This is NOT a Greatest Hits CD, it's a Best Of. This is key. The band felt that some songs weren't big radio hits but were their best work. I agree. Many fans like the lesser-known songs never mentioned anywhere near the mainstream much better than the well-known ones. Fans on the website seem to think that the more popular a Crow's song is, the less of a good song it is. This holds true in one ccase. Big Yellow Taxi was a decent song, but the version with Vanessa was horrendous in the aspect that it was clearly done only to enhance radio play, which it did.
Crow's fans are taken with the personalness(is that a word?) of the songs. They mean something different to everyone who hears them. This is a great attribute to Crow songs. I'm only a recent fan, having discovered the Crows when Hard Candy was released. Since then I've done everything I can to know everything about them. I'm a frequent poster on the website, and I have a collection of over 100 counting Crow songs. I love everyone of them. This band doesn't have a few good songs and some junk. Everything is awesome.
On to the new album. Everyone will want some songs on it that aren't. It happens. Personally, I agree with Adam that Amy Hit the Atmosphere should be on it, as well as Murder of One. Goodnight Elizabeth could easily take the place of Recovering the Satellites, not up to par with other Crow songs. The 2 new songs are wonderful, with the cover of Friend of the Devil being amazing and the new single and original track, She Don't Want Nobody near lending a catchy hook and a knack for growing on you as time goes on.
Pirating and what is considered mainstream has hurt the Crows, but as all great bands do, they have fans who stick by them and support them n matter what. Any rock band that can make it through the mouseketeer era must have something going for them. The title of this compilation, Films About Ghosts, is from a clever lyric in Mrs. Potter's Lullabye, a great marathon-long 8 minute song that never lets down throughout the duration.
Unlike other bands, the Crows aren't afraid to employ a large number of people. The 8-piece band features true musicians, who can play a wide variety of instruments. Adam's mellow yet uplifting lyrics are the driving force behind the band, but the music itself is so good the instrumentals in the songs are not mere ways to chew up time. The members are very recognizable and Adam himself seems to be everywhere, or at least anywhere Cal is. The 39 year-old graduate is an extremely devoted Cal Bears fan. He was at the Golden Bears bowl game and was interviewed on ESPN from the sideline, where he was hanging out and joknig with the players, who were on their way to a 52-49 victory. He is so respected by the team that he was the one to give the pre-game talk before the USC game. As he told ESPN announcers, "I just told them to go kick ass" And for you football fans, you know that kick ass is what they did. Sorry, I'm diverging al ittle from the new CD to talk about the Crows in general. Forgive a devoted fan.
Crow songs have a way of becoming timeless, to fans and to the band. They still sing their breakthrough hit "MR. Jones" with as much energy as they did 10 years ago. Fans listen to the records over and over again, even years after they were released. The songs don't get old and there are always new songs to fall in love with, as every song on the albums hides its own special meaning. As strange as it sounds, fans recount times in their lives where the music helped them cope with their problems. They are reduced to tears by the emotional music when they remember their feelings of years ago.
Counting Crow concerts are special in themselves. Instead of playing the same overheard version of a song, they often do it with different instruments or acoustically. Adam is famous for changing the lyrics to his songs. The unfamiliar words nevertheless flow perfectly. Adam has a way of connecting with the audience, taking such delight in the music that one can't help but be moved. These elements make a concert a unique and wonderful experience, and leave fans salivating for more.
In summation, the only real way to get the "Best OF" Counting Crows is to buy the albums, as no song on the albums is anything less than what is on Films. This album is a must-buy for the new or casual fan as well, as its sure to entice you to buy the other albums.

Maybe you are like me who, after "August and Everything After" and "Recovering the Sattelites", have fallen off the Counting Crows' band-wagon as a result of the less than great (if not to say mediocre) albums "The Desert Life" and "Hard Candy". Well, our problems have been solved by this "greatest hits" album.

"Films About Ghosts: The Best Of Counting Crows" (16 tracks, 72 min.) pretty much delivers on the premise, which is to say: all the hits and best known tracks are here. Rightfully, this compilation centers on the first album: 5 tracks from "August and Everything After", including the essential "Mr. Jones" (the song that put the band on the musical map), "Round Here", the exquisite "Rain King", "Omaha" and "Anna Begins". "Recovering the Sattelites" is represented by 3 tracks, including the haunting "A Long December", the hard-rocking "Angels of the Silences" and the title track. The later years have some good songs, including the jamming "Hanginaround", and even the cover of "Big Yellow Taxi", an unexpected radio hit. But the true treasure on this compilation is "Einstein on the Beach", which appears for the first time on a Counting Crows release. "Einstein" is a 1991 "demo" (but not sounding like a demo), which lead the band to getting a record deal, and is arguably Counting Crows' best song ever. Adam Duritz never sounded so upbeat again.

