ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180011
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: RECORD REVIEW
SOURCE: JANE GANAHL SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
Chapter One of Counting Crows' musical legacy was ``August and Everything After,'' a brilliant first effort from a band that Rolling Stone magazine said was ``revitalizing the sound and tradition of classic rock.''
That was 1994.
They may have taken their own sweet time to come out with Chapter Two, but it was worth the wait. ``Recovering the Satellites'' is evidence that the Crows' extraordinary success was not a fluke. The album is at times shatteringly good, at other times excessive. It is always brave, and usually succeeds.
Most of the 14-song album is vintage Counting Crows, a blend of elements that is both uniquely their own and pulled from their influences: the emotional lyricism of Bruce Springsteen, the gutsy roots-rock of Tom Petty and the stream-of-conscious intellect of R.E.M.
Like ``August,'' which sold 7 million copies, ``Recovering the Satellites'' pushes the boundaries of modern folk-rock, with sojourns into new territory. There are some jazzy piano, blues, even some orchestral arrangements. All of the efforts are interesting, although some fall a bit short.
``Mercury,'' for example, is scalding - a wonderful Stones-ish blues tune with piano and harmonica. ``Miller's Angels,'' another piano-based melange, is too weighed down with self-stroking to lift off.
Those who wonder where the boys have been in the last year and a half will get dollops of insight in the listening. Well, into the band's clear leader Adam Duritz's life at least. (He being the man who writes all the lyrics; band members co-write the music with him.)
Since he has moved to L.A., there are images of Duritz's L.A. life throughout, from the marvelous title tune (``We only stay in orbit/for a moment of time/ And then you're everybody's satellite'') to ``A Long December'' (``It's one more day up in the canyon/ And it's one more night in Hollywood/ It's been so long since I've seen the ocean/ I guess I should.'')
In fact, the often-somber Duritz manages to poke a little fun at himself in a couple songs, the best of which is ``Have You Seen Me Lately?'' - a rocking rumination on being out of the public eye.
Duritz is a songwriter of power and intelligence whose self-revelations continue to be his strong suit. But unlike ``August,'' which exposed Duritz's ongoing woman trouble in perfect poetry, some of this album's best songs are not about his love life.
But Duritz still knows how to surgically examine relationships in a way that makes listeners cringe.
On the other hand, listeners might tire of Duritz's self-flagellation over his rocky love affairs.
In the end, the Crows sound refreshed, finely tuned and ready for their comeback; even with all the poetry and finesse, the boys can rock.
Whether the band's second album will sell 7 million remains to be seen. But that hardly seems important now. ``Recovering the Satellites'' should prove Counting Crows' stature to any doubters.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Counting Crows: ``Recovering the Satellites'' pushesby CNBthe boundaries of modern folk-rock, with sojourns into new
territory. color.