Lots of comments going on here, nice to see the enthusiasm about Counting Crows, even from the haters, but it's a lot more simple than "this is drivel" or "most overhyped song of the 90s" I think we can all agree this album is far from drivel or anything close to the most anything of the 90s aside from most under-appreciated, freshman-release album of the 90s; this came to full fruition later in the early 2000s as the indie scene that this and so many other unsung albums of the 90s (camper van beethoven, neutral milk hotel, etc) had begun to inspire before their time. I wouldn't compare Counting Crows to either of those bands in any other circumstance, but the fact is they weren't Garbage or Nirvana in the 90s and they sang lyrically complex songs. 

Now, what I really came here to talk about is the follow-up albums. If you loved this album, and had ill feelings towards the albums that came after it, I have this to say to you: Go spend the time with Recovering the Satellites. Just do it. Don't listen to a track here and skip and then hit another track and skip and find two or three you like. Sit down and listen to the entire thing from front to back. This is the only way to experience any record anyway, and Counting Crows is a band that you can really get into by doing this. The songs at the end of the album are so good like the feeling you got on August and Everything After, but you really need the lead-in of the earlier tracks in the album to set the mood correctly for them. There are a lot of mirrored sentiments and feelings in Recovering the Satellites, they just changed their sound slightly. I think Recovering the Satellites sounds a lot like an early precursor to what Guster ended up doing with a few of their hit tracks. The feeling I get is very similar.

In conclusion: I don't think Counting Crows is an indie band, haters go find something better to do because this isn't the band you are looking for, and fans don't keep sleeping on the follow-up albums.

I do admit thought they completely went pop and sold out their audience with that song from Shrek with the animated bunny in the music video. I obviously stopped paying attention around that time and don't have my facts straight, but their first 2 albums are good and deserve respect. 

 Yes, when he tries to vamp or improvise it is cringe-making. You can tell that the discipline of a good producer (T-Bone Burnett?) kept them in bounds on August...d-don wrote: 

As I have told my wife enough times to make here crazy, "This is a good first record, but they used up all their ideas and have not come close since."

 rp1125 wrote:  d-don wrote: 
Maybe if you both stuck your heads in an oven you wouldn't have to go through the unbearable burden of hearing this classic track on RP. 

 rp1125 wrote: 
This is what I was trying to say.

 zenhead wrote: 
Probably no "new ideas" in a 20 year old song. 

At first thought this was something from Dave Matthews and that is not a good thing
Drivel 

I never liked the CC's songs with all the extra verbiage in each line - like packing five pounds of crap in a one pound can - and the over-emoting.. That being said, this song's not that bad

I had almost forgotten how much I loathe this song - one of those few PSD moments that is so much fun  

Outstanding.  I forgot how fine this song is!
 

I've always loved this song

I've always thought he should just stick his head in an oven and get it over with...and spare the rest of us

i agree - boring. i don't like the whiney voice especially. i don't hear any new ideas here.

Another Neil Young vocal by this guy.  He should pay royalties.  Waaay overrated.

 seanyeomans wrote: 
I like how you picked this nice orange font that goes well with the album cover. Must have won you over subconsciously.

That summer's soundtrack.

ha! as i tuned in i'm already listenin' to Countin' Crows - This Desert Life, i like that Serendipity! round here!

 FamilyMan wrote: 
Uh-oh - noun confusion!  Do you mean the "diner" as the establishment serving the food or the person consuming the food?  Either way, I find this tune to be somewhat fowl.

Is this an audience or an oil painting?

Breaks no new ground, but solid just the same..

Great album!

I can get how some seem to really like them, but I'll pass every time.....

 dwlangham wrote: 
My edit

Excellent song.  Always enjoyed it.  Great hook, great lyrics, fine music - 8.

 Stingray wrote: 
Yep!

Anything with "takes her/his clothes off" okay with me.

 Stingray wrote: 
 Why do people whine about Neil whining? 

idjits.

 d-don wrote: 

 seanyeomans wrote: 

What you said.

 Stingray wrote: 
I hate it when I have to agree with you :)