smash, "Follow Me," the album exploded into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and went on to double-platinum success.

"NO STRANGER TO SHAME" followed in 2002, highlighted by the top 10 Hot AC hit, "In A Little While," as well as Uncle Kracker's second chart-topping single, a cover of Dobie Gray's classic "Drift Away." The track reached the top 10 on Billboard's "Hot 100" while also setting the record for most weeks at #1 on the AC chart, remaining atop the format's ranking for a remarkable 22 straight weeks.

2004's "SEVENTY TWO AND SUNNY" showcased Uncle Kracker's melodic songwriting and a unique stylistic synthesis of pop, rock, country, soul, blues, and even doo-wop. That same year, "When The Sun Goes Down," his collaboration with country superstar Kenny Chesney, gave Uncle Kracker his third #1 success on a third different chart -- the song sat atop Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" chart for five consecutive weeks.

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