DetectiveLinden t1_jecl592 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:52 AM

Counting Crows.

Counting-Trains t1_jed074n wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:50 AM

even if one were to argue that august and everything after is Counting Crows’ best album, which i’d personally have to say it’s not —their second album recovering the satellites is musically, lyrically, and vocally more impressive than the former, the band has three other nearly perfect records after august; recovering the satellites, this desert life, and hard candy. as it stands for all great artists, the “best” record they output doesn’t necessarily standalone as their “peak” if it is that they continue to produce music at a high level afterwards; ie. counting crows. if august is your pick for their best album, that’s perfectly understandable, but if recovering the satellites, this desert life, and hard candy are like marginally 3-7% less convincing than AAEA as an album at worst, it can’t be that such consistent quality would lend their peak to being defined by their efforts in 1993 alone.

DetectiveLinden t1_jed31yh wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:15 AM

Opinions vary.

Counting-Trains t1_jedar0b wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:26 AM

you’d be very correct.

DetectiveLinden t1_jefbf9f wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:24 PM

I think AAEA is one of the best albums ever by any artist, so sadly, it’s only little steps down after that 🙂

Counting-Trains t1_jefiu3q wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:12 PM

it is truly that good. i’m glad that you still appreciate the other records too, however —even if that means placing them a little lower in comparison with AAEA. counting crows are a great band; i think that’s the common perspective here at least.

DetectiveLinden t1_jegmkq0 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:37 PM

For sure. I think for many bands, their first is the best, and then a huge drop off. Counting Crows held up there for subsequent albums.