Is this compilation perfect? No. For one, I like "best of" compilations to run chronogically, and this one doesn't. But that quibble aside, "Films About Ghosts" is a really great overview of Counting Crows' best songs to date.

Having revelled in the fact that this band once refused to mime on the English music show, Top of the Pops, the past two years have been quite difficult for me as a Counting Crows fan.

Despite understanding and accepting their choices to be in a Coca Cola advert, cover an already heavily covered Joni Mitchell song with Vanessa Carlton and do a joint tour with John Mayer, I couldn't quite understand just why they felt the need for releasing a "greatest hits" album. The reasons are probably quite straight forward; to cash in on the festivities, entice the leisurely fan and satisfy the record label contract, but not one of the reasons seems to be for reasons related to music. And that is a great, great shame.

Their concerts of late have lacked the magic sparkle of their earlier tours, and their last album, with the first truly bad song Why Should You Come When I Call?, compounds my disheartening feeling for a band that a number of years ago actually changed my life.

August and Everything After and Recovering The Satellites are master class albums. Between the two they reveal the heights at which rock music can reach. The truly stunning song writing of Adam Duritz and the mature, dense tapestry that the band members weave create such a fulfilling musical experience quite unlike any other band of the nineties. There are moments during August and Recovering where, if you listen closely, make you lose your breath. It could be the heart aching singing during Miller's Angels, the raw, jagged edge guitar playing in Catapult, or the rhythmic musical lyricism in Rain King. Any song has a moment that connects you with the band and turns you into a very devoted fan.

The third album disappointed a number of supporters yet for me revealed a new direction. The overlooked production is quite astonishing, with the background proving to often be more diverting than the foreground, but also Duritz's lyrics and music seemed to be reaching for a greater goal. The majority of the songs featured characters, revealing their souls through poetic storytelling that arguably only Duritz can achieve. Tracks such as All My Friends and Amy Hit The Atmosphere are sonic and emotional knock outs, proving, in my opinion, to be some of the band's best work. Yet despite the great musical layers, it did fade without a trace selling a million or so copies, far less than their previous work. A shame, yet a sign that the band's commercial popularity was dwindling fast.

Then in the summer of 2002 everything changed. The band that I and many fans knew was nowhere to be seen. Instead, with an atrocious synthesiser beat played against Big Yellow Taxi and Sheryl Crow providing quite pointless backing vocals on American Girls Counting Crows had officially gone the way of the masses. The need to sell more records and reinvigorate their image resulted in Hard Candy, a disappointing musical retreat. With no sign in growth and moments of beauty few and far between the album proved to be, in my opinion, a failure in every sense of the word. Despite believing Good Time to be one of the best songs I have quite honestly ever heard, the rest mostly meander through mediocrity, tapping into the formula of Clear Channel and often never letting go. It may seem harsh, but compared to the likes of Ryan Adam's Love Is Hell Part I, DMB's Busted Stuff, Springsteen's The Rising, Coldplay's Rush Of Blood', The White Stripes' Elephant and Fleetwood Mac's Say You Will (among many), Hard Candy simply does not compare.

So that now brings us this CD, a compilation of beautiful music that is arguably the most radio friendly selection of Crows music between their four albums. Clearly Mr Jones and A Long December are iconic American songs of the nineties that will stand the test of time, but for those who have not endowed your listening time in a single Crows album then this CD is a decent introduction. The likes of Recovering The Satellites, Anna Begins and Holiday In Spain should motivate you to investigate the band's work further and I guarantee you it will lead to some very emotional experiences.

But whereas this may prove to bring new fans to the table it certainly has lost one in me. The cheek of placing two new songs on this CD clearly stated the band felt comfortable in cashing in on their existing fan base, even if it is just $12/£8. Why? They charge enough with tickets, merchandise and fan club membership. I accept the need to attract more fans but to make their existing fans, who many collect bootlegs and singles to own as much new material as possible, buy a greatest hits CD because of the two new songs is wrong, plain and simple. I have the choice to whether or not I want to buy it, but they shouldn't have given me that choice. Instead they should work on new material, release a long awaited DVD or whatever.

Maybe the way the music industry functions today is more to blame for the band's actions, but I do believe that the key to prolonged success isn't in fizzy drink ads or joint tours with the "next big thing" but with making the best music you can possibly make. I hope this CD is successful enough to make the band get back to the music, and make a disappointed fan happy again.

It now amazes me how incomplete any "best of" can be when it comes to this band. Every one of these songs is great, that I do not argue, but it just does not feel like it is whole. This could easily be two disks, or even more. It does have fair representation of the studio albums, but there is so much more that the Crows have to offer.

