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In the early 90's,
Counting Crows emerged from the underground world embedding
their unique style into an ever repetitive mainstream music
scene. Some may claim that Counting Crows provided a wake up
call for bands that had become both lyrically and musically
stuck in the rut. While many bands were spinning their wheels
remaining motionless, Counting Crows were evolving, by the
second, providing a musical experience unlike any other. The
band held tight to a sound, which could have been described in
one word, beautiful. Over the years, they have output several
albums using a combination of styles, but continue to maintain
the original sound that slung them into superstar status.
"Hard Candy" is the fifth album in the bands discography since
their debut album dropped back in 1993. This album fits
perfectly into their line-up, as it incorporates solidity,
emotion, quirkiness, etc. into one track list, spanning more
than fifty four (54) minutes of playtime. One aspect that I
truly admire is the fact that Counting Crows bare everything
in their music. They have the ability to fine tune their music
into a desirable sound, as well as express their love for
doing so. On each of their albums you are able to hear the
passion that they hold for music, especially their own. "Hard
Candy" is no different. This album provides an excellent
sound, but at the same time provides listeners with an
emotionally uprising experience. More than likely I could rave
on and on about Counting Crows, but removing my bias would
return my mind to Earth and realize that these guys are indeed
human. In fact, from a listener's point of view, this
collection has a few weaknesses. Most of the tracks sound
extremely full, in fact a few tracks could be referred to as
'too-cluttered'. "Hard Candy" could be labeled the album that
tried too hard. In my own opinion, I think that they have
attempted to do too much with this album, which has left most
of the tracks well developed, but some tracks include so much
sound that it begins to sound minimally confusing. Also, a lot
of recent albums have had the problem with repetition/boredom,
but Counting Crows put so much effort towards their songs
causing boredom to be the last thing on your mind. A few of
the slow songs need an acquired taste, but generally your mind
is springing back and forth waiting for a breather. This tends
to remove some of the replay-ability. All in all this is a
solid album; an album which had me excited to get my hands on.
For that reason, I set the expectation bar high and prepared
to provide harsh criticism. Most listeners will enjoy the
meaty section of this album, but a few tracks will leave you
wondering who was in charge of keeping and cutting tracks.
This album is a busy album that leaves little to be desired,
however, there is room for improvement. In conclusion, this is
a fine album that shouldn't be missed by anyone claiming to
have even a half-assed ear for music. Go out and spend your
money on this disc. I recommend this album even without
sampling prior to purchasing. For those of you who'll download
this instead of consuming, get a life.
Track Listing:
01. Hard candy
02. American girls
03. Good time
04. If i could give all my love
05. Goodnight la
06. Butterfly in reverse
07. Miami
08. New frontier
09. Carriage
10. Black and blue
11. Why should you come when i call
12. Up all night
13. Holiday in spain
Ramz Rating: 4 out of 5
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