|
In what could read like the soundtrack of my head for the past 10 years, the
latest release from Counting Crows is a collection of songs from their first
four albums, and a few one-offs and cover gems thrown in. These guys somehow
write simple songs that tell interesting stories, and have melodies as memorable
as anything out there post-Beatles. Singer Adam Duritz has a voice that may have
initially reminded us of Van Morrison, but now is as recognizable and
comfortable as the old running shoes I can’t seem to throw away.
Songs on this collection that were huge hits at one time include “Round Here,”
“Rain King” and “Mr. Jones” from the band’s debut August and Everything After;
“A Long December” and “Angels of the Silences” from Recovering the Satellites;
“Hangin’ Around” from This Desert Life; and “American Girls” from the most
recent full-length, Hard Candy. There are also anthems for die-hard Crows fans
like “Omaha,” “Anna Begins” and “Holiday in Spain.” Thrown in for good measure
are the wildly popular cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and a new
version of “Friend of the Devil” by the Grateful Dead. “Einstein on the Beach”
was also a big hit in the mid-1990s, but as a rare single from a DGR
compilation. Finally, there is a new song, “She Don’t Want Nobody Near,” which
is vintage Counting Crows all the way and easily finds a home on this record.
Of course there are notable omissions, like “Sullivan Street,” “Colorblind” and
“Raining in Baltimore.” But with so many great songs to choose from, I’m only
glad they didn’t ask me to make those choices. There are a lot of great bands
out there, but the Counting Crows is one that exudes star quality while somehow
remaining humble and not straying far from their own success formula, which is
built around the songs. Films About Ghosts is bound to not be the first
collection of greatest hits for these guys. So stick around.
~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
|
 |
|
