Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings Review

Release Date: Mar 25, 2008
Label: Geffen Records
Genres: Rock, Alt-Country
Number Of Tracks: 14
After six years out of the spotlight, the Counting Crows return to prove their stature as an American rock institution.

Sound:	8.7
Lyrics:	8.3
Impression:	8.7
Overall rating:	8.6
Users rating:	9.5
Comments:	15

overall: 7.3

Featured review by: UG Team, on april 11, 2008

Sound: Having found their way into the hearts and minds of music fans in the early '90s with ubiquitous hits like “Mr. Jones” and “A Long December,” the Counting Crows have chosen to keep quiet on the last 4-5 years. With the exception of some soundtrack appearances, the band hasn’t entered a recording studio since their 2002 ‘Hard Candy’ album. Lead singer and let’s face it, the soul of the band, Adam Duritz, has battled personal demons that kept the song-writer on the sidelines for most of the time. After finally getting diagnosed with a dissociative disorder by a new psychiatrist, Duritz began to be inspired to write what would become ‘Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings.’ From the opening rush of “1492,” it’s clear he’s returned with a new sense of zeal! After a quick build of snare drum rolls and treble-kissed guitars, the singer crashes in with the impassioned delivery that made him a household name some fifteen years. It’s next to impossible to find any Counting Crows album reviews where anyone in the band, besides Duritz, gets any kind of recognition, let alone praise. It’s a shame really because he’s surrounded himself with a wonderful crew of musicians throughout their heralded career. The guitar trifecta of Dan Vickrey, David Bryson and David Immergluck offer up plenty of the kinds of melodic licks we've come to love from the band. They go from country informed harmonies on “Los Angeles” to Tom Petty styled riffing on “Insignificant.” Sometimes they do it in the span of one song like the standout performances on “Cowboys.” // 7

Lyrics and Singing: Duritz’ lyrical influences have always been top-shelf and he’s proven that he’s studied them well throughout his catalog. Van Morrison, Robbie Robertson and Bob Dylan, who Duritz even name-checks on “Mr. Jones,” all are names that come up when trying to describe his writing style. He turns in quite a few essential songs on ‘SN&SM’ proving he hasn’t lost his step during those quieter years. To be able to sell a line like, "If you see my picture in a magazine/or if you should fall asleep by the bedroom TV/Honey, I'm just tryin' to make some sense outta me," like he does on the Ryan Adams assisted, “Los Angeles,” you have to do it with the right balance of conviction and confidence. Duritz has the personality, and probably the ego, to do it well. After all, this is the same guy who bedded two members of the ‘Friends’ cast at the height of the American sitcom’s popularity! But the front-man isn’t foolish enough not to self-analyze his shortcomings on a few cuts. He tells a woan, “I’m coming along real good/but I still can’t do most of the things I should, ” on the bittersweet, well, more bitter than sweet, “You Can’t Count On Me.” His best strength is still his ability to paint a particular moment of time or place much like a cinematographer would. His captivating descriptions in “On A Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago” are so vivid you almost feel like you’re one of the characters in the lyrics. // 8

Impression: There is an elite league of bands that you can always depend on for a more than solid studio album every few years. With ‘SN&SM,’ the Counting Crows have deservingly earned a place in the club. While a few tracks won’t exactly win a spot on their next hits collection, most of the material found here ranks right up with some of their best work. The first half of the album, with it's more traditionally roots-rock feel, was produced by personal favorite, Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen) while the quieter half was helmed by Brian Deck (Iron & Wine). Norton’s expert handling of the layered instrumentation is awe-inspiring. There are multi-guitars, banjos, Hammond B-3, mandolins and a multitude of other instruments on any given song and the veteran studio wiz always presents them in an exciting and always pleasing way. The band had worked with him on their ‘Recovering the Satellites” album and having him here again was a brilliant choice. The softer material, all over the second half, slacks in places. The main issue is the song sequence. Breaking up the hushed material with some of the more energetic tunes, would have kept the pacing more enticing. But songs like “Anyone But You” deserve your attention either way. The outfit’s restrained performances on these songs are masterful in taste and delivery. When all is said and done, even with it's few setbacks, this album will not let down the large fan base they’ve cultivated throughout the years. // 7

- Carlos Ramirez (c) 2009

overall: 8.7

Reviewed by: acade365, on may 07, 2008

Sound: This CD is divided into two different halves or parts: Saturday Nights electric, darker side. Sunday Mornings more of an acoustic, mellow side.

Saturday Nights. This is clearly the best and most consistent half.

