Counting Crows - August And Everything After (CD 1994)

Amazing album. Brilliant throughout and would recommend. All the tracks are great and its a master piece of story telling.

I had previously only heard of Counting Crows when they did a song for the Shrek 2 movie "Accidentally In Love" which was the highlight of the movie for me.
This made me wonder what the back catalogue was like, starting with August and Everything After and specifically with Mr Jones which was highly recommended. I must admit I hadnt expected the album to be that good but I was in for a huge and thankfully pleasant surprise, it was better than anything I had heard for ages soulful and bouncy with lyrics of such depth that you cant help being pulled along into this melancholy and strangely beautiful world that Adam Duritz lyrics and voice create.
Particularly worthy of mention must go to "Rain King", "Round Here", "Raining In Baltimore" and "Anna Begins" standout tracks on an album without any bad songs.
If the rest of the albums are upto this standard then Counting Crows have a new fan, a little late to the party but enjoying myself all the same.

I bought this for a friend who claimed it carried such nostalga and therefore was delighted that it was available on e-bay. It has made him very happy.

Best known for upbeat single Mr. Jones, this album is very little like that single in terms of mood. The instrumentation is simple and minimalist; guitars are restrained, hammond organ frames Adam Duritz's tortured, emotional lyrics and empassioned vocals. It opens with 'Round Here', a song that remains the band's showstopper live; an emotive, powerful song. 'Omaha', 'Rain King' and 'Mr Jones' are the more upbeat tracks, reminiscent of REM, the Band as well as West Coast influences including Eagles and CSNY. But it is the darker songs, 'Anna Begins', 'Raining in Baltimore' and 'A Murder of One' that shine on this album - Duritz writes of relationships strained to breaking point, by distance ("But it's 3500 miles away / What would you change if you could?") and uncertainty ("It does not bother me to say this isn't love / Because if you don't want to talk about it then it isn't love / And I guess I'm going to have to live that / But, I'm sure there's something in a shade of gray").

August and Everything After is a record that Counting Crows have never bettered, a milestone in American rock; respite from the noisy, angry sounds of Seattle grunge and a reminder that there was still more music to be added to the great American songwriting canon of Dylan and Springsteen.

Good CD for the price, delivery was on time and I was provided with an update on the arrival date.Packaging was good and secure.Bit disappointed as the cd was scratched however the price matched the damage.

I am a latecomer to the ranks of Counting Crows fans and only really knew 'Mr Jones' prior to seeing them live in the U.S this summer ('06). I can tell you that I am a massive fan now! This, their first album released in 1993 has worn very well, and does not have a bad track on it. When I saw them they performed 'Rain King' (one of my all-time favourite tracks),'Omaha' and 'Murder of One' all from this album and they sounded as fresh as the day they released them, showing the bands skill and enthusiasm. Adam Durritz is a truly great songwriter ably supported by the rest of the band. This album is a must for rock music lovers who like a bit of heart and soul in their music.