Movies

Counting Crows Are BACK! You Won’t BELIEVE What Happened!

BBG News

Counting Crows: Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! (BMG) 

Verdict: Heartfelt storytelling 

The remarkable triumph of their first album, “August and Everything After,” presented both advantages and disadvantages for Counting Crows.

1993’s deeply layered album, masterfully produced by T-Bone Burnett, surpassed sales of more than seven million copies, catapulting the dedicated band from the San Francisco Bay Area into rock stardom almost instantaneously.

However, the negative aspects of fame surfaced just as swiftly for lead singer Adam Duritz, finding it challenging to handle his sudden rise to prominence.

Years ago, we graced the front page of Rolling Stone and saw significant album sales, yet beneath that success, I remained the reserved youngster hailing from California, struggling to navigate social interactions,” he reflected some time later.

The album “August and Everything After” has had a significant impact on the band’s music since the 1990s, to the point that they have subtly acknowledged this by periodically revisiting their initial success: a deluxe edition in 2007; a live track-by-track version in 2011; and a new orchestral interpretation of the unreleased title track in 2019.

At long last, they’ve produced a masterpiece towards the end of their career that harmoniously aligns with the narrative songwriting that initially catapulted them to fame.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, The Band, and Mott The Hoople, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! underscores that there remains a niche for classic rock music, when performed with heartfelt passion and energy.

Many top songwritakers today are young women, such as Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. However, 60-year-old Duritz is making a strong comeback with his well-crafted stories. These days, his writing is not only powerful but also filled with a sense of happiness and love. He explains, “I’m talking about being content and being in love.

The longing for romance is evident right from the start. In “With Love, From A-Z,” Duritz expresses his feelings of missing loved ones during a journey through America by car.

In Tulsa’s Spaceman, there’s a poignant perspective on the allure of blinking city lights and theater makeup. He sorrowfully states, “If you could peer within my gaze, I’m merely a hollow grin,” expressing his melancholy over an energetic setting.

The final four tracks on the album combine to create one extended musical piece. Keyboardist Charlie Gillingham incorporates Mellotron and strings into Angel Of 14th Street, while Elevator Boots and Bobby And The Rat-Kings emphasize the unifying influence of music. Duritz promises, “We’ll keep them playing until the stars disappear.” It’s an energetic contribution to their ongoing musical legacy.

Counting Crows start a UK tour on October 23 at City Hall, Newcastle (livenation.co.uk).

Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke: Tall Tales (Warp)

Radiohead and Smile’s lead singer collaborates with a DJ and composer from the West Country, Pritchard, on an electronic album. This project showcases his vocals in a fresh, innovative manner.

On “The White Cliffs,” Yorke’s vocals are deep and gravelly, while Pritchard, who has a passion for old synthesizers, adds retro touches reminiscent of Pink Floyd and The Beatles from the 1960s in “Bugging Out Again.”

Yorke’s voice is husky and crooning on “The White Cliffs,” while Pritchard, with his love for vintage synths, gives a retro feel that calls to mind Pink Floyd and The Beatles of the 1960s in “Bugging Out Again.”

Or:
Yorke sings and speaks with a husky tone on “The White Cliffs,” and Pritchard, who loves collecting old synthesizers, adds a retro flair to “Bugging Out Again” that reminds one of Pink Floyd and The Beatles from the 1960s.

Yorke’s lyrics often have a somber tone, yet references to Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode provide a refreshing change in direction.

The Kooks: Never/Know (Virgin)

Playing an honest rendition of Paul McCartney’s song “Arrow Through Me,” from his album “Back to the Egg,” offers a clear hint at the type of melodies that Luke Pritchard, lead singer of Kooks, tends to favor.

By covering Paul McCartney’s song “Arrow Through Me” faithfully, we can see where the melodic preferences of Kooks’ singer, Luke Pritchard, usually lie.

The track serves as the focal point of an upbeat, windy indie-pop record, initially conceived as a solo endeavor by Pritchard, later expanded with his bandmates’ involvement.

The new songs exhibit reminiscences of their first album, Inside In/Inside Out. “Sunny Baby” is a heartfelt ode about parenthood, while “Never Know” offers a cheerful tribute to seizing the day and enjoying life as it comes.

 

Best of the new releases…

Arcade Fire Pink Elephant (Columbia)

Alternative rock legends who made a splash 20 years back, Arcade Fire, saw their fire fade as their 2022 album “We” was released, and the exuberance they once had seems to be lacking in the introspective “Pink.

The album “Elephant” was released amid allegations (which were strongly refuted) concerning sexual misconduct involving the lead singer of the Montreal-based band, Win Butler.

In this context, there’s no discussion or mention of the specific topic. However, you’ll find songs such as “Year Of The Snake,” which express the idea of moving forward.

Amid the melancholy, hints of their old flair resurface.

The harmonies by Régine Chassagne, Butler’s wife and bandmate, lend a dreamlike quality to the electronic pop song titled Circle Of Trust.

On “Ride Or Die,” Butler adopts a gentle, falsetto tone that seems reminiscent of a heartfelt love letter to Chassagne. In the lyrics, he imagines scenarios such as him having a regular job from nine to five and her being a waitress, subtly illuminating an apprehensive reunion.

Pinkpantheress: Fancy That (Warner)

Born in Bath, Victoria Walker, also known as PinkPantheress, was crowned winner of BBC’s Sound Of 2022 Poll. However, she’s faced challenges in maintaining her standing amidst a competitive landscape filled with many talented female artists.

Her latest ‘mixtape’ is a feel-good trolley-dash between dance genres. 

The main focus is on her distinctive, high-pitched singing voice in four out of the nine tracks. These songs incorporate samples from the electronic duo Basement Jaxx, while there are also hints to Underworld, Sugababes, and Just Jack’s popular 2007 debut single “Starz In Their Eyes.

Read More

2025-05-09 04:06

Previous post USD ZAR PREDICTION
Next post USD RUB PREDICTION