Album Spotlight

Counting Crows - 'Films About Ghosts - The Best Of' (Geffen 2003)

Track Listing
Angels Of The Silences
Round Here
Rain King
A Long December
Hangingaround
Mrs. Potter's Lullaby
Mr. Jones
Recovering The Satellites
American Girls
Big Yellow Taxi
Omaha
Friends Of The Devil (New Recording)
Einstein On The Beach (For An Eggman)
Anna Begins
Holiday In Spain
She Don't Want Nobody Near (New Recording)

Reviewing the Counting Crows career to date with this "best of" retrospective has given me a chance to listen to, absorb and finally understand a band I have spent the past 10 years purposefully avoiding. Not because I dislike the band, far from it - outside the smash hit 'Mr Jones' I have not listened to any of the songs before (yes, even their version of 'Big Yellow Taxi'), thus 'Films About Ghosts' plays like a fresh album rather than an exhaustive collection of hits many fans will moan don't include song X or unrated gem Y. With my viewpoint out of the way, I will say for a band I avoided simply because they were grouped with the unfortunate 'Hootie & The Blowfish' roots-rock scene that as an Englishman didn't relate to, I've come to appreciate many of Counting Crows most acclaimed songs.

With four consistent studio albums to cherry-pick from, there are plenty of highlights to savour. Take the near 8 minute 'Mrs Potter's Lullaby' a jaunty and even upbeat mid-tempo rocker that I could imagine being played in coffee shops all over America or fan favourite 'A Long December', folk at it's most poignant and catchy. Talking of catchy, there are two recent pop singles in 'American Girls' used on a Coke Commercial (oh the corporative shame!) and of course the silky smooth cover of 'Big Yellow Taxi' with Vanessa Carlton's sexy backing vocals. After the low-selling 'This Desert Life' (1999) and 'Hard Candy' (2002) records, these singles were welcome boosts to a declining in commercial fortune band. 'Big Yellow Taxi' is the sort of cover perfectly chosen by the band as it fit's their laid-back style to a tee. I especially enjoy 'Hanginaround' with piano and genuinely affectively vocal from main-man Adam Duritz, the "face" of Counting Crows. As I brought up the subject of Adam, it's true he is overall focus despite the proficiency of the musicians he surrounds himself. I wouldn't recognise Dan Vickrey or Steve Bowman (guitarist & drummer respectively) if I bumped into them in the street, such is their anonymity to me. Well you could say Nickelback are a one-man band and many others (cough *Weezer*) so it's not like it's a major issue.

Coming to Track 7, AKA 'Mr Jones' it's very easy why it became such a monster hit, the opening guitar line instantly memorable leading into the busking standard chorus that's played in many train stations across London. I like 'Angels Of The Silences' even more, an intelligent choice of opening track from 'Recovering The Satellites' - possibly the most energetic song on the compilation. However, it's fair to say the most accomplished and strongest cuts are off the debut 'August & Everything After', easily the bands most successful record, one that I'm now considering buying after hearing the likes of 'Round Here', 'Omaha' and 'Anna Begins'.

Despite my estimation of the band increasing tenfold, there's still the middle-of-the-road factor that also taint Dave Matthews Band, Train, Sheryl Crow and their countless ilk. It is the earthy heart-on-the-sleeve song-writing, with solid yet unspectacular backing musicians that appeal to all the dreamers and lovers wanting maturity and safeness in their music. Nothing wrong with that of course, it's a high lucrative market especially in America. But I need some excitement to go with the steady melodies, so listening to Counting Crows is for hanging around, not running around.

Thanks to the kind people at buzztone.com for sending me a promo copy

Created - 13 Apr 2004