01. 1492 - the first song on this side is possibly the darkest from all the record, and one of the fastest with no doubt. All three guitars (yes, three guitars), mix very well to turn this combination of furious riffs into an adrenaline-flooded intro song.
02. Hanging Tree - during the verses, the piano and guitars are only a support for the lyrics; however, during the chorus, the instruments come to the front of the scene and take over, specially the drums and the lead guitar. This song shows some influence of Chicago-based band Wilco.
03. Los Angeles - this song slows down the quick pace that the first two had given to the start of this half. This was probably predestinated to be a single, with maybe a little more of a commercial layout of the instruments. More melodic than the rest of “Saturday Nights”, the guitars, piano and drums are only a mere support for Adam Duritz’ singing.
04. Sundays - this song has clearly some things from “This Desert Life”, the band’s third album, with some more unusual arrangements and some great bass-playing by Matt Malley, former bassist. It’s not in the same mood as the rest of this side of the record but it somehow manages to blend very well.
05. Insignificant - this clearly reminds of what the Crows did on “Recovering The Satellites”, their second album, with some similarities with “Have you seen me lately?” The guitar playing is excellent and the second voices give Duritz’ voice just everything it needs.
06. Cowboys - what to say about this song? It might probably be the best one on the whole album, not just on this side. It has something from almost ever record the Crows have done. It has that rocking feeling from “Recovering the Satellites”, and the complexity from “This Desert Life” and “Hard Candy”.

Sunday Mornings. There are some great songs on this half, but its not even close to the first half consistency.

01. Washington Square - after Saturday Nights rocking half, this song comes a breath of fresh air. Being a “chorus-less” song, the choice of the instruments varies from the starting piano and guitar to end with bells, a banjo and two guitars, to avoid making it sound repetitive.
02. On Almost Any Sunday Morning - continuing with this calm, almost country-ish half, this song is pretty simple, with an acoustic guitar and a harmonica being the most important instruments; though there are a couple more instruments on the background that complete this great song’s soothing atmosphere.
03. When I Dream Of Michelangelo - if you’re reading this, you have probably listened to this song, just because it is available on the official site for free. A fun-fact about this song is that drummer Jim Bogios hits a book during the song, not a drum or any other commonly used percussion instrument. Continuing the country mood, this is clearly not the best song on this half.
04. Anyone But You - another great song. The first one on this half to break the calm mood on this half. Its more complex than the first three songs, but around the last minute or so, the song turns into noise rather than music.
05. You Can't Count On Me - another mood-breaker. Being the first single, this song would have gone better on the other half of the record, where electric guitars are more predominant and the beat is faster than in the second one. A bit monotonous, though.
06. Le Ballet D’Or - its complexity and greatly executed instrumentation make it the best song on this half. The difference between this song and the rest on the album is that the Crows rely on more unpredictable and dissonant chords on this one, rather than more layers of audio, as they use on most of their songs.
07. On A Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago - this song is a close cousin to “Raining in Baltimore” and “Miller’s Angels”, from “August and Everything After” and “Recovering the Satellites” respectively. Its just piano and voice, and it gets a little repetitive, specially in the end.
08. Come Around - a great song to finish the record. A Maggie May-ish acoustic intro, followed by a clean electric with some D variations and the addition of the piano, the drums and another guitar. This is a solo-less song, something pretty uncommon on CC songs, and they pull it off quite well. Also, its electric, so the end of this half is quite different to the start of it. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: Saturday Nights has the betst sound. Lyrically, it’s kind of the other way around. Sunday Mornings has cleverer lyrics as shown on “Come Around” or “Le Ballet D’ Or”, for example. Adam Duritz shows as much feeling as he did on their first album, though better singing techniques and skills. His style could be described as a mix of Bob Dylan’s and Van Morrison’s, though he does have his unique touch that gets you “inside” the song, and makes you feel exactly as he says he feels. Unfortunately, some songs with great lyrics finish with the repeating of the same line over and over, and that takes away some of its greatness. // 8

Impression: Overall, it’s a really great album, specially the first half. It really brings back all the good things the Crows had done on “Recovering the Satellites”, “August and Everything After” and the highly underrated “This Desert Life”. If it were stolen, I would definitely buy it again. // 9

