It may seem strange for a band who has only released two albums, to put out a double live CD. When the band is Counting Crows however, it actually makes good sense. The songs on 1993's 'August and Everything After' and 1996's 'Recovering The Satellites' were all bluesy, wordy and sensitive and therefore lent themselves very comfortably to these intimately recorded and stripped-down live versions. Oh! and these two albums have sold a combined total of nine times platinum. So, for a country that is seriously considering a sequel to 'Titanic' ('Titanic 2: 'Ship Happens'), re-releasing them in a double CD format is no great leap of marketing genius.

The first CD is titled 'VH-1's Storytellers' and is an acoustic nine-song set recorded during August 1997. The understated instrumental backing thrusts Adam Duritz's expressive voice and yearning lyrics into the spotlight and the poignancy of these songs is emphasised. 'Round Here' opens the proceedings followed by the first of two versions of 'Have You Seen Me Lately?'. There's a "new" version of the Crows' favourite 'Mr Jones', in which the first verse is replaced by the first verse of the Byrds' 'So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star', as well as worthy versions of 'Catapult', 'Mercury' and 'Ghost Train'.

The second CD is harder, heavier and more electric as it showcases the set recorded in New York during November 1997 for MTV's "Live At The 10 Spot". This was the final date of the band's successful US tour and illustrates the confidence and competence of a band who could play these songs while asleep and yet were constantly searching for new touches, tones and tricks to keep these songs fresh and interesting.

Four of the twelve songs on this CD - 'Have you Seen Me Lately?', 'Rain King', 'Round Here' and 'Angels Of The Silences' - also appear on the first CD but in very different forms. Unlike its sombre version on the first CD, this version of 'Round Here' is a nine-minute energetic workout that grows to a fierce and compelling climax.

If you are not a fan of this band or the genre of earnest, grungy-acoustic ballads that they represent, then stay away. If you already own either one or both of the Counting Crows albums then this will be a long-term, essential and rewarding treat. I just don't know for how much longer they can get away with such an obvious crib on the SA band Just Jinger!

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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Any thoughts, requests, problems, complaints, praise or interesting and relevant SA music news, please email it immediately to: sugar@cd.co.za