Counting Crows: August and Everything After—Live at Town Hall

Filmed at NYC's Town Hall in 2007, alt-rock faves Counting Crows perform their 1993 debut release August and Everything After in its entirety in a 10-song set that re-imagines one of the seminal albums of the ‘90s. Singer/songwriter Adam Duritz sets the bar high from the start, singing in an intense almost-spoken-poetry style while throwing his whole body (especially illustrative hand gestures to act out the lyrics) into each number, starting with “Round Here/Raining in Baltimore,” which intertwines the CD's opening propulsive track with its moody penultimate song. Duritz is joined by original band members David Bryson (guitar) and Charlie Gillingham (keyboards, accordion, harmonica), along with Jim Bogios (drums), Millard Powers (bass), and accompanying guitarists David Immerglück and Dan Vickrey. Highlights include the beautiful “Omaha” (featuring Gillingham's plaintive accordion), the rarely-performed “Perfect Blue Buildings,” the haunting “Anna Begins,” the mega-hit “Mr. Jones,” and the rockin' “Rain King” (with nicely interwoven bits of Bruce Springsteen's “Thunder Road”). Duritz's emotionally introspective lyrics may not be for all tastes—some would call him the quintessential rock whiner—but rarely has musical heart been bared on sleeve with such raw but focused energy as here. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include interviews with Duritz and Gillingham. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)