This Desert Life

Counting Crows | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00002JXF8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (356 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,137 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two years in the making, This Desert Life is the kind of collection that will please the Counting Crows faithful and leave doubters unconverted. Adam Duritz's recognizably emotive vocals and the group's classic-rock stylings remain in the fore as the Crows stick near the nest with their third studio outing. The Mellencamp-like opener, "Hanginaround," is one of the strongest tunes here, thanks to its laid-back passion and catchy piano and percussive elements. The familiar feeling "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" is another lively offering, but at nearly eight minutes it's too long. The emotional, Van Morrison-like lament "All My Friends" feels self-pitying, while the balance of the album is simply bland. The sound is appealing (witness the spare "Colorblind" and the waltzing "Amy Hit the Atmosphere"), but This Desert Life is, on the whole, rather dry. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album made me a fan, December 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: This Desert Life (Audio CD)

I was not a Counting Crows fan before I bought "This Desert Life." In fact, I had never even owned or listened to an entire one of their albums. When I heard the song "Hanging Around" for the first time, (in the car on a 14-hour road trip) it made me want to hear the whole disc. In short, this cd is amazing. Songs like "Colorblind" and "All My Friends" are pure poetry come to life. Where on the other hand, you have songs like "Mrs. Potter's Lullabye" and "Hanging Around" which are just great, upbeat roadtrip songs. Luckily, the album is not limited to just a few great tunes. Every song on "This Desert Life" is well-written and orchestrated. The album never loses speed or flavor--in fact, the songs just seem to get better and better. A great thing about Counting Crows' sound on "This Desert Life," is that you can hear different influences in their songs (for instance REM ("Colorblind"), Van Morrison ("All My Friends"), Bob Dylan ("St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream"), but they never lose sight of their own sound. I highly recommend this album. And especially to those "non-fans"--at least give it a listen. It's definitely worth it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They've Won me Back!, December 17, 1999

By 

E. A. Brennan (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Desert Life (Audio CD)

I fell in Love with the Counting Crows when their first Album "August..." was released. And after I saw them live I was hooked. I eagerly bought "Satellite" as soon as it was released. I didn't like it nearly as much and was very disappointed. "This Desert Life" has won me back. This is the Counting Crows I love, a beautiful melody and soulful words that speak to you. If you loved their first album you will love "This Desert Life". Nice to see they grew without compromising what made them great in the first place.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slowly Fading Away, February 10, 2000

By 

Kris B (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Desert Life (Audio CD)

You know one of best things about the counting crows last two albums and the live album is that it got rid of all of the "followers" who have been looking for Mr. Jones 1, 2, and 3. Adam Duritz writes from his heart he is not singing lyrics that 5 executives wrote in 5 minutes. The meaning of a great songwriter is one when you listen to the music after a while you start reflecting on the expiriences that have happened in your own life. Counting crows are one of the few bands that constantly do just that. Also about the van morrison, the band, and bob dylan reamrks. you tell me the name of your favorite band and i will tell you their influences. there is noone that you can compare the counting crows to in this day and age. no one! unlike most bands counting crows do not follow the trends and it has paid off. Now TDL is a great album worthy of 5 stars Adam puts his heart and soul into everysong that is performed on this album. He brings you into his lyrics with his voice. True it is more like AAEA than RTS from the instrumental perspective but has the same powerful lyrics.