Review Summary: Somewhere Under Wonderland presents itself as perhaps the most consistent and concise record the band has released since their debut.
The Counting Crows have been swinging their way across stages and continents since the early 90’s, when their debut album
August And Everything After put them on the map. But after a couple of turbulent years for the band and six years since their last studio album, the crows have finally returned. The American alt-rockers have just unleashed their highly anticipated seventh studio album
Somewhere Under Wonderland and it’s already a contender for album of the year in some circles.
The album opens with an epic eight minute slice of Americana entitled ‘Palisades Park’. The opener beautifully straddles the line between the sadness of losing a good childhood friend and the fond memories you still hang onto from those times. Pianos, driving guitars and of course Adam Duritz sporadic vocal array carries this track along and at times is reminiscent of their 90’s hit ‘Round Here.’ The next song ‘Earthquake Driver’ begins with some country inspired tones and Duritz again spills his dreamy poetic lyrics all over the aural landscape.
“I wanna be an earthquake driver; I wanna be an aquarium diver. I just don’t wanna go home.” Duritz laments though the stereo waves.
Somewhere Under Wonderland traverses through another new, yet familiarly sounding Counting Crows song in ‘Dislocation’ before ‘God Of Ocean Tides’ quietens the mood for a moment. Slow acoustic guitar picks and heartfelt piano subtlety make the song flow and eventually wash over you.
From here on the record picks up again and gains a new sense of pace with the upbeat numbers ‘Scarecrow’ and ‘Elvis Went to Hollywood’ showing that the Counting Crows can still reach their creative best. ‘Scarecrow’ is rich with earthy tones, catchy choruses and a deep plodding bass that ties everything together in a neat little package. However, as good as these songs are, the band clearly left the best until last with ‘Possibility Days’. Its haunting beauty resonates with the listener long after the song has ended. The song begins slowly with piano and acoustic guitar, which steadily builds up around Duritz’s lyrics, creating some of the most heartfelt moments on the record. In true Counting Crows fashion the listener hangs on every word Duritz says as he pours every ounce of emotion into his vocal performance. ‘Possibility Days’ caps off the album at nine songs, which might seem short to some, but with some of the songs being longer than average, it’s still more than a worthwhile experience.
In the end
Somewhere Under Wonderland presents itself as perhaps the most consistent and concise record the band has released since their debut. The album is accompanied by a stunning series of artwork in the booklet and more lyrics than you can poke a stick at. The most important thing that stems from this release is how fresh the band sounds and that even in 2014 the Counting Crows are still a force to be reckoned with.
