This edition of Jason’s Jukebox covers one of my favorite folk rock bands, the Counting Crows. Named after a nursery rhyme, the group was founded by Adam Duritz in the 90’s. The current roster consists of:
- Jim Bogios – drums, percussion (2002–present)
- David Bryson– rhythm guitar, vocals (1991–present)
- Adam Duritz – lead vocals, piano (1991–present)
- Charlie Gillingham – keyboards, piano, accordion, clarinet, vocals (1992–present)
- David Immerglück – rhythm guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals (1999–present, session member 1993–1999)
- Millard Powers – bass guitar, keyboards, vocals (2005–present)
- Dan Vickery – lead guitar, banjo, vocals (1994–present)
1) August and Everything After (1993) *****
Singles: “Mr. Jones”, “Around Here”, “Rain King”, “A Murder of One”
This is one of the best debuts I’ve ever heard, and one of their best overall. “Round Here” is one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard, about a girl contemplating suicide. “A Murder of One” recites the nursery that inspired the band’s name.
Best Tracks: “Round Here”, “Omaha”, “Mr. Jones”, “Raining in Baltimore”, “A Murder of One”
2) Recovering the Satellites (1996) ****1/2
Singles: “Angels of the Silences”, “A Long December”, “Daylight Fading”
This was the first (and so far only) Counting Crows album to reach #1. It marked the band’s change from a quintet to a sextet, with guitarist Dan Vickrey becoming a new songwriter and Ben Mize becoming a new drummer. Adam Duritz considers this his favorite.
Best Tracks: “Angels of the Silences”, “Daylight Fading”, “Children in Bloom”, “A Long December”
3) This Desert Life (1999) ****
Singles: “Hanging Around”, “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby”, “All My Friends”
One of my favorite comic book artists, Dave McKean, did the cover for this album, using an image from the children’s book The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman. The album is pretty good, and a great way to continue into the new millennium.
Best Tracks: “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby”, “Color Blind”, “Speedway”, “Kid Things”
4) Hard Candy (2002) ***1/2
Singles: “American Girls” , “Big Yellow Taxi”, “Richard Manuel is Dead”
This album contains the band’s first cover, “Big Yellow Taxi”. Having now heard the original, I think they did a good job. In fact, I know people who are surprised it’s a cover.
Best Tracks: “American Girls”, “Richard Manuel is Dead”, “Butterfly in Reverse”, “Big Yellow Taxi”
5) Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings (2012) ***
Singles: “1492”, “Come Around”, “When I Dream of Michelangelo”
This is probably one of my least favorite Counting Crows albums. It’s divided into two parts. “Saturday Nights” is the rock side, while “Sunday Mornings” has more of a country vibe. The second part isn’t as good as the first, but it’s not terrible. Ryan Adams guest stars on “Los Angeles”.
Best Tracks: “1492”, “Hanging Tree”, “Los Angeles”, “When I Dream Of Michelangelo”
6) Underwater Sunshine (What I Did On My Summer Vacation)(2012) ***
This is the band’s cover album. The only song I was familiar with before I heard this was Pure Prairie League’s “Amie”. I still like the album, but I’d probably appreciate it more if I had heard the originals.
Best Tracks: “Amie”, “All My Failures, “Ballad of El Goodo”
7) Somewhere Under Wonderland (2014) ***1/2
Singles: “Palasides Park”, “Scarecrow”
Their first album with Capitol Records after leaving Geffen in 2013. “God of Ocean Tides” in particular was inspired by the tour that resulted in their third live album Echoes From the Outlaw Roadshow, Even with such a big gap from their heyday and the current scene, Duritz is still a great lyricist.
Best Tracks: “Earthquake Driver”, “God of Ocean Tides”, “Scarecrow”
Next time, I look at the classic psychedelic rock band The Doors!
Aspie Catholic 