Amazon.com Customer Reviews
I've been Counting Crows since I got this album - Review written on January 30, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.
I was never a "real" fan of Counting Crows before seeing them in concert this summer. I had the songs "A Long December," "Mr. Jones," and "Colorblind" in my collection. This "greatest hits" album is a great way to experience the band without buying their myriad of CDs, if you can't afford them. Some of them are old favorites, including two of the three mentioned above. Some were new to me, including "American Girls" and "Einstein on the Beach (For an Eggman)," both of which I had never heard before and now really enjoy. I would suggest, however, that you do purchase "Colorblind" separately, because it is one of their best songs and is not included in this album.
Counting hits. - Review written on October 31, 2005
Rating: 4 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful.
I admit, I'm one who loved "August And Everything After", yet bought nothing after. So, this disc was a great way for me (a casual fan) to catch up with them. Overall this collection succeeds quite well. 17 tracks, including every major hit, nearly every minor hit, a soundtrack hit, Grateful Dead and Joni Mitchell covers, and a new song. My only complaint is the omission of "A Murder Of One", possibly my favorite off the debut. Otherwise this is the obvious choice for your first or only Counting Crows disc. It'll go great with your Sheryl Crow and Black Crowes cd's.
For Crows On A Budget - A Solid Best Of - Review written on October 20, 2005
Rating: 4 out of 5
38 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
I am not the biggest fan of Counting Crows, feeling that the two albums after "Recovering The Satellites" were inconsistent at best and never added them to my collection. I also dumped the live album into a used store bin soon after I'd bought it. But for "August and Everything After," Adam Duritz and company struck a chord in the year that Nirvana was king of the world (and Kurt closed the window on that chapter at roughly the same time), and radio was being ruled by the likes of Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton. It didn't hurt that Counting Crows were making music that echoed the best of Van Morrison or Bob Dylan. Another plus was having a producer like T-Bone Burnett, who understood the traditional intimacy of the Crow's sound. He helped make "August" sound like a bridge between the rage of grunge and the introspection of R.E.M.'s then hugely successful "Automatic For The People."
Like the Autumnal tree that graces the cover of "Films About Ghosts," the best work of Counting Crows gives one the feeling that some sort of somber change is always lurking nearby, often with a chill to accompany it. Think of how "A Long December" resonates long after the song ends. Same with "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby," which was the best song on "This Desert Life." Again, the comparison to Van Morrison is an apt one as Adam exorcises a certain amount of pain during his best songs.
This has often led to a criticism of the Crows in that a lot of their music sounded "whiny." That argument is easily dispelled by "American Girls," "Angels Of The Silences" or the statement of band unity, "Hanginaround." Each of these songs are concert pleasers and show the Crow's more playful side, something each album had for those that waited for the simple pleasures of a buoyant rock song.
The new songs here are worth having as well. "She Don't Want Nobody Near" is a close cousin to "Anna Begins," maybe to the point that you wonder if it's the same woman ten years later. Choosing San Francisco legends The Grateful Dead as their second source for a cover is a clear nod to the Crow's Bay Area roots, and they pull off "Friend Of The Devil" with flair. By maintaining a continually assured quality of musicianship and a sort of insider's effacing sense of self, Counting Crows may not have maintained the levels of success that the six-million selling "August and Everything After" dropped into their lap on the first try, but "Films About Ghosts" also proves that they have nothing to be embarrassed by. At 72 minutes and no duds in the bunch, it's as strong a collection of folk influenced popular music that one could hope for from the nineties.
I CAN NOT STOP playing this CD - Review written on April 25, 2005
Rating: 5 out of 5
7 customers found this review helpful, 4 did not.
I just LOVE "Counting Crows films about Ghosts,the Best of"and believe me,this is the BEST YOU CAN GET.I just wish there was more groups out there like THIS ONE.When radio stations first played "Big Yellow Taxi" last year,I was amazed it was Adam and Vanessa Carlton singing this Joni Mitchel classic.The production is over the top,and so unlike the Counting Crows.I usually HATE remakes,but you swear this is the first time you ever heard this FANTASTIC song.All of the hits are on this collection,"Round Here,A long December,Mr.Jones," I just wish "Sullivan Street" from there first record was in here,but with 17 classic tracks,I can't complain.My favorite cuts,"Einstein on the beach,Holiday In Spain,"and "Accidentally in Love."Once in a life time you find a record you will play forever,"Counting Crows,the best of" is one of them.
Only The Best Of Counting Crows! This Is MUSIC! - Review written on April 25, 2005
Rating: 5 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 7 did not.
ok to beggin with this, this is a cd of CC BEST SONGS! It's truly amazing...because they made the best selection. This is how rate these songs.
1. Rain King 4/5 It isnt the best song on the cd, but still is a very good opening and its very good to listen, but on this cd isnt the best song.
