Customer Reviews

This Desert Life

5 star:		(198)
4 star:		(97)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I can't say that i like this album better than CC's previous two (or three if you count Across the Wire). But don't let some of these reviews fool you: it's not worse either. It's a bit different from the first two because there aren't any songs as fast-paced as "Mr. Jones" or "Angels of the Silences." It is a mellow album, but soulful. I didn't love it after the first or second listen. But the songs grow on you--the Van Morrisonesque "Hanginaround," the slow build up of the traveling "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" and the pleading "I Wish I Was a Girl." You'll catch yourself humming these songs before long. And let's be honest: the only thing you want from this review is whether I think the album is worth your money. Definitely.

If the Counting Crows had never released August and Everything After, anyone who listened to This Desert Life would be hooked instantly. All the same qualities that dominated the bands first offering remain on the third, something that couldn't be said about Recovering The Satellites. Hanging Around is the albums Mr.Jones equivalent with its upbeat guitar and laid back vocals, while tracks such as All My Friends and Colorblind reach the same level of beautiful melancholy that has come to epitomize the Crows sound. The only thing that's going against the record is the fact that August and Everything After still holds such a special place in many music listeners hearts that unless the Crows put out a complete masterpiece, many consider the Crows career over and done with. So if your just dying for the classic Crows sounds on your CD player, This Desert Life will not dissapoint, if you want Adam Duritz and company to go exploring into new musical territory don't bother.

I'm sure that most of the bad reviews are by people who've only listened a few times. It's that type of album.

For the first couple of weeks, I felt that this was their weakest album, but I can't say that now. As a matter of fact, "Side 2" is one of the best "sides" I've heard in years.

The taste test - I played August and Everything after to completion, and it remains one of the greatest albums I've ever heard (and I've been very into music for over 30 years). I then followed that up with This Desert Life, expecting it to pale in comparison. I found myself playing it over repeatedly. After a song was over, I couldn't wait to hear it again, but before I could repeat a song, I started getting into the next one. So I kept repeating groups at a time.

That's when I know it's working.

And, c'mon! It's not "whiny". It's emotional!

I think this is a great follow up to 'August' and 'Recovering the Satellites'. Takes a couple of listens to really start enjoying it. I've had it in my cd player since it came out and haven't got sick of it yet. Personal Favorites so far are tracks 2,3,4,6,and 7. Mrs Potter's Lullaby seems to get better every time (I think I'm close to memorizing the whole thing!) Saw these guys live at The Rave in Milwaukee, WI about three weeks after the album came out. Incredible! They don't lose anything live, they actually sound better than there albums. Anyways, hats off to everyone in the band, don't ever stop making the only honest music that seems to come out these days............. A huge fan!

Okay, first know a couple of things about me: I'm 46 years old, a child of the 60s... I grew up on Bob Dylan...and Neil Young...and Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen... But, I don't dwell in the past... I listen to new music... But I look for great lyrics, great songwriting, adventurous musical challenges...style and character in the voice and phrasing...

When I first heard AAEA, I was blown away... But I've also learned a few things about reviewing: 1) Don't always try to compare an album with past works...Judge each on its own merits 2) Don't judge it after one listening...albums either grow on you...or get stale fast (I've owned this one since it came out)...

Here's my take: Yes, some songs pale by comparison to others, but even the lesser songs are good standing alone... A few cuts stand out as excellent: 1) Mrs. Potter...The lyrics are outstanding...they say a lot about fame...and desire...The music builds...It is long, but I wish there was more... 2) Saint Robinson...The music is outstanding and distinct, the lyrics are spellbinding...Adam's phrasing and style sets it apart... 3) High Life...that inside-out major chord is mesmerizing...

Is there another Mr. Jones or Round here? No, but need there be? These songs stand on their own...

I bought this CD the day it came out, being a huge CC fan and feel it far surpasses RTS and is second only to AAEA. I don't think they could ever top AAEA, which is pure musical genius. If you're buying this CD for "hanging around", you'll soon realize that this is far from the best song on the album. Amy Hit the Atmosphere, Mrs. Potter's and High Life are my personal favorites. If you're not a true CC fan, buy AAEA first and then you will appreciate this CD.

I have to admit that on first listen to This Desert Life, I felt that my anxiety for its arrival was overstated. However, the more I listen to it, the more I realize just how good this album is. I can see that true fans will love this and those who were lukewarm to the Crows before will remain that way. I found this to be a much more technically precise album with some interesting overlapping sounds that is mostly atypical of the previous CC efforts. While this is not my favorite of their 3 albums, it is strong enough to keep me listening over and over and thirsting already for the next offering from Counting Crows. For all you nay-sayers, yes, Adam is self-indulgent and whiny as can be, but his passions cannot be denied. My recommendation? Go with it and enjoy the music, it's quality far exceeds most of the garbage being belched out by the corporate music machine, catering to the narrow-minded MTV crowd. Let's hear it for integrity!