This Desert Life

"THE NEW ALBUM IS GOING TO BE OUR FRIGGEN JOSHUA TREE, IF IT KEEPS UP THIS PACE, BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLY THE BEST RECORD WE HAVE EVER MADE!!! "*

These famous words from bassist Matt Malley could have very well spelled the end for "This Desert Life". For those not familiar with "The Joshua Tree", this was the album that pretty much put the band U2 on 'the map' and is widely recognized by many music critics, writers and 'experts' as one of the finest albums EVER made by an artist. So as you can see, by calling "This Desert Life" their "Joshua Tree", they pretty much raised up expectations from fans a million fold.

Well time has passed, the album has come out and so the big question is "Well? is it their Joshua Tree?" Good question, but I got a better one..."Exactly what makes an album a band's 'Joshua Tree'"? Is it record sales? Critical praise? Or maybe it's a creative peak in one's career. U2's "Joshua Tree" definitely fits the bill of the first two descriptions. In my opinion though, it definitely wasn't their creative peak. There's no doubt though that it was an inspired effort, but it was very bare bones and basic. If I were to choose a creative peak in their catalogue, I'd say "Achtung Baby" was an even better album, when they purposely tried to make something different and 'reinvent' themselves....which they did successfully. Anyway, enough talk of U2, I am writing about the Crows...but well, given all that, here's my take on "This Desert Life"....

Okay, let's get one thing straight. I think it's unfair to compare TDL to AAEA or RTS. I don't think that the Crows intended to out do their past two albums but instead do something different, develop their sound. AAEA was simply beautiful and had nothing to measure up to, no pressures, no nothing and so the beauty of that album was easy to recognize and relate to. RTS was a sort of "therapeutic" record and I have to say it did it's job pretty well. And so we have TDL, made by a band who has whethered the storm and survived all the bumps and bruises. You have a band that knows each other VERY well and knows how to play soft (AAEA) and loud (RTS). Basically you have a very accomplished band...so what else can you do but experiment.

For that very reason, that is why I believe TDL is a success. People....ok fans have slagged TDL for not being as great lyrically, but I believe that really wasn't the band's intention anyway. I think from the get go they said that they wanted to expand their sound, bring in new instruments and elements to the existing formula. And what a product they have come up with. TDL is simply an amazing assualt to the ears. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album with some earphones or better yet headphones...close the lights or your eyes and listen...really listen. Not necessarily to Adam Duritz's lyrics as we're so used to, but to the music, the different elements, all the litlle things here and there and allow yourself to absorb everything and I swear, you'll be blown away. Adam Duritz is a great song writer, and a great singer, but unfortunately it sometimes takes the attention away from the band. Publically the Crows are recognized simply as 'a band' fronted by Adam Duritz. How many times have you heard some ignorant critic rattle of that you could place Adam in front of any band and you'd have the Crows? Well TDL reaffirms the fact that the Counting Crows is a band and these guys aren't just *any* musicians..they've got a load of talent...all of them and put together...they simply put together magic.

That's why I think TDL is a success cuz they were able to pull off what they said they would. Ask ANY musician to listen to the music in TDL and I'm sure you'll get the same amazement. It really is a work of art. And let's not downplay the lyrics too much, although as a whole Adam's lyrics aren't as hard hitting, songs like Speedway and Colorblind are pretty powerful as well.

TDL is the Crows exploring what they can do, pushing more boundaries, hanging out and simply having fun....so it's either we keep whining ourselves on how it isn't as emotional as AAEA or RTS or we just allow them to be human as well and be happy for them that they're happy join the ride and lighten up.

So to conclude, what makes an album a band's "Joshua Tree"? Is "This Desert Life" their "Joshua Tree"? Well, the answer really is an opinionated one. My take is it is NOT. "August and Everything After" is/was the Crow's "Joshua Tree" if you're talking about record sales and critical praise. I'm pretty sure TDL won't sell as much albums as AAEA, that's life, but that's not the point. Having already made AAEA, the Crows had nothing else to prove, so they didn't. They relaxed and put out a hell of a fine album which at this point in their careers marks a new creative peak. Bottomline is "This Desert Life" is simply "THEIR FRIGGEN DESSERT LIFE" and they should be damn proud of it. Let 'other bands' worry about measuring up to it.

* taken from interview with Matt Malley done by DJ the Eagle