Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites
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CD Details
Artist: Counting CrowsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
CD Release Date: 1996-10-15
Music Label: Geffen Records
Soundtracks:
- Catapult
- Angels Of The Silences
- Daylight Fading
- I'm Not Sleeping
- Goodnight Elisabeth
- Children In Bloom
- Have You Seen Me Lately?
- Miller's Angels
- Another's Horsedreamer's Blues
- Recovering The Satellites
- Monkey
- Mercury
- A Long December
- Walkaways
Music reviews of Recovering the Satellites
Music Review: Counting Crows Add a Harder Edge to their Innovative Sound
Rating: 4 Stars
When the Counting Crows released their second album, "Recovering the Satellites", I knew the band would be facing the sophomore challenge of following up the highly successful album "August and Everything After". One thing that I feel made "August and Everything After" such a great album is that at the time it was released, it was groundbreaking. The material you hear on that album would be one of the pioneering sounds to the grunge/alternative rock sound that dominates the airwaves of today's music scene. "August and Everything After" had shown that Counting Crows had all of the seeds of being a big name group. A lot of times, groups don't live up to those expectations (i.e. remember the Hooters back in the 80s were being touted as the next big group and never lived up to expectations). The good news is the Counting Crows deliver a pretty good album in "Recovering the Satellites". They explore a new avenue in delivering a harder edged sound to some of the material, but also stick with the formula that worked on their debut album (i.e. folk and grunge influences). "Recovering the Satellites" shows the Counting Crows have lost no momentum from "August and Everything After" - proving there was no sophomore jinx for the band.
There are some slight changes in the lineup of the band. Lead singer, pianist and songwriter Adam Duritz returns along with Piano Player Charlie Gillingham, guitarist and bass player Matt Malley, and guitarist David Bryson. Gone is drummer Steve Bowman, who would then go on to be one of the founding musicians of Third Eye Blind. Ben Mize takes Bowman's place. Also added to the band is guitarist Dan Vickey. Perhaps the addition of Dan Vickey on guitars adds to the harder rock edge seen on this particular album.
The opening song "Catapult" is a nice song. You'll hear more of the harder rock edge immediately - especially from the guitar side of the band. Adam Duritz's vocals don't lose a step and the songwriting continues to have thought provoking lyrics. Another thing is that many of the songs on this collection seem to build to crescendos and it is a good thing. The second song "Angels of the Silences" has the hardest edge to it - the guitars are in full swing. Once again, there is a terrific ending to the song as Duritz sings "I'm Gone! I'm Gone!" toward the end. The fourth song "I'm Not Sleeping" continues the hard edge and crescendo theme. It is on this song, I can see some parallels with a band that came around later in the decade - Matchbox 20. "I'm Not Sleeping" has a crescendo and wraps up as Duritz sings "Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Some Other Day" (also for those who are having children listening, there is a four letter word dropped in this song). Another sound that also has the harder edge and has a Matchbox 20 feel is "Monkey". "Monkey" is probably the most Matchbox 20 sounding song on the album. "Children in Bloom" and "Have You Seen Me Lately" while not as strong an overall song as the previous songs I mentioned, still maintain the theme of the harder sound - and both songs have a nice ending.
Despite the influence of the harder sound, there is still much more of the Classic Alternative Sound you will hear. The songs that fall into this category on "Recovering the Satellites" aren't quite as good you heard on "August and Everything After". "Miller's Angels" has much of the classic keyboard sound heard on the first album. "Miller's Angels" will contain plenty of the trademark Duritz metaphors. On the song "Mercury", there is some nice harmonica work by Charlie Gillingham and it really brings back that folksy feel. Other songs that I would say fall into this category are "Goodnight Elisabeth" and "Daylight Fading". The final track of the collection "Walkaways" starts out as "Classic Counting Crows" and it sounds pretty good - however it is only one minute long and definitely ends prematurely.
Two songs actually seem to have a good balance between the Classic Sound and the Harder Edge I have referred to. These are two pretty strong songs on the album - especially from the lyrics side. "A Long December" has some great piano and harmonica to start out. but about 2 minutes into the song - you'll hear the harder edge. This is a great song about "being on the road" and as is typical with Adam Duritz's lyrics - lots of metaphors. "Another Horsedreamer's Blues" also balances the two sounds. This is a song about horse racing and is another prime example of why Adam Duritz is one of the most underrated songwriters in the industry.
The weakest song is "Recovering the Satellites". This keeps to the harder rock theme. You'll see another 4 letter word in here (again for those who have children listening). I find this song the most boring on the album. They could have picked a better song to be the title track of the album.
The liner notes contain all band and songwriting credits. The lyrics are included for all of the songs, however I did find at times the lyrics didn't match up 100% to the song. Overall, I like the fact that Counting Crows changed things up a bit with the harder edge sound. I find - like most "alternative rock" bands, I can't listen over and over to the work without getting bored. This is not a reflection of Counting Crows as much as it is a reflection on what I think is a problen with "alternative rock". However, I do feel Counting Crows is clearly one of the better and more innovative "alternative rock" bands. This is an album worth checking out.
Description of Recovering the Satellites
Overlooked 1996 album includes ANGELS OF THE SILENCES. Light scuffs on disc will not affect play.Alternative Rock CDs
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