Films About Ghosts: The Best of

I am not the biggest fan of Counting Crows, feeling that the two albums after "Recovering The Satellites" were inconsistent at best and never added them to my collection. I also dumped the live album into a used store bin soon after I'd bought it. But for "August and Everything After," Adam Duritz and company struck a chord in the year that Nirvana was king of the world (and Kurt closed the window on that chapter at roughly the same time), and radio was being ruled by the likes of Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton. It didn't hurt that Counting Crows were making music that echoed the best of Van Morrison or Bob Dylan. Another plus was having a producer like T-Bone Burnett, who understood the traditional intimacy of the Crow's sound. He helped make "August" sound like a bridge between the rage of grunge and the introspection of R.E.M.'s then hugely successful "Automatic For The People."

Like the Autumnal tree that graces the cover of "Films About Ghosts," the best work of...Read more

This best-of album collects 10+ years of radio singles and fan favorites, as well as a few more obscure tracks. Long-time Counting Crows fans will already own most of these songs on the band's older albums, but this is the first time on a full-length US release for "Friends of the Devil," "She Don't Want Nobody Near," and "Einstein on the Beach." This re-released version also includes the radio single from Shrek 2, "Accidentally in Love," and it's hard to complain about one more bonus track.

For folks unfamiliar with the Counting Crows, this album would make an excellent introduction, consisting of some of the best tunes across the band's range of styles. From the slow and emotional sound of fan favorite "Anna Begins," to the more recent upbeat radio hit "Hangin Around," Films About Ghosts serves as an excellent sampler.

For long-time fans, well, you know what to expect - if the extra tracks or this particular combination of songs appeals to you, you won't...Read more

I admit, I'm one who loved "August And Everything After", yet bought nothing after. So, this disc was a great way for me (a casual fan) to catch up with them. Overall this collection succeeds quite well. 17 tracks, including every major hit, nearly every minor hit, a soundtrack hit, Grateful Dead and Joni Mitchell covers, and a new song. My only complaint is the omission of "A Murder Of One", possibly my favorite off the debut. Otherwise this is the obvious choice for your first or only Counting Crows disc. It'll go great with your Sheryl Crow and Black Crowes cd's.