Reviewed by: unregistered, on april 11, 2008

Sound: Counting Crows is back after 5 years without releasing any studio album, and no comeback could have been better than this one: a 2-CD set divided clearly into two halves, named Saturday Nights And Sunday Mornings. The first part, Saturday Nights, is full of dark, angry songs, that reflect all those feelings that Adam Duritz has deep inside of him. The three guitars, the piano, ànd the drums show bitterness in just the right ammount, with furious riffs that leave your mind full of that power that CC's second album, Recovering the Satellites, had showcased back in the 90's. Some songs, such as Cowboys, have an intrincate complexity that is achieved with various layers of well-performed music. Sunday Mornings, on the other side, is more of an acoustic set, but this does not mean they unplugged their electric guitars and played the songs. This half is full of delicate instrumentation, and is more melodic than the first one; nevertheless, some of the songs have a faster beat, and some others, such as the first single "You can't Count On Me" or "Come Around" return to the electric guitars and rock the hell out of everybody. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Duritz Lyrics are as tortured and angst-filled as always, but he somehow manages to avoid making they sound repetitive. He still puts as much or more emotion into the singing as when he was younger, and the lyrics really suit the music. Some phrases still remain strange to me, such as "Shes A Carnival-Diver" (what the heck is that supposed to mean?) from On A Tuesday in Amsterdam Long Ago. // 9

Impression: Overall, Saturday Nights is a little better than Sunday Mornings, but the whole album is a true masterpiece that deserves to be remembered and it is at the same level as August And Everything After or Recovering the Satellites, though this will be hard to admit for most CC fans, that have those great, great albums buried deep inside their mind, heart and soul. Cowboys is one of the best songs on the first half and Ballet D'Or is one of the most complex songs out of both halves, and shows the versatility the Crows have managed to accomplish through their long carrier. I would definitely get this album again if I lost it! Get this album. You wont be disappointed and you will find it was truly worth the waiting. I know I did. // 10

Comments

[sambargun]

Didnt listen to the album, but this was a good review. Finally someone writes something relevant about the musicians and their influences in relation to the music. Please do some more reviews.....

[ShredGodsUnite]

I agree with you SAMBARGUN...great review!

[starzsp<6)]

ive got that album and like all the others, love them

[lesbian_men]

love the counting crows...although i find it somehow difficult to think that this could rival 'recovering the satellites'...i guess ill just have to buy it, and i would be happy if i were proved wrong

[pigmaggots]

Is it only me that thinks that recovering satellites isn't that good? I'm a fan of all CC's albums but that album isn't the best IMO.

This album took a fair few listens for me to get, just because it has everything in terms of varying tempos...melodies...styles...genres.

Any CC's fan should go buy this album, this band are not past their best yet!

[whibley]

hmm ive never really heard any of their albums i mite look into them....

[flyingjo21]

pigmaggots wrote:

Is it only me that thinks that recovering satellites isn't that good? I'm a fan of all CC's albums but that album isn't the best IMO.

That's my favorite album by them! I'm haven't checked this album out yet but can't wait to hear it

[Haanz]

pigmaggots :
Is it only me that thinks that recovering satellites isn't that good? I'm a fan of all CC's albums but that album isn't the best IMO.

Naw, you're not alone. To be honest, I only really like a few tracks from that album. Saturday Nights is probably the first album that I've come close to really liking as much as August & Everything After.

[zeppelinfan7777]

I think this is their best album yet i love it every song on it is something new keep it coming adam

[pigmaggots]

Haanz wrote:

pigmaggots :
Is it only me that thinks that recovering satellites isn't that good? I'm a fan of all CC's albums but that album isn't the best IMO.

Naw, you're not alone. To be honest, I only really like a few tracks from that album. Saturday Nights is probably the first album that I've come close to really liking as much as August & Everything After.

I dunno, I really like hard candy! i really like this desert life aswell, which i heard was an album that everyone hated? Obviously august and everything after is up there aswell!

[potty_pete24]

i think this album is good but not fantastic still worth buying though i would say this desert life is my favourite

[randomzm]

I really love the varying sounds in this album, but it just feels like AD is running out of things to sing about. He's repeating lines and using the same ideas. Even the best song on the album (imho), "when I dream of Michelangelo," is a line from "Angels of the Silences" from 3 albums earlier.

still though, anything the crows put out is easily 147x better than what you'll ever hear on pop radio. great album

[pigmaggots]

randomzm wrote:

I really love the varying sounds in this album, but it just feels like AD is running out of things to sing about. He's repeating lines and using the same ideas. Even the best song on the album (imho), "when I dream of Michelangelo," is a line from "Angels of the Silences" from 3 albums earlier.

still though, anything the crows put out is easily 147x better than what you'll ever hear on pop radio. great album

Thats not exactly rehashing, thats taking one fish out of a pond and putting it in a new pond and watching it reproduce in a different way.

[acade365]

this desert life is a greatly underrated album. it has some songs that are really good.

[sandybeachsands]

this album is absolutelu unreal