One thing I found surprising about this CD was the fact that "Einstein on the Beach" was included after years of lead singer, Adam Duritz regretting ever having given it to Geffen Records. It is a great song and I would love to hear it played live after having heard it for the better part of a decade on the DGC Rarities Vol. 1 record.(to my knowledg there never was a Vol. 2)

There are two new recordings found on "Films About Ghosts." I rather enjoy the cover of The Greatful Dead's "Friend of the Devil." Honestly, I think the Crows did a better job on the song. "She Don't Want Nobody Near" is the second new recording on the album. It is an original song and has now been released as a single. Of the two, I prefer "Friend of the Devil," but "She Don't Want Nobody Near" is very good.

All of the hits are here; "Mr. Jones," "Round Here," and "A Long December" to mention a few. I do enjoy hearing these songs, but I think they are better in the context of their respective records. As a collection of songs it is great, as a "greatest hits" it is good, but I think it perhaps falls short in the category of "best of." Taking these songs from the context of the album does not do them justice.

epc

This is an amazing group of songs by the Counting Crows. Some are better than others and a few of their best seem to be forgotten but you can't expect perfection I guess...this is close though.
1. Angels of the Silences - 8/10 - a great song but just doesn't compare to many of the other songs on the cd. A good start to the cd though.
2. Round Here - 9/10 - a classic...on any other cd this would automatically get a 10 but on this cd, there are too many great songs to give 10s out easily. Such a mellow song. One of the best songs to listen to when your pissed or sad and don't feel like changing that.
3. Rain King - 8/10 - I didn't know this song when I got the cd but quickly grew to love it. Great song to follow up Round Here.
4. A Long December - 10/10 - I thought about giving this a 9 just because I have heard it so many times and when you hear something that many times, the song usually gets old...but this is an exception for me. I never get tired of this song. Incredible music with amazing lyrics written about the lead singer's own experiences one winter when a friend was sick in the hospital and eventually died. So passionate and meaningful...In my opinion, one of the best songs ever written.
5. Hanginaround - 9/10 - Such a fun and upbeat song. The chorus is a little repetitive and simple but that is part of the fun and you can get enough enjoyment from the music and verses to compensate for the repitition. One of the only songs ever to use clapping as the beat and actually make it work. Awesome display of COunting Crows versatility.
6. Mrs. Potter's Lullaby - 8/10 - Great song with great lyrics and music including the lyric for which the cd was named after. Another upbeat song that most people haven't heard if they don't own a cd of theirs since the song is so long (over 7 minutes). Supposedly written about Monica Potter after the lead singer saw her in Patch Adams.
7. Mr. Jones - 10/10 - I love this song...Another song I have heard 50 million times and still love it. Also, once again this actually was written about a friend of the lead singer and the bar they hung out at. Awesome lyrics about the misconception that big stars who everyone loves never get lonely.
8. Recovering the Satellites - 9/10 - The music is sort of mellow and not as impactful as normal for Counting Crows but based on lyrics and meaning, it deserves a 9. This is the only song which there is a swear word and it is perfectly executed. "God, we're so f*#$ed up, you and me"
9. American Girls - 8/10 - Very fun song but not much more deep meaning to this one...very good background vocals by sheryl crow
10. Big Yellow Taxi - 8/10 - Great remake of this song. Good point and meaning behind this song...a little repetitive for my taste though.
11. Omaha - 9/10 - This song has an amazing chorus...Too bad the verses aren't quite as impressive or it would get a 10. The chorus will definitely get stuck in your head though...great stuff even though Im not from Omaha.
12. Friend of the Devil - 2/10 - This is the only song on the CD that I skip everytime that I listen to it. The music sucks and so do the lyrics...The counting crows do a great job trying to make this a decent song but even Adam's awesome voice and the rest of the bands playing can't save this song from sucking...horrible new recording that could have been used for a better classic song like Colorblind.
13. Einstein on the Beach - 8/10 - The most upbeat song on the cd and definitely livens things up...Doesn't rival hangin around for best fun song but does come close. Very weird lyrics but the music is kinda weird too...in a good way.
14. Anna Begins - 10/10 - Incredibly amazing song... The lyrics for this song are impeccable and the music progressively grows stronger and stronger as it matches the words which progress through a "story" as the song goes.
15. Holiday in Spain - 12/10 - I had never heard this song before I bought this cd and immediately loved this song after the first listen. The music is unbelievable and the lyrics and singing of Adam are amazing as well. It's very hard for me not to start the cd off with this song everytime and put it on repeat after hearing it the first time. Echos the thoughts that everyone has had at one point of just dropping all current stresses and problems and just getting away from it all....simply amazing!
16. She don't want nobody near - 8/10 - Beautiful song...plain and simple...Don't love the music quite as much as other songs but still a good new recording that is a nice addition
17. Accidentally in Love - 9/10 - Very fun and upbeat song...Appears in the movie Shrek. The music video for this song is great if you haven't seen it. This is an awesome way to end and almost perfect cd (stupid Friend of the Devil song) :).