Counting Crows Albums Ranked From Worst to Best
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 12. 2020
- Today we're ranking the seven studio albums of what I [Jason] consider to be one of the most underrated bands of the 90's. Sure, they had massive success, but they've never seemed to get quite the respect that they deserve. This is the Listography of Counting Crows...
****
Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of Jim Bogios (drums), David Bryson (guitar), Adam Duritz (lead vocals), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards), David Immerglück (guitar), Millard Powers (bass), and Dan Vickrey (guitar).
Counting Crows gained popularity following the release of its debut album, August and Everything After (1993). Featuring the breakthrough hit single "Mr. Jones" (1993), the album sold more than seven million copies in the United States. The band received two Grammy Awards nominations in 1994, one for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (for "Round Here") and one for Best New Artist. Other hit singles include "Rain King", "A Long December", "Hanginaround", and a cover version of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". Counting Crows received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for the single "Accidentally in Love", which was included in the film Shrek 2. The band has sold more than 20 million albums and is known for its dynamic live performances.
****
Leave your thoughts and rankings down in the comments. Thanks for watching!
Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from www.videvo.net
~~~
/ listographymusic
/ therecordranker
/ listographymzk
I remember hearing 'August and Everything After' for the first time, I was 30 years old and it instantly became one of my favorite albums of all time!., The feel of the album is one of yearning and loneliness but inspiring at the same time. I also felt the album was reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska and Jackson Browne's Late For The Sky. The Counting Crows have since become one of my favorite bands.
1 August and Everything After
2 Recovering the Satellites
3 Hard Candy
4 This Desert Life
5 Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
6 Somewhere Under Wonderland
7 Underwater Sunshine
The thing about CC, is as good as some of their studio stuff is, what makes me a die hard fan is their brilliance performing live. Especially from 94 thru about 2006 (before things began to fade imo). Adam was just mesmerizing to watch, as he would just drift off improvising lyrics with whatever he was feeling in the moment. I've never seen a band who can duplicate that kind of stuff live night after night, the way they can.
My favourite album ever is Recovering the Satellites
For me:
1. August
2. Satellites
3. This Desert Life
4. Hard Candy
5. Under Wonderland
6. Butter Miracle
7. Saturday nights and Sunday mornings
8. Underwater Sunshine
Never liked Counting Crows, too mopey. But, just checked out the Satellite album based on your reviews and it's great! Thanks boys, best thing to come out of 2020.
Oh man am half way through but while working. Will need to watch properly later but an absolutely loving the reviews and comments so far. Love the counting Crows and yes Kramz they really do “get deep inside your soul” at times, totally agree with that, with me anyway. And that for me is what matters most when I’m listening to music. That’s where it’s at.
Love this channel. Since discovering it a few weeks ago I've already got a ton of new albums to listen to. Gave 'August and Everything After' a few listens and I am really enjoying it. There's definitely an underlying sadness coming from Adam's vocals and lyrics.
Thanks! It's cool to hear that people are discovering stuff through the channel.
I for one found this video very enlightening and eye-opening. I guess I had categorized Counting Crows as a boring band, but watching this put their discography into a more serious light for me. I'll definitely be checking out their first few albums!
That's cool to hear. Would be interested to hear your thoughts once you give them a listen. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic Well, I gave Counting Crows a listen, and while I enjoyed some songs from their first album, unfortunately I couldn't get into them like you guys. That said, I was really glad you covered them. When I first discovered your channel back when it was just Jason, I only watched the videos of my favorite artists, and skipped the others. I've since gone back and watched those others. I love when you do an artist I know, but now to me it's just as exciting when you do an artist I'm not familiar with.
About Hard Candy, they had a big hit with Holiday In Spain in Holland and it was released as a duet with the singer of the Dutch band Blöf, Paskal Jakobsen.
Nice job guys. Love Counting Crows. Just a great all-purpose rock n' roll band, like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Faces.
don't like 4, 5, & 6 on August? Those songs make that album. Bands such as the Counting Crows were not my style of music in 93' or now, but after hearing Time and Time Again in 93' they wormed into my heart. Those 3 songs... Maybe it is because I am a bit older, and those 3 struck a cord with me when I needed them.
Congrats on 3K!
Thank you!!
Great list guys....I lean more towards Joe and Jason on the 1 /2 placing.
My ranking pretty align with yours. I was lucky enough to see the band live at a Hollywood club right after the first album came out. As good as the first album was, it was much better live. So, that first album has a special place in my heart and will always be number 1.
