August And Everything After
by Counting Crows

What a record this album is! It is full of high quality music throughout the whole release with no song feeling like filler or like it is being elongated. This leads to a very compact, cohesive and fulfilling listen for us as there is no time we aren't entertained on here. The piano is beautiful throughout and works wonders on the slower, ballad like songs as it fills them with emotion and passion. The other instrumentation is great with the drum work being another favourite as it carries some of the songs such as the album closer. On top of this we get the vocal and lyrics which I think are both great. Vocally, he is emotional, raw and feels like he is singing because he believes in the words that he is saying. This leads to some very open and fantastic moments for us to be able to enjoy and be able to connect to the group. Overall, I am shocked at the dislike for this record as it is so amazing quality wise and is also such an enjoyable record to listen to and I love revisiting it. (Edited)

Adam Duritz and is stream-of-consciousness-lyrics! Counting Crows are most known for this album and at the time time it sounded so unique and different than other bands.

Later, with each subsequent release we come to find that this is really all the Crow's can do. And Duritz's sad sap, me against the world and women schtick gets harder and harder to listen to as he gets older and no wiser.

But August and Everything After is excellent.

Round Here is one of my all time favorite songs and a stellar opener flexing the lyrical muscle of Duritz with lines such as "step outside the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white". Excellent.

Anna Begins is the next standout. Omaha, Mr Jones, Rain King, Murder Of one, Sullivan Street are all excellent.

Time and Time again and Perfect Blue Buildings are good but meander for too long

Ghost Train and Raining Baltimore are bland meh.

A classic release in the 90's and now with some time added on it is still excellent but not a masterpiece.

From babyBlueSedan TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/24/2015 22:15 | #148441 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I'll admit that I like Mr. Jones, although it might just be because of nostalgia and the fact that whats-his-name's voice harkens back to a very specific period in music. The rest is pretty worthless though - unexcited, unadventurous 90s rock filled with clichés and phrases that sound meaningful but are really just pandering to people who think namedropping Elvis and Jesus makes a song good.

T. Bone Burnett produced this stupendous debut from Counting Crows. This alternative rock record effortlessly crosses over into the genres of Americana, folk, heartland rock and folk-rock. The songwriting is thoughtful and intimate. The sound is clean and polished, despite being a very organically produced record.

Essential.

Career Highlight: Mr. Jones
Gems: Round Here, Anna Begins, Time and Time Again, Sullivan Street
(Edited)

Piffle. This was confirmation that the musical revolution of 1991 would be quickly taken over by "safe" acts with the right name and look but none of the songwriting chops.