Except that their new album might be some of the best stuff they have ever put out. Musically, lyrically, as far as mattering in the long scope of musical history.

I'll not get any support here, The Crows, like DMB and Springsteen seem to be quintessentially America. I suppose that's fine since Crowded House, Oasis, and Robbie Williams never caught on here. Still, Counting Crows music should not be described as "a couple catchy tunes."

Oasis never caught on here? They are a staple from my childhood. Dances, parties, etc, they always got airtime. I guess I never really thought about it because they have always been well liked by the people I was around.

CH and Robbie not so much.

Also, Counting Crows gets a thumbs up from me.

Favorite new track?

Easily "Palisades Park". The rest of the album is good, but that song just surpasses anything they've released with the possible exception of "Mr. Jones". I especially love the lyrics and the fact that it doesn't feel eight minutes long.

I like Palisades Park and God of Ocean Tides. I haven't listened to it in it's entirety though. I skimmed every song after the first verse+chorus. The only song I'm really on the fence about is the country sounding one, Cover Up The Sun.

Yeah, I hear you on that one. I'm also a big fan of Scarecrow and Earthquake Driver, but for different reasons.

Palisades, to me, is vintage Crows as filtered through Springsteens and 1970's Stones.

^
Have you heard the Wallflowers' Glad All Over? You might enjoy it. They pulled a similar return to form.

Oh really? You know with that first album and what Jacob has put out solo, I sort of expected them to be better than they ended up. Anything I should try first as a sample?

I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the time, these reunion albums flop, but IMO this was their best work since the '90s, including Jakob's solo work. I really enjoyed the closing track, "One Set of Wings".