All the albums are outstanding....the more you listen, the more you get it....truly deserving of the Rock n Roll hall of fame
Ótimo programa parabéns
I have a bit of a rough relationship with Counting Crows. I absolutely loved August and Everything After and played it to death. I didn't like Recovering the Satellites very much and then absolutely loathed This Desert Life when it came out. And that was the end of my relationship with the band. 🤔
I think Kramzer makes the most "I disagree/you're insane" faces.
LOVED Counting Crows in the 90s. Lived in the SF Bay Area and they became such home town heroes when August hit big. I was 15 when August came out so it was perfect for my mopey teen vibes. And like Jason said, it was mellower and different from a lot else I listened to, though it also has REM influence and I was listening to them. Recovering the Satellites was much anticipated and like Joe, closer to my usual genre, so did displace August as my fave. Loved Desert Life too, though I was moving on musically by then to Britpop and Weezer crunch. I literally can't remember if I listened to Hard Candy or not! I liked American Girls pretty well but it seemed kinda a corporate album so I think I took a pass and didn't get into it, and my Fandom ended there, and I didn't listen to the rest. Excited to revisit the first 4 albums after watching this but as of now it's, 3. This Desert Life 2. August 1. Recovering. Also, got to know Steve Bowman working at a music camp in the Bay, by that time he was playing with Train. Which, eh you gotta work I guess, but I don't like Train. Super nice guy and I got to see him playing drums on a bunch of live covers of classic rock songs with the other music teachers at the camp and that was awesome! OH, and, gossip, he quit the band because he didn't get along with Duritz! But conversely, the whole band shared writing credits so he raked in the royalties!
Train seemed like they might be okay when they first came out with tracks like Meet Virginia but things took a sharp turn for the worse. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic I agree Meet Virginia was ok.
Some information for my 1996 predictions! Thanks, fellas.
We sure do make it easy for you.
When we getting the predictions
@@TastesLikeMusic If the 3 of you could also post your Weezer, REM, and Pearl Jam listographies by tomorrow night that'd be great. Thanks. 😁
@@ryankramzer1256 I'll finalize them by the time I go to bed Thursday night.
Totally agree with everyone here! I listened to August first, and I think it's a perfect album from front to back, consistent and original. I actually listened to Desert Life second, and for a couple years didn't realize it was their 3rd album. I'd say Desert and Satellites are neck and neck. Hard Candy totally deserves the number 4 spot. Couldn't agree more about the poor idea of splitting albums into rock and ballads (Foo Fighters In Your Honor comes to mind). I've yet to listened to anything after Sunday & Saturday
So overall
1. Recovering the Satellites
2. August......
3. This Desert Life
4. Hard Candy
5. Somewhere Under Wonderland
6. Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings
7. Underwater Sunshine
Idea for a show - Bands that two of you love but the third hates. Or bands that two of you hate but the third loves.
That could end up being the longest video in channel history. -Jason
I'm thinking U2 for example...but you would all have to know each others' position going into the show so maybe it wouldn't work too well.
@@179rich I think we pretty much already know each other's position on most artists. I think it would still work.
Honestly man, Accidentally In Love is a god damn perfect pop song. Sometimes I listen to it just to try and learn something about songwriting
It is. We say a bit more about it in tomorrow’s top 10 songs video. -Jason
in terms of hidden tracks Chelsea at the end of live across a wire is absolutely amazing
Counting Crows are the new Eagles for me, kind of a bland answer to cutting edge music, with a couple of good albums. They're a band that you probably don't love or hate, particularly. They're kind of a safe band, more melodic than grunge, radio-friendly, and fine.
Glad to see you do Counting Crows. A great band that doesn’t get the attention they deserve as one of the best bands of the past 25 yrs or so. Big fan. However, I disagree with all three of you that the first 2 albums were their best and they were never as good after that. For me the band really came into their own as a versatile rock band with This Desert Life, their best album. Also disagree in that I think Somewhere under Wonderland is one of their best albums (and the best album of 2014). Anyway, here’s my ranked list (but they’re all great albums).
7. Saturday night and Sunday morning
6. Underwater sunshine
5. Recovering the satellites
4. Hard candy
3. August and everything after
2. Somewhere under wonderland
1. This Desert Life
I'm a little late to the party, so I'll limit myself to just what you have here. :)
7) This Desert Life - I just never find myself coming back to this album. It's not terrible. It's got "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby", but it's otherwise forgettable.
