Counting Crows - Hard Candy

Counting Crows have spent about a decade making the same music over and over again. Along the way they've hit the mark occasionally, but, on the whole, nothing really beats their debut, August & Everything After. Recovering The Satellites was still a great sophomore effort, but 1999's This Desert Life left me wanting much more. The new effort from the Counting Crows, Hard Candy, is about as permanent as a good piece of candy. It's definitely tasty; I just want something a bit more satisfying guys. The opening title-track is reminiscent of the "Rain King" vibe from their debut, but, because it seems like they done that exact same song before, it doesn't grab as hard as a good opener should. "American Girls" is a great radio song and it should continue to do well throughout the summer, but back-up vocals from Sheryl Crow isn't going to save this song from warming the bench come winter (So help me God, if Mr. Durtiz screams "Yeah!" at the end of another song, I will smack those extensions right of his head). The first great song of the album is the third track, "Good Time". Duritz gets back to that poetic angst that makes his lyrics hit home and the band matches the mood with a great backing track - think Pink Floyd. From then on out, the album has its ups and downs. "If I Could Give All My Love (Richard Manuel Is Dead)" starts out with an annoyingly happy riff but transforms into a decent track. Whereas, "Butterfly In Reverse" waltzes through your ears and transcends anything the Crows have done before. "New Frontier", which is aptly title, is the band's attempt at new wave… let's just say it's not as bad as you might think. From then on out the CD takes a pretty solemn and subdued turn, except for "Why Should You Come When I Call?" It's got such a nice way to it that is makes all those sad songs seem sadder. The closer, "Holiday In Spain", is nice enough, but damn those lyrics are the cheesiest shit I've ever heard Adam Duritz spew. It just doesn't wrap up the album properly. I praise the Counting Crows when they're energetic, but chastise them when they go too far with the exuberance. I enjoy all the slow ballads but frown upon putting to many of them on one record. Man, I'm pretty picky, huh? Well, I assume you are too. Let's just say that Counting Crows fans will appreciate this album, producer Steve Lillywhite did an excellent job producing and the album sounds superb. It's not their magnum opus and they aren't going to get any new fans, but at least they are consistent. Heck, it's better than This Desert Life and that's enough for me. [www.countingcrows.com]