Counting Crows - 'Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets' Album Review

Sean Friswell
May 12
3 min read

Tracklist:

1. With Love From A to Z

2. Spaceman In Tulsa

3. Boxcars

4. Virginia Through The Rain

5. Under The Aurora

6. The Tall Grass

7. Elevator Boots

8. Angel of 14th Street

9. Bobby and the Rat-Kings

Counting Crows have been going for 30 years now, a fact I was genuinely surprised by as their debut album, 'August and Everything After' still feels quite recent to me! They haven’t released an album since 2014, so this is a big event for their fans. They have been a very successful band in the past, selling over 20 Million records so how about this new album? Does it measure up?

It really does, Adam’s vocals are as strong as they have ever been, the writing is as leftfield as ever and the band are as tight as ever.

'With Love from A-Z' is an excellent slow burner of a song that entices you into this album, makes you want to hear more but doesn’t prepare you for the rock and roll you’re about to be hit with.

'Spaceman in Tulsa' has all the hallmarks of a hit single, it probably the most over the top, full on party song they have written in a while with, as usual lyrics that don’t work with the music in a good way. The words are poignant, with references to a girl being unable to keep her father away, rock and roll, great use of a piano and some great group vocalising.

Then 'Boxcars' sounds like a proper rock and roll song that could have been written in the 1980’s. I could easily see Bob Segar cover it but it’s also very much a Counting Crows song with some excellent guitar work and, as usual, some unexpected lyrics, at times it almost makes me think of The Hold Steady.

'Virginia Through The Rain' takes it down a notch, it’s a song that very much focuses on Adam’s voice, the lyrics, and a piano with some excellent understated guitar playing, it is probably one of the most straightforward songs on the album, ballad like with sone real emotion coming through in the lyrics and singing.

'Under the Aurora' sounds like classic Counting Crows, it’s got all the elements you expect but, if I’m honest, I’m not really sure what it’s about! That’s not a first for me with Counting Crows, I still really enjoyed it but the meaning? No idea!

I am not going to go through the album song by song, it is well worth a listen. The use of orchestration at times, the oblique lyrics, the unexpected use of instruments, the strength of the piano playing and just how good Adam’s voice sounds. I do have to give an honourable mention to 'Elevator Boots', it’s a great song that I can see turning into a communal sing along at gigs.

I am, however, conflicted, clearly not releasing a new album for 11 years has resulted in one of their best albums since their debut, but should we have to wait another 11 years for the next one? That doesn’t feel a fair trade off, hopefully they can find a way to gestate songs this good without having to take such a long time. They are a band I’ve never seen live, but I’d love to after listening to this.

This should add a fair amount to that 20 million sold figure if it finds its audience. If it doesn’t then that will be a real shame.