Counting Crows - New Amsterdam

Genre rock Publisher Geffen External Links Official Counting Crows Website Official Geffen Website

Maybe I'm tired, but this latest live album by Counting Crows is a real snooze. And this is from a guy who really likes this band. Past an MTV concert and their previous live album (1998's Across A Wire: Live In New York...which come to think of it is, in fact, comprised of that MTV concert and the band's appearance on VH1's "Storytellers"), I haven't actually witnessed this band live in the flesh. After hearing their newly released New Amsterdam-Live At Heineken Music Hall (what a ghastly title), I'm not sure how geared up I am to do so now.

Everything about the band's performance here sounds perfunctory at best and going through the motions at worst. From a so-so selection of songs that rarely rises above anything mid-tempo to a rather murky sound quality, this live release speaks desperately of contract fulfillment rather than artistic testimony. I suppose the previously unreleased song "St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream" is rather up tempo...at least in the beginning it is...the band does perk up a bit for the song, but it's rather trite.

New Amsterdam is pleasant sounding, perfect I guess for most of my generation who have now sadly lost all edge and vitality when it comes to their music listening. And I'm certainly not some barometer for what's either cool or hip, but I'm not about to start shopping around for a burial plot either...maybe Counting Crows are. They sure as hell sound like it on this worthless album.