6) Hard Candy - Again, not awful. The title track is good, and I love "Holiday in Spain". But it's got "New Frontier" on it, and that song is just execrable synthetic crap.
5) Underwater Sunshine - I can't say it's terrible. They do a good job covering most of the songs. But I feel like the tone is off on "Return of the Grievous Angel", and the band makes it sound way too upbeat.
4) Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings - I really love this album. It's got "Cowboys", "insignificant", "Hanging Tree", "Washington Square", and "Come Around". This was a really close one with Somewhere Under Wonderland, but I like that one just a bit better.
3) Somewhere Under Wonderland -"Possibility Days" was one of the best songs they've done in a decade. The only song I really *don't* like is "Elvis Goes to Hollywood".
2) August and Everything After - This is a tough one, but I had to put this at number 2, just because of "Raining in Baltimore". I don't CARE that Adam needs a raincoat. "Raining In Baltimore" is not a good song. :) Also, I love "A Murder of One", but I would not describe it as cheerful. :) It's somewhere between angry and sorrowful.
1) Recovering the Satellites - Like AAEA, this has one weak song, but I like "Miller's Angels" a *lot* more than I like "Raining in Baltimore". Other than that one track, I think it's a perfect album (although I admit that the first time I heard "Catapult" I was a little put off by it, but only because it's the first track I heard from the album, and it seemed like such a 180 from AAEA).
Trim Saturday Nights... down to a tight 40 mins and resequence it, and it jumps up the rankings, possibly threatening the top 4. My attempt:
Side A
Hanging Tree
Insignificant
When I Dream Of Michelangelo
1492
Washington Square
Side B
You Can't Count On Me
Cowboys
On Almost Any Sunday Morning
Los Angeles
Anyone But You
Sweet!
I loved the first 2 albums on release (still do). Haven't actually listened to the others. This vid has inspired me check out This Desert Life, at the very least.
Note: I expect Duritz was less moody on Recovering because he had dated two thirds of the cast of Friends by then....
*two fifths, doh!
2/3 of the female leads.
Eggs-snackley!
Counting Crows - amazing band -) Oh La La on the covers album is quality
I was not going to respond, but Jason was curious how listeners felt, so here we go. I am one of those who feel that August And Everything After is close to a masterpiece. Not quite perfect, but certainly one of the top 5 albums of the entire decade. Unfortunately, nothing since then has resonated with me. Recovering The Satellites was a huge disappointment. I was anxiously waiting for that record to drop, but that turned out to be the biggest musical letdown for me since Tormato. They lost me, and I never went back. My rankings:
1. August and Everything After
7. everything else.
The only reason that I answered this time to their video is 100 percent the same that you state. I had August in my 1993 list at #3 - everything else is....
PS - Tormato came after Going For the One, so it could not really disappoint anymore. Unless you still were an optimist.
Going for the One might be my favorite Yes album. Tormato isn't bad either. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic You cannot shock us anymore.
@@roxannewalsh What if I told you The Ladder might be Top 5?
@@TastesLikeMusic You can climb a ladder up or down, a matter of perspective.
This Desert Life is #1. Followed closely by August and Satellites.
I agree with Joe Alternative rock is the proper category?
now a days what format do you use to listen to your U2, R.E.M , Counting Crows , do you use your turn tables, boom box , walkman (during the nice weather) or do you use your phones?
so this is counting crows week , have you done a heavy Metal week if not have you had thoughts about doing Heavy Metal week?
Jason in addition to having it on vinyl Somewhere underland do you also have it on cd?
Did I hear Jason correctly say that August album is in his top 20 albums of all time? there are so many great albums why is this in his top 20?
If jason said top 20 of the 90's this I understand? but of all time?
To answer Jason's question i'm not a fan of the Counting Crows. I like music from the 80's even softer bands.
I use my computer and it’s semi-good speakers or car via streaming. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic Joe as we all know we have 1,000 cable channels , zillions of you tube video so over the summer at work during lunch break after i'm done eating for roughly 30 minutes or so I use my walkman and listen to one cd I usually get up to about the 6th to 8th track what I don't finish I end up putting the rest of the album on my boom box. last album Judas Priest live it's still on top of my boom box I go from the suumer up to end of October/ begining November?
haven't finished that album yet!
It be awesome if y’all did John Prines Discography
I would enjoy that. Maybe someday. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic he doesn’t have a bad album
You should do a love as laughter rank in memory of Sam Jayne
What's a better song: Mr. Jones or Mrs. Jones?
Me and Mrs. Jones?
