Counting Crows – ‘Somewhere Under Wonderland无毛视频�
It was 21 years ago that a good friend of mine introduced me to the debut release by the Counting Crows, 无毛视频淎ugust and Everything After.无毛视频� Since that time, I have collected every album by the California band and attended numerous live performances.
To say that I无毛视频檓 a huge fan would be a gross understatement. After patiently waiting six years for a new set of original material from the alternative rockers, my expectations were high as I anxiously played the opening track. 无毛视频淧alisades Park无毛视频� is chaotically beautiful with its various tempo shifts and descriptive lyrics that fondly drip of sentimental longing and change.
Clocking in at over an engrossing eight minutes, the opener sets the stage for the spontaneity and complexity of the arrangements to follow. Frontman Adam Duritz could sing a restaurant menu and make it sound enchantingly reflective and absorbing.
He无毛视频檚 always had a magical way of making complicated subjects sound simple, clear and promising.
无毛视频淓arthquake Driver无毛视频� follows with a dramatic splash of curious whimsy, while the vivacious tone of 无毛视频淒islocation无毛视频� is unrelenting and spirited as the number mirrors the intensity of 无毛视频淎ngels of the Silences无毛视频� from 1996无毛视频檚 无毛视频淩ecovering the Satellites.无毛视频�
Arrangements like 无毛视频淕od of Ocean Tides无毛视频� and 无毛视频淐over Up the Sun无毛视频� exude the gentle touches of country and folk witnessed on the band无毛视频檚 cover of the Grateful Dead无毛视频檚 无毛视频淔riend of the Devil无毛视频� from 无毛视频淓choes of the Outlaw Roadshow.无毛视频�
Closing the album is the piano-driven 无毛视频淧ossibility Days无毛视频� with moving imagery that harkens back to earlier lyrical treasures like 无毛视频淧erfect Blue Buildings无毛视频� and 无毛视频淪ullivan Street无毛视频� from the band无毛视频檚 debut release.
无毛视频淭he best part of a bad day is knowing it无毛视频檚 okay,无毛视频� assuredly sings Duritz with a confidence and innocence that feels like a tender, unexpected embrace.
无毛视频淪omewhere Under Wonderland无毛视频� delivers a unique blend of hearty hooks, colorful lyrics and masterful musicianship, establishing it as one of the band无毛视频檚 finer moments.
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.