'Hard Candy' a sweet treat for summer

Counting Crows
Hard Candy
Geffen Records Admittedly, about a month ago, when I first heard "American Girls" on the radio I got a little worried. Don't get me wrong; it was nice to hear new material from Counting Crows. I thought the tune was catchy, but the first few times I heard it the words glossy and commercial came to mind. My prior experience provided hope. I reminded myself that as a general rule, the first single released by Counting Crows is never a great barometer for the rest of an album, and I couldn't have been more right. Hard Candy, on the whole, isn't much different than previous Counting Crows records in terms of the general approach, but is, without doubt, an example of a band that continues to perfect their musical and poetic chops. The album is positive proof that the group has not lost their knack for meticulous and skilled songwriting. Adam Duritz's familiar themes of regretful romantic loss and self-doubt feel as passionate as ever. Backdropped by intricate arrangements and textured instrumentation, Duritz's lyrics paint the most poignant pictures of introspection he's ever put to paper. It's hard to say enough about the musical craftsmanship Counting Crows display when it comes to the slower songs on the record. The tracks "Carriage," "Holiday in Spain" and "Goodnight L.A." are some of the best tunes the band has ever put together. Other tracks, such as the gorgeously orchestrated waltz "Butterfly In Reverse" (co-written with Ryan Adams), shows that the group can successfully run in interesting new directions and still come up on top. The 13 tracks on Hard Candy are some of the most accessible the Crows have recorded, and all the while, are as elegant and fascinating as previous works. This masterful end result will surely keep the old fans happy and pick up new ones along the way. And I'm glad.