Net Music Review

Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings - Counting Crows

The Counting Crows have never been the most prolific studio band, with this their fifth studio album in 15 years. Still, they have always filled in the gaps with live album releases and this is no bad thing given the bands stellar live reputation. So, six years after the release of Hard Candy we are presented with Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, a concept album of sorts as it is split into two halves with different producers. The first half of the album, Saturday Nights is rockier, while the second Half, Sunday Mornings is heavily influenced by country music, and as Duritz revealed in an interview "Saturday night is when you sin and Sunday is when you regret. Sinning is often done very loudly, angrily, bitterly, violently".

Opening with thunderous drums and gnarly guitar of 1492 where we find Duritz howling about the "skinny girls who drink champagne/and take me on their knees again/then pull me up and out the door". It announces the thematic content for the next few songs about the seedier side of life. Hanging Tree is classic Counting Crows with a poignant opening that keeps on building with a swagger with Duritz singing about the crazy life of touring musicians. Los Angeles comes along next and is in the style of sometime CC collaborator and friend Ryan Adams. The track has a nice groove with piano ducking in out of the mix. The brilliant Sundays draws heavily on Walk On The Wild Side that then give way to a glorious chorus, while the music has an uplifting feel to it, all the time Duritz is bearing his soul to us. The first four tracks here could all easily be singles for the Counting Crows, such is the start to things here. Insignificant finds Duritz at his most self loathing singing "I don't want to feel so different/But I don't want to be insignificant", it seems as if he is suck in an internal tug-of-war with himself. The six song Saturday Nights set draws to a rousing close with Cowboys a high energy song is sure to have the crowed jumping at future live performances.

The second half of the album is the more reflective, country influenced Sunday Mornings and the contrast could not be illustrated better by Washington Square with its layers of acoustic guitars, piano, double bass and even a banjo. On Almost Any Sunday Morning we find Duritz in sombre, reflective mood played out against a moody, atmospheric backdrop. The album continues in the same vain with the next two offerings, When I Dream Of Michelangelo a classic 'Crows song that could almost be from their much vaunted debut, and Anyone But You. At this point you could well be forgiven that you were listening to an hour long Adam Duritz confessional such is the knocked honesty on display. The pace picks up slightly with the excellent You Can't Count On Me with its beautiful melodies where Duritz confessing that you cant count on him.

Overall Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is a very well balanced album, possibly benefiting from the double mini album approach. The whole set sits together well and is in the best of Counting Crows traditions. While not quite reaching the heights of August & Everything After it still sits well with the rest of their back catalogue and shows that they still have plenty to offer. Whilst maybe not converting legions of new fans, those who like the Counting Crows will love this record. Long may they continue.