A little let down
Okay. So I just got the new Counting Crows record and what little excitement I had for it in anticipation was kind of sunk after I listened to it. Now, I only have listened to it once and I do make quick judgements on things when I sometimes need to give them more time. So I will try to give it more of a fighting chance. But what I heard at first listen was disappointing. I would love to hear from John Knight on this one because I know he is a fan and I would like to know his opinion on the album. I think for me it is just when a band makes an incredible, life changing album, (That's right, I said Life changing), or in their case, two of them, you always keep hoping that they will bring it again and just keep getting better. Naturally, most artists who start with their best work have a difficult time repeating that genius. So I'm not surprised, just disappointed. But that being said, August and Everything After and Recovering the Sattelites were albums that forever changed the way I looked at music. The honesty and beauty of each song is like a fine wine that gets better with each sip. Because of that, they will always be one of my favorite bands. Just wanted to rant a little bit on the subject. Please comment if you feel like you can add anything to the subject. On a daydreamer's note, have you ever listened to music while looking up at the stars, either in the back of a car or lying down outside somewhere? If you haven't done it, you need to, at least once before you die. May I recommend August and Everything After. I think the album was meant for star gazing. At least daydreaming for sure! Bye for now.
posted by Brent Hitman at 10:54 AM
3 Comments:
I totally agree with you about "August" and daydreaming / stargazing. I've only listened to the album once all the way through, but I actually think it's one of their better albums. I see it as a continuation of "Recovering the Satellites", both lyrically and musically. The difference is it has the production of "Hard Candy", which is a bit of a double-edged sword. Though it's not near as poetic as "August", nor as wonderfully raw as "Satellites", in my mind it trumps "Hard Candy" and is at least as good as "This Desert Life". Songs like "Cowboys" and "Come Around" are as good as anything they've ever done. I think the key is I'm in a different place than I was, and so are they, so it'll never be quite the same as it was. "August" will always have a special place in my heart, but I think that after "Hard Candy", they certainly met my expectations, and may have exceeded them a little. Sorry for taking over the comment section.
Granted, songs about "tranny whores" and "colored rubbers" aren't quite on par with "this graveyard western sky" or "the anger and the eloqence bleeding into fear".
Hey John,
thanks for the comments. I actually listened to it again since I wrote the post and I think you nailed it. It is certainly better than "Hard Candy" and is at least as good as "This Desert Life". I also aggree about songs like "Cowboys" and "Come Around". But as you said also, the poetic genuis that seemed to be there all the way through "This Desert Life" is not quite the same.
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