I had their debut album at #3 in my 1993 list. So, I cannot agree on "underrated", just the opposite, they are overrated as a band thereafter. They made this one great statement and should be remembered for this. I agree with Kramzer, that everything thereafter is redundant and even gets to the point that it disgraces their achievement. A one trick pony that should have left it at that. Some of the later albums are really painful to wade through...
Hard disagree. Naturally. - Joe
I liked their first couple albums but I respect your point of view, Roxanne. I'd say they're good but maybe overrated in the grand scheme of things. The idea that 'August' is a top 10 or 20 album all time is a bit much for me. But hey, we all overrate the music we love. Can't help it.
Pretty Strongly Agree
So if "Mr. Jones," "Round Here," "Rain King" and "Long December" usually prompts me to turn the channel, does that mean I don't have to listen to the rest of their discography?
You do you.
I fell asleep during this Listography. More like "Counting Sheep" Amiright?
We need the Tom petty list
Funny, Allmusic rated Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings four and a half stars, the only album on the list that got more than four stars. Well, I certainly don't agree with all their reviews but it's interesting.
Yeah....they missed the mark on that one. -Jason
Entertainment Weekly gave their first two albums like D’s. Very wide spread of opinions on them. - Joe
August and Everything After is the only good Counting Crows album. The rest of their catalog is Bland City.
Best song is Mr Jones, a blatant Van Morrison rip off.
7. Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) (2012) ★
6. Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (2008) ★½
5. Somewhere Under Wonderland (2014) ★½
4. Hard Candy (2002) ★★
3. Recovering the Satellites (1996) ★★
2. This Desert Life (1999) ★★
1. August and Everything After (1993) ★★½
★★★★★ - Masterpiece
★★★★½ - Really great
★★★★ - Great
★★★½ - Really good
★★★ - Good
★★½ - OK
★★ - Bad
★½ - Really bad
★ - Awful
½ - The worst
This is where I rank the Counting Crows: In the Trash Can, they TOTALLY SUCK!!!
I obviously disagree, but I can see why people think this
@@ryankramzer1256 sorry, but the "Sideshow Bob" Dreadlocks and the Funny Singing Voice just doesn't work for me!
This a new low. Not watching this
Get ready fizzlebomber.
Hootie, spin doctors, and goo goo dolls are next and you are the only one we are the releasing the video to
@@ryankramzer1256 afraid to say it will fall on deaf ears. Why don't you guys use the time for something else? Lemme know when you get to Foals, bub marley, outKast, the Roots, 2Pac, tame impala, coldplay, movie soundtracks, Prince, phantogram and I'll tune in. Did you guys already do Queen list? i forget. Oh, and if you guys wanna listen to some really good music, try the band Night Moves. Sayanora, for now
@@fizzlebomber674 we want to get to everything eventually. And I was pulling your leg, those aren't the next videos. The zeppelin remaster is next actually
@@ryankramzer1256 yeah, man I know. Looking back on the 90s, most of the stuff that I liked back then is forgettable and the stuff I didn't like back then is abysmal.
@@fizzlebomber674 I def like 90s bad radio more than 00s bad radio
Counting Crows have to be one of the most boring, middle-of-the-road, vanilla, flaccid bands I’ve ever heard. They are just so dumb and a total yawnfest and Adam Duritz’ lyrics are just so basic. They’re not terrible, but they are totally bland and generic and vanilla. I have no idea why you guys champion them, or how such a boring and bland band got so huge….
But that’s just me, I guess, and hey: it’s ok, because variety is the spice of life! And at the end of the day, if you guys get some enjoyment from them, more power to ya. :)
They remind me of REM a lot. - Joe
I understand many criticisms thrown at Counting Crows. I disagree, but I understand. But calling Adam Duritz a basic lyricist sounds like opinion based solely on the hits. Read the lyrics to Another Horsedreamers Blues and tell me they’re basic. Dudes an amazing writer.
@@TastesLikeMusic To Joe: Hey, that’s fair 😊lol
@@TastesLikeMusic To Jason: I definitely see where you’re coming from. And yeah, I generally mean that most of his lyrics are basic, but not all of them. Yea, the lyrics on that song are really good, so he’s not terrible writer, he’s good; he just doesn’t blow me away like he does for you. :)
Cutting Crows ?!!! Are you kidding me ?
All their albums,are bland crap. Honestly Jason ?.Do you have any taste ?
Honestly man, Accidentally In Love is a god damn perfect pop song. Sometimes I listen to it just to try and learn something about songwriting