Counting Crows
Somewhere Under Wonderland
(Capitol Records)
4/5
For their sixth studio album, pure American rockers Counting Crows have taken a step back, with fantastic results. Their last album was back in 2008, after all; they’ve had time to rethink what makes them great, and here they deliver with astonishing results from the second the album begins.
Indeed, opening track “Palisades Park” is a phenomenal journey through everything that makes the Crows so special: an evocative, moody, trumpet-led intro takes its time before the song itself, a sprawling, lyric-led journey, begins. It ebbs and flows and, man, the band hasn’t sounded this much like themselves in a long time.
The only downside is the rest of the album doesn’t match up to the opening track, but there are gems to be found. “God of Ocean Tides” is a gorgeous acoustic number, while straight-up rockers like “Earthquake Driver” are simple, no-nonsense, and catchy.
Rock and roll is alive and well all over this moving and fun album.