Nut Suite. Mini reviews of albums old and new. Minimum words. No fuss. No spoilers [?]. Occasional smugs.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

COUNTING CROWS / Hard Candy (2002)


For me, the Crows have two absolute spires amongst the multitude of peaks comprising their discography. Hard Candy is every bit as beautiful as ...Satellites is dark and coarse. It isn’t delicate, however. There’s a genuine strength behind even the most exposed and gentile tracks herein. It’s a perfectly balanced effort that brings tears to my eyes but never once feels defeatist, even when addressing that mindset directly.

Lyrically, it’s their most stand-alone effort, so I’d recommend it the most for new listeners. If I was otherwise monikered, I’d probably consider this their masterwork.

Oh yeah, it's even got the version of Big Yellow Taxi where Vanessa Carlton ISN’T getting paid for singing 'Bop Bop Bop Bop!'

Songs of Note: Hard CandyMiami

5 Resplendent Alcohol-blurred Reveries out of 5