Counting Crows playing new songs live

[PryTo]

Pretty sure these are all on the forthcoming album. Some good stuff here. I like the first three a lot. Going to see them in San Francisco in August. Such a great live band.

[bada]

I like the first two albums a lot or at least I did it's been awhile. Hit and miss after that.

[stip]

I think their third album may be my favorite. then I stopped listening. I was never a huge fan but I could put together one kick ass hour of my favorite songs.

[PryTo]

Hard Candy is absolutely top shelf. (The first four records are all great.) But Hard Candy, seriously.

[bada]

A little too adult contemporary for me. I do really like New Frontier.

[PryTo]

adult contemporary

Ooof. Like a dagger to my heart.

[bada]

Sorry buddy it's just that one album. The follow up sounded normal. Maybe it's the Parking Lot duet that ruined it for me.

[PryTo]

Fair enough. Technically that (awful) version of that song was not on the original album. It was only released as a single. Might have been added to later versions, though. They also did a fucking Diet Coke commercial around this time, which is basically unforgivable, so they deserve whatever they get.

[TwoAlarmFire]

They are playing here poolside with Toad the Wet Sprocket in August. I really like both bands and want to go, but an outdoor concert here in August is nuts, it's too darn hot. Those videos are making me want to go anyway, especially since I haven't seen either band live yet.

[dsb1218]

I think their third album may be my favorite.

This Desert Life is also my favorite. I'm a huge Counting Crows fan, and was surprised when I couldn't find a thread on them earlier.

[lowlight79]

This desert life is a fantastic record. No better road trip album IMHO

[PryTo]

They are playing here poolside with Toad the Wet Sprocket in August. I really like both bands and want to go, but an outdoor concert here in August is nuts, it's too darn hot. Those videos are making me want to go anyway, especially since I haven't seen either band live yet.

One of the best live bands I've ever seen, at least on a good night (which is most of the time). Seen them probably a dozen times at this point, starting in 1999. Almost every show I've seen has been five star. Like PJ, they completely change the set list every night, so you won't see a "greatest hits" show, ever. Unlike PJ, they also radically alter arrangements, improvise, throw in lyrics from other songs and so on. They manage to do this without ever resorting to jam-band wankery, extended solos, or things like that. I highly recommend checking them out live if you have even the remotest inkling.

[bune]

That looks like a Bob Marley Halloween costume wig on his head.

As has been noted, the first few albums are great. I was a little surprised they had the cajones to release a live album so quickly - and a dual disc one, at that. Really liked This Desert Life, but AaEA remains my favorite. Nary a bad song on the album.

[PryTo]

The first album is indeed incredible. If you guys have never heard the (unreleased) title track, it's one of their best. Can't believe they didn't play this live until ten years after the debut was released. There are a number of live performances out there; this one is my favorite.

[Bammer]

Probably my 3rd favorite band of all time behind PJ and AIC.

By far their best material has never seen the light of day on radio. Just a fantastic band...great musicians, great lyrics...and most of it is far superior to their radio-friendly Shrek-soundtrack pop songs.

I'll be seeing them live this summer for about the 4th or 5th time. The live versions of their songs are pretty much impossible to sing along with as they seem to have different variations/improvs each time. I would love for once to see them skip Mr. Jones and Long December but I don't think it's going to happen...too many people there just to see those two songs.

Can't say enough good things about Counting Crows. In my opinion Recovering The Satellites is a top 5 album ever recorded. Ever.

Haven't watched any of the clips on this thread but I'm happy to hear there is new material.

[broken iris]

In my opinion Recovering The Satellites is a top 5 album ever recorded. Ever.

I love that album, start to finish. It's passionate and raw and honest and the harder sound gives the material an energy I don't think they were ever able to recapture in the studio. Their live shows from that era were amazing as well.

[PryTo]

I love the first four albums pretty much equally, but if I had to pick just one it would be RTS, too. Definitely a high point for the reasons stated in the above posts. If you guys haven't seen this documentary on the making of the album, complete with insanely great live versions of each song, it's an absolute must. I'd love to have a DVD of this one.



(The entire thing is 11 parts, all available on YouTube)

[ABNorman]

To be honest, I'm very surprised to see such love for Counting Crows on this forum. Recovering the Satellites is easily my favourite of their albums, and they were a big part of my "musical awakening" in the early 90's.

[Heathen]

To be honest, I'm very surprised to see such love for Counting Crows on this forum.

They're an alternative rock band from the 90s.

[zeb]

I'm came for the Heathen snark but leave kind of underwhelmed.