Album Club Review - ????

[gessa]

Can't beat the sound of vinyl playing.

[Irish Ian]

Counting Crows.

Sorry I had a long piece written and I lost it somewhere


For a debut album it has possibilities. The singer is very versatile and I was reminded of Kurt, Stipe, Van Morrison, David Gray, James Blunt and even Ricky Lee Jones.

I found the songs lyrically complicated both in style and substance, and tbh not many of the tunes have stuck ( only two listens so far)


My main critique was that I think this album fell into a trap that has befell other "singer-songwriters" It happened a wee bit to Dylan and definitely to Bruce Springsteen on his first two albums. Rarely do we hear the drum, guitar, hammond organ, piano, pipes and whatever else was used do anything but back the singer. All the time, Too lyrically heavy. Take a breath please. A few melodies, maybe a guitar solo or two please. ( the organ tried to escape on Ghost Train and again on Time and Time which was a nice diversion ) But mainly backing music. Music buried under the words.

Saying that there were some decent tunes.

Round Here
Mr Jones
Time and Time Again.

Lowlight was This Land... If Woodie Guthrie was alive today he would be turning in his Grave.

I reckon these guys would give you a great night out if they played down your local club though.

But, while I will leave it on my playlist for a while I think I will stick to Mr Mellencamp if I want angst ridden Americana



Please don't hurt me.

[1964white]

Counting Crows.

Sorry I had a long piece written and I lost it somewhere


For a debut album it has possibilities. The singer is very versatile and I was reminded of Kurt, Stipe, Van Morrison, David Gray, James Blunt and even Ricky Lee Jones.

I found the songs lyrically complicated both in style and substance, and tbh not many of the tunes have stuck ( only two listens so far)


My main critique was that I think this album fell into a trap that has befell other "singer-songwriters" It happened a wee bit to Dylan and definitely to Bruce Springsteen on his first two albums. Rarely do we hear the drum, guitar, hammond organ, piano, pipes and whatever else was used do anything but back the singer. All the time, Too lyrically heavy. Take a breath please. A few melodies, maybe a guitar solo or two please. ( the organ tried to escape on Ghost Train and again on Time and Time which was a nice diversion ) But mainly backing music. Music buried under the words.

Saying that there were some decent tunes.

Round Here
Mr Jones
Time and Time Again.

Lowlight was This Land... If Woodie Guthrie was alive today he would be turning in his Grave.

I reckon these guys would give you a great night out if they played down your local club though.

But, while I will leave it on my playlist for a while I think I will stick to Mr Mellencamp if I want angst ridden Americana



Please don't hurt me.

Ouch Ian

[gessa]

Ouch Ian

Him and cat are off the Christmas card list.

[1964white]

Him and cat are off the Christmas card list.

[1964white]

Ges - nominated albums

Pearl Jam 'Ten'

5 Ges
5 Faaip
3 64
1 Cat

3.5 Average Rating

Counting Crows 'August and Everything After'

5 Ges
5 Faaip
5 64
2 Ian


4.3 Average Rating

[Irish Ian]

Ouch Ian

Now I'm afraid to put forward the inane drivel I listen too...

I'll review 10 for tomorrow if I get the chance.

[1964white]

Now I'm afraid to put forward the inane drivel I listen too...

Revenge time

[Haighy]

I'll try and listen in the next day or two.
But for me you need to listen several times to get a real feel

[1964white]

I'll try and listen in the next day or two.
But for me you need to listen several times to get a real feel

Agree entirely Haighy

Some albums need several listens, 'August & Everything After' being one of them which is a real grower

[hector]

Counting Crows...OMFG where do I begin......

on hearing 'round here, I jumped onto ebay and ordered a pack of razor blades....
on hearing Omaha I put them in the sink to help them go rusty
Mr Jones gave them a slight reprieve,
but Perfect blue buildings, Anna begins, and time and time again saw me lose the will to live.............
Rain King I liked
Sullivan street saw me hacking away at my wrists with the rusty razor blades, because this was preferable to listening to the drivel coming out of my speakers, and this continued through all the remaining tracks...

then I went and played it again, my brain kept shouting out "WHY!!"

