Split Decision On This Two-Disc Set

Mon., Aug. 10, 1998

Ken Rock, Lake City

Counting Crows “Across a Wire”

“Across a Wire” by the Counting Crows contains two concerts on two discs. Disc One features the band’s August 1997 appearance on VH1 Storytellers. Disc Two contains their November 1997 appearance on MTV’s Live From the Ten Spot. The former is an acoustic performance, the latter an electric.

The first disc shows the talent the Counting Crows have for live performance. The songs are fresh versions of Counting Crows classics like “Mr. Jones” and “Rain King,” as well as well-done acoustic versions of some very electric songs off their second album. Also included is a completely new song, not featured on either of their previous studio albums.

The second disc is a stark contrast from the first because most of the songs are carbon copies of their studio album counterparts.

Guitar solos on tracks like “A Long December” and “Have You Seen Me Lately” are the same as on the album version. Most of the tracks have nothing new to offer.

The only exceptions are two updated tracks off “August and Everything After.” They are “Sullivan Street” and “A Murder of One.”

The problem with a double disc live album is that the Counting Crows only have two studio albums worth of material to draw from, and unless they offer a lot of new material (which they don’t), the album is going to end up being repetitious. Four of their songs are featured on both discs.

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