deadpoet

1. Round Here- The song starts off slowly, picks up tempo beautifully, and the overall impression is of an epic. It really works well. Adam Duritz seems to have great storytelling abilities. He doesn’t mumble, nor does he overpower the music. I’m always tempted to hit the replay button, but I prefer listening to the album as a whole. 10/10

2. Omaha- A very pleasant song. Something to relax to on a hot summer day. 8.5/10

3. Mr. Jones- The big hit off the album, and one can see why. The tune is super-catchy and the lyrics are relatable (Believe in me, help me believe in anything, ‘cause I wanna be someone who believes). It does everything a pop-rock single should do. Love it. 10/10

4. Perfect Blue Buildings- A change in tempo after Mr. Jones. This song just does not stick with me. The lyrics are intriguing, but the tune never seems to embed itself in my memory. This may be seen as an advantage as it will seem fresh every time I listen to it, but the fact remains that it’s not a very memorable song. 6.5/10

5. Anna Begins- Probably my favorite song off the album. It seems to be about an intense relationship between friends who are unable to define their relationship, perhaps because they’re afraid of letting themselves be hurt ("These seconds when I'm shaking leave me shuddering for days," she says, And I'm not ready for this sort of thing) The music complements the lyrics marvelously. Without doubt, 10/10

6. Time And Time Again-One of the songs that goes great when it is listened to with the flow of the album, but not something that I’d go out of my way to listen to. 7.5/10

7. Rain King- Not as catchy a single as Mr. Jones, and with dark undertones, but still very enjoyable. The piano shows itself to be a big part of the band. 9/10

8. Sullivan Street- A slow song, but one that’s really growing on me. 8.5/10

9. Ghost Train- Love is a ghost train. The song speaks of how past relationships haunt you. Who can’t relate to that? 8/10

10. Raining in Baltimore- I question the positioning of this song. It is a pretty great stand-alone track, but with those two slow songs before this one, I found my attention drifting. It’s a shame, really, because this is a very decent song. It is a stripped-down track that creates the mood of loneliness, longing and confusion really well 8/10

11. A Murder of One- Finally, the tempo picks up again. They started with a big track and now they end with one. It clearly seems to be about a woman who is trapped in a relationship with someone she doesn’t love, while the one who she actually loves tries to convince her to leave him. He tries to convince her not to waste her life, which would be ‘a murder of one’. Lyrics once again prove to be their strong suit. 10/10

Overall score: 8.7/10

A highly enjoyable album that’s easy to listen to. However, they do rely heavily on the standard of their lyrics, without which this would have been a below-average release, and I think I might tire of the lead singer’s voice (even if it is wrought with emotion) if I hear too much of it. That being said, if this debut is a sign of things to come, I’m really looking forward to listening to their next album.

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s_k

Best album from the first half of the nineties if you ask me .

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Howard the Duck

I can't bloody stand the Counting Crows

Adam Duritz's voice makes my skin crawl and my teeth grind

and the band sound like a fifth-grade Grateful Dead

Janszoon

I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's a great album that I certainly listened to a lot when it first came out. My favorite tracks are "Mr. Jones", "Rain King" and "A Murder of One".

It's been years since I listened to this album, I may have to bust it out today.

Edit: Listening to it right now. I forgot how much I like "Anna Begins", it's like a case study in flawless pop songwriting.

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Time & Place

25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die

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LostBoyScout

Anna Begins was always my favourite song as well. That album was very important for me through my teen years!

s_k

I've never really preferred rain king to any other song on the album, but then I don't really dislike any of the songs on that album.
Hmm... Omaha, Anna Begins, Ghost train I guess.

Eitherway, what do you think is the best nineties album?
Not wanting to start a discussion here, just curious at your answer

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deadpoet

All songs with 'Anna' in them are pretty cool. Also love 'Anna(go to him)' of please please me.

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s_k

Nah, I can prove you wrong:

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deadpoet

ok, well, that was annoying.

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viralcrew

haha nice