So all in all not going to go on my repeat play list at all, the lead singer??'s voice is like monotony personified....
purely for Rain King

[1964white]

Counting Crows...OMFG where do I begin......

on hearing 'round here, I jumped onto ebay and ordered a pack of razor blades....
on hearing Omaha I put them in the sink to help them go rusty
Mr Jones gave them a slight reprieve,
but Perfect blue buildings, Anna begins, and time and time again saw me lose the will to live.............
Rain King I liked
Sullivan street saw me hacking away at my wrists with the rusty razor blades, because this was preferable to listening to the drivel coming out of my speakers, and this continued through all the remaining tracks...

then I went and played it again, my brain kept shouting out "WHY!!"

So all in all not going to go on my repeat play list at all, the lead singer??'s voice is like monotony personified....
purely for Rain King

Nevermind Faaip & Ges at least we have sent Hector totally round the bend, ready-made for the care home no doubt

[1964white]

I wonder what Haighy or any others think

[gessa]

Nevermind Faaip & Ges at least we have sent Hector totally round the bend, ready-made for the care home no doubt

It confirms it, his taste button was removed at an early age.

[Irish Ian]

Counting Crows...OMFG where do I begin......

on hearing 'round here, I jumped onto ebay and ordered a pack of razor blades....
on hearing Omaha I put them in the sink to help them go rusty
Mr Jones gave them a slight reprieve,
but Perfect blue buildings, Anna begins, and time and time again saw me lose the will to live.............
Rain King I liked
Sullivan street saw me hacking away at my wrists with the rusty razor blades, because this was preferable to listening to the drivel coming out of my speakers, and this continued through all the remaining tracks...

then I went and played it again, my brain kept shouting out "WHY!!"

So all in all not going to go on my repeat play list at all, the lead singer??'s voice is like monotony personified....
purely for Rain King

Don't beat around the Bush Hector. If you don't like it just say

[Irish Ian]

10

So some comments.

First three tracks... Meh.
Track 4 on 10.
The tag line Why Go On repeats again and again. Like it ...a proper metal stomper.

Black. Was this a hit somewhere? What a tune. Love it. Anthemic. I can just see myself. Nice Summer evening, some big festival,pint of cider in hand and Pearl Jam playing this monster.

Jeremy.
Oceans
Porch all three were basic fare.
Garden. Moody. Liked the wailing guitarwork.

Deep. Slightly Jazzy , Funky but with that underbelly of steel Strange tune tbh.


Release. Superb. What a way to end the album.

Overall this album had enough to get me to listen again. So on the list it goes.

Mainly because of Black.
and a half.

[Muppet the Cat]

Counting Crows - August and Everything After

Have given this a few listens now. If it's supposed to grow on you, I'm afraid it hasn't with me.

I can't say I really disliked it, but then it would never bother me if I never heard it again. Mr Jones is an OK track, but I'm somewhat struggling to see where some of you see 5 ***** here, I'm afraid. Not as anti as Hector, probably there or thereabouts with Ian's view on this one.

[1964white]

Lets hope Haighy has his crows ears on

This is soul-destroying

[1964white]

We could do with some of our Prem/Champs/L1/L2 Poll players reviewing 'August' as the album attracted plenty of votes on that topic, so much so it achieved three promotions to the premiership

[hector]

Pearl Jam...

Well................

Positives.. it is better than the Crows. in fact after the crows it sounded bloody up beat and melodic, that said...

Lead vocalist can be a bit shouty at times, and to be frank (not spencer) after hearing it in it's entirity I was not ready to play it again, and the vocalists voice was really beginning to get on my nerves..

Another band I shall not be listening to again given the choice..

because it is better than the album I gave 1 star to...