APRIL 2005: Hello all, yes, I am still alive! See Personal Homepage for more! :)
APRIL 2005: Hello all, yes, I am still alive! See Personal Homepage for more! :)
Member since:18.08.2001
Reviews:61
Members who trust:27
Counting Crows always provide my soundtrack to Autumn. And Winter, when I think about it. But I never listen to their albums in the summer months because they simply don’t fit. Their music is melancholy, filled with poetic, middle-American melodies and eloquent words that are worthy of an episode of Dawson’s Creek or Party of Five. Which is quite fitting, because their work has been played in both TV shows. Other songs of theirs that feature on soundtracks include The Ghost in You on Clueless (hmm) and the wonderful heart-string-puller Colorblind on Cruel Intentions (the one that gives great piano).
August and Everything After (A&EA) is Counting Crows' first album. It was followed by Recovering the Satellites, Across a Wire and the most recent album release, This Desert Life. I was fortunate enough to see Counting Crows on their Recovering the Satellites tour at the Albert Hall in 1997. It was fantastic and would take ages to describe because when they play live, they alter practically all of their songs. If I ever get around to writing an op on Across a Wire (their live album) then I’ll talk more about it then.
Counting Crows - on this album - are comprised of Adam Duritz (lead vocals, piano and harmonica), Matt Malley (bass, vocals and guitar), Charlie Gillingham (piano, Hammond organ, accordion, chamberlain and vocals), Steve Bowman (drums and vocals) and Dave Bryson (guitars and vocals). All of the tracks (words AND music) on this album were written by Adam Duritz. Released in 1993, A&EA features the track that most people recognise as the work of Counting Crows – Mr Jones. Yes, that upbeat song that Radio One occasionally (though rarely) plays. But the rest of the tracks are remarkable, if not better.
TRACKS:
1) Round Here – I think this was once played on an episode of MTV’s Real World but God knows which one, there are so many! It begins with a simple guitar melody which is repeated throughout the song along with a steady drum and cymbal backing. The song is reminiscent of American smalltown life and builds to a crescendo with a bridge that is pretty rocking, with some great bass. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘In between the moon
and you, the angels get a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right’.
2) Omaha – ‘somewhere in middle America’. The essence is, again, a description of the America we rarely see – not glitzy, not tanned, no palm trees and no Starbucks. It speaks of farm life and the similar way in which everything is dealt with around here. It’s not one of my favourites, but is still a good song musically. Mostly minor verses with a more upbeat major chorus and use of an accordion and harmonica, which feature a lot in their songs. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘Get right to the heart of matters, it’s the heart that matters more, I think you better turn your ticket in and get your money back at the door’.
3) Mr Jones – the one you’ll all probably know. This is a fantastic song which is even better heard live. Briefly put, this song ROCKS. It’s all about rock and roll and how we all wish we were beautiful, successful, loved and even famous. The song tips its hat to Bob Dylan and is a great song to tap your feet to. I can’t put it really into words – it’s better that you listen to it (see details at end of op). Gorgeous line from this song = ‘Smiling in the bright lights, coming through in stereo, when everybody loves you, you can never be lonely’.
4) Perfect Blue Buildings – An introspective song which reeks of the blues and has a wonderfully slow, lilting melody. It’s a song to listen to when you’re not feeling your best. One of those slowtone songs that might mirror your downhearted mood, but will pick you up in the chorus with its smooth melody. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘You got an attitude of everything I ever wanted, I got an attitude of need, help me stay awake, I’m falling’.
5) Anna Begins – this is not only my favourite song on this album, not only my favourite song of Counting Crows’, but it’s also my favourite song of All Time. If you can go to the website that I’ve listed below please do, so that you can listen to a soundbite of this song. If it’s a live version, all the better. This is a love song with a difference, it’s nothing like anything I ever heard before. When I first heard this song with its irregular beat, I didn’t like it. But once I sat there and listened all the way through the obscure verses, the beautiful chorus, the dramatic bridge and the emotional ending, I fell in love. The achingly gorgeous piano, the magical percussion and the steady guitar make for the best song I have ever heard. There are so many gorgeous lines in this song, I am going to quote a few because I feel I have to try and do it justice.