2. Hangin Around 4.5/5 Great SONG! i guess most of you guys have listened to this amazing song, one of the best songs of the "This Desert Life" Cd
3. Mrs. Potter's Lullaby 4.5/5 AMAZING SONG! just to listen the part of "If Dreams are like movies then memories are films about ghosts" you alredy know that this song is amazing, besides the name of this cd is because of this song and the part i wrote up there, so this cd are Memories of Counting Crows...
4. Mr. Jones 5/5 Come on! who hasnt listened to this song? this the best song of the 90, "shalalalala" is just amazing .
5. American Girls 5/5 This one is the song that i heard the most, it is just amazing, the lyrics and adam's voice just click and with a great background of Sheryl Crow. There are people who say that this songs is pop that is not counting crows because they sold this song to Coke, its all blah blah blah, i mean counting crows will not always sing about sadness stuff and with music slow, and why do you say that they sold out just because they give this song to Coke, i mean they still make GREAT music and if coke wants to make Counting crows more know with their commercial is just better. So suck it up if you dont like this song, because it's actually amazing
6. Big Yellow Taxi 4.5/5 a remake of the old song, another great selection by adam, the lyrics of lonni are truly amazing and the voice of adam and the new beat of counting crows with this song its pretty good, besides the backgrounds vocals of Vanessa Carlton do a great job
7. Omaha 5/5 The Best song in the August And Everything After CD, it has a sord of african rhithym and the lyrics together with Adam's voice make this song, one of The BEST on this cd
8. Friends of the Devil 3.5/5 perhaps it isn't the best song of CC, but still its pretty good "i ran into the devil he loans me 20 bills" . a good song it isnt bad at all.
9. Angels of the Silences 4.5 this one is Recovering The Satellites in essence, i mean this song represents what is that cd, its has a Rock beat but with great lyrics, " i dream of Michel Angelo when im lying in my bed" Another Great song by the Crows.
10. Round Here 5/5 WOW! This song, Oh my god, only the lyrics could make this one the best song of all times, if you add them Adam's Voice and the CC music makes this song one of the best songs that had ever been made.
11. A Long December 4/5 there are some people who die for this song, im not one of those, dont get me wrong its a great song and lyrics amazin but you hear it 3 times and you are bored already.
12. Einstein on the Beach (for an Eggman) 4.5/5 i love the rhithym in this song! its a very rock song, with a upbeat amazin, this one reminds me of the CD Recoverin Satellites
13. Recovering the Satellites : 4/5 Another Great Song pretty good
14. Anna Begins 2.5/5 ok so this one its the weakest song on this album, i think that the crows should had put A murder of one instead of this song...or at least Daylight fading
15. Holiday in Spain 5/5 AMAZING SONG! this song, the lyrics, it is the Counting Crows in essence," got no place to go but theres a girl waiting for me down in mexico" spectacular song
16. She Don't Want Nobody Near 5/5 What can you say about this song? the lyrics are pretty simple but the way that countin crows play this song and the way adams sing it, just make this song one the best of all time
17. Accidentally in Love 5/5 This songs is the one of Shrek 2, amazing song, its pretty good another 5 star
JUST GET THIS CD YOU WONT BE SORRY!
An excellent selection of Crows tunes - Review written on November 22, 2004
Rating: 5 out of 5
8 customers found this review helpful.
This best-of album collects 10+ years of radio singles and fan favorites, as well as a few more obscure tracks. Long-time Counting Crows fans will already own most of these songs on the band's older albums, but this is the first time on a full-length US release for "Friends of the Devil," "She Don't Want Nobody Near," and "Einstein on the Beach." This re-released version also includes the radio single from Shrek 2, "Accidentally in Love," and it's hard to complain about one more bonus track.
For folks unfamiliar with the Counting Crows, this album would make an excellent introduction, consisting of some of the best tunes across the band's range of styles. From the slow and emotional sound of fan favorite "Anna Begins," to the more recent upbeat radio hit "Hangin Around," Films About Ghosts serves as an excellent sampler.
For long-time fans, well, you know what to expect - if the extra tracks or this particular combination of songs appeals to you, you won't be disappointed.
For those who already own the original version of Films About Ghosts, who are only missing "Accidentally in Love," I would suggest the song's import single, which includes the video and a live version of Miami. Or, if you're willing to gamble on some new music, the Shrek 2 soundtrack will get you the song you're looking for, plus 13 tracks from other artists.
ridiculous - Review written on November 21, 2004
Rating: 3 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful, 8 did not.
This is a great album, filled with some of the best music of the past ten years, but what the heck was the point of re-releasing it?!? "Accidentally in love" is neither a greatest hit, or a best of! It's the worst song the Crows have done to date and its the only new song on here! YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST WRITTEN A NEW SONG OR ADDED A FEW OLDER ONES! I'm sorry, but I think the bad should know that the fans want a new album, not a compilation they already own plus one crappy track! I want to support the band, but come on, no fan is gonna pay 15-20 bucks for one song that they could easily get off itunes. This is just a poor excuse to milk the hit for all it's worth. If I didn't already own this, I'd rather have the original version.