Counting Crows – ‘Somewhere Under Wonderland鈥�
It was 21 years ago that a good friend of mine introduced me to the debut release by the Counting Crows, 鈥淎ugust and Everything After.鈥� Since that time, I have collected every album by the California band and attended numerous live performances.
To say that I鈥檓 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. 鈥淧alisades Park鈥� 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鈥檚 always had a magical way of making complicated subjects sound simple, clear and promising.
鈥淓arthquake Driver鈥� follows with a dramatic splash of curious whimsy, while the vivacious tone of 鈥淒islocation鈥� is unrelenting and spirited as the number mirrors the intensity of 鈥淎ngels of the Silences鈥� from 1996鈥檚 鈥淩ecovering the Satellites.鈥�
Arrangements like 鈥淕od of Ocean Tides鈥� and 鈥淐over Up the Sun鈥� exude the gentle touches of country and folk witnessed on the band鈥檚 cover of the Grateful Dead鈥檚 鈥淔riend of the Devil鈥� from 鈥淓choes of the Outlaw Roadshow.鈥�
Closing the album is the piano-driven 鈥淧ossibility Days鈥� with moving imagery that harkens back to earlier lyrical treasures like 鈥淧erfect Blue Buildings鈥� and 鈥淪ullivan Street鈥� from the band鈥檚 debut release.
鈥淭he best part of a bad day is knowing it鈥檚 okay,鈥� assuredly sings Duritz with a confidence and innocence that feels like a tender, unexpected embrace.
鈥淪omewhere Under Wonderland鈥� delivers a unique blend of hearty hooks, colorful lyrics and masterful musicianship, establishing it as one of the band鈥檚 finer moments.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.