‘She can’t stop shaking, I can’t stop touching her and this time, when kindness falls like rain, it washes her away and Anna begins to change her mind’
‘It’s not all that easy, so maybe I should snap her up in a butterfly net, pin her down on a photograph album’
‘Every time she sneezes I believe it's love and oh Lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing’
‘She’s talking in her sleep, it’s keeping me awake, and Anna begins to toss and turn, and every word is nonsense but I understand’
6) Time and Time Again – A song about lost love, as far as I can tell. Again, it begins with a steady, simple guitar melody which is gradually added to with percussion and more strings. It’s another slow song with a deceptively rocking bridge, but another perfect melody for an Autumn evening. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘I wanted to see you walking away from me, without the sensation of you leaving me alone’.
7) Rain King – In a similar strain to Mr Jones. I can’t understand why Counting Crows haven’t become more mainstream, but in a way I’m glad they’re not. It starts with a foot-tapping, almost country-and-western melody and goes straight into the first verse. From what I can deduce from the lyrics, it’s about believing in yourself and the beliefs that you might have about life and death etc. This song really portrays Adam Duritz’s wonderful voice and the musical talent of the band. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘I belong in the service of the Queen, I belong anywhere but in between. She’s been crying, I’ve been thinking and I am the Rain King’.
8) Sullivan Street – This song reminds me of a sunset, I don’t know why. It’s another lovely song with a gentle, lighthearted melody and a prevalent piano pattern. The chorus is the clincher for me, it’s a dramatic few lines interspersed in a gentle, homey song. Features backing vocals from Maria McKee (she of ‘Show Me Heaven’ fame)! Gorgeous line from this song = ‘I’m almost drowning in her sea, she’s nearly crawling on her knees, it’s almost everything I need’.
9) Ghost Train – This is quite an obscure song in a mainly minor tone. A lot of people will think the songs on this album are sullen because of their slow-paced, introspective nature but that’s what makes Counting Crows perfect for over-analysers who love heart-rending lyrics like me! Gorgeous line from this song = ‘Love is a ghost train rumbling through the darkness, hold on to me darling, I’ve got nowhere else to go’.
10) Raining in Baltimore – A very brief and very melancholy number. This song is comprised only of the voice of Adam Duritz and an accompanying piano, with a bit of melodic harmonica thrown in later on. Again, it’s very introspective and talks about lost love, so consequently it’s quite a downtone song, but it’s so very, very beautiful. Gorgeous line from this song = ‘There’s things I remember and things I’ll forget, I miss you, I guess that I should. Three thousand, five hundred miles away, what would you change if you could?’.
11) A Murder of One – One of three big rockers on this album, the other two being Mr Jones and Rain King. I think it’s about urging someone who doesn’t believe in themselves to spread their wings and fly, as it were. It’s very Dawson’s Creek-ish and a great finisher to a wonderful album. You can imagine it being the song played over a film of you and your lover kicking piles of leaves around and then spinning together on top of a hill in the dappled Autumn sunlight (or something similar!). Gorgeous line from this song = ‘There’s a bird that nests inside you, sleeping underneath your skin. When you open up your wings to speak, I wish you’d let me in’.
You can visit the band’s official website at www.countingcrows.com. Here you can find out more about the members, the discography, tour information (they’re only playing in the US at present), listen to audio and watch video clips and you can also register for the Counting Crows newsletter. If you’ve thought that any of the songs described in this op sound good, I implore you to visit their site so that you can listen to them. Maybe you'll even buy the album. But I promise you, it won’t be seconds you’ll regret losing.
PS) In case you're wondering, the op title is a line from Mr Jones.
PPS) They are not THE Counting Crows as many people insist on calling them, it's just Counting Crows.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
You have captured the mood of this album well. An album that has become the soundtrack for many peoples lives.
I might disagree with what some of the tracks are about, but that is the measure of the lyrics that they work on several levels.
Karla13 24.03.2004 10:20
The most amazing ablum of all time and a good op. Good to know I'm not a lone lover of Counting Crows x
Mauri 25.09.2001 16:47
I have heard this album, but never got round to buying it. Maybe I will now. A very good Op cheers
It's amazing the difference a year makes. Upon its release, August and Everything After ... more
sounded remarkably fresh, a welcome change from the crunch and screech of grunge. Blending the vocal athleticism of Van Morrison with the moody rock of The Band, th...
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Disc 1 Round Here Omaha Mr. Jones Perfect Blue Buildings Anna Begins Time And Time Again ... more
Rain King Sullivan Street Ghost Train Raining In Baltimore A Murder Of One Shallow Days (Acoustic Demo) Mean Jumper Blues (Acoustic Demo) Love And Addiction (Demo)...
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Advantages: Great songs, great to sing to, great to play to and rocks version of easy listening. Disadvantages: A bit dark and depressed in places but moreover suffering from a lack of warmth, but only in the recording.
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