Counting Crows

Why is this band so hated? They are one of the only distinctive, interesting band in a popular rock arena polluted with bands like Nickelback and Hinder. They are the best of the mid-90s adult alternative bands and about the only one that still matter (what ever happened to Train and the Wallflowers?). They sure don't overdo the releases: this is their first record since 2002.

Music critics seem to think that they have no place in modern rock, although I think that's a good thing. To me, they just continue to make brilliant, uncompromising roots rock like they always have.

They gave us a masterpiece of a debut (August and Everything After), a wild sophomore album that shows off their range (Recovering the Satellites), and a brilliant, somber, intimately underrated third effort (This Desert Life). I'll admit Hard Candy was a little weak, and the bad Shrek 2 song and the abysmal Joni Mitchell cover ("Big Yellow Taxi") made me loose some faith in them.

Their new album, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, makes me glad they kept going and never changed their sound too much. The first six songs are a blessing: real rock with real singing and real guitar playing! Could this get onto rock radio next to the awful grunge rehashes that dominate it right now? The blues-jam of "Los Angeles" and the keyboard driven "Cowboys" probably have no place there, which is a shame.

The later half is a well-paced throwback to August and Everything After. The highlight is the transitional "Washington Square", which sets the tone for the rest. Nobody writes great somber pop ballads like "Anyone But You" anymore.

Ignore the critics on this one: the Counting Crows have given us one of the best records of 2008.

Best tracks: "Los Angeles", "Cowboys", "Washington Square", "On A Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago", "Come Around"

Next we, we get to see if an even more improbable comeback works: REM! I'm hopeful...