When bands become big, we frequently read about The Bands That Got Left Behind, but we rarely get to hear them. Now, fans of Counting Crows can finally hear one of lead singer Adam Duritz's early bands with the release of The Himalayans' She Likes The Weather, available exclusively from the website of Duritz's new Tyrannosaurus Records label.
According to the story, an early version of Counting Crows featuring Duritz, Dave Bryson and Marty Jones (the "Mr. Jones" famed in song) had broken up when Duritz responded to an ad for a band looking for a lead singer. Things clicked at the audition and The Himalayans began playing in clubs around San Francisco, recording demos and gaining a local following.
At the same time, Duritz and Bryson had been putting together another incarnation of Counting Crows as a side project. They got signed to Geffen on the strength of their demo, which included a Himalayans song called "Round Here." The rest is history, and, until now, the work Duritz did with them has never been heard.
So what does it sound like? It's comforting to hear that everything that made Duritz stand out as a vocalist on that first Counting Crows record – the poetic, introspective verbosity, Van Morrisson-esque repetitions and emotional melodic and dynamic leaps – are on full display.
But musically, it's considerably different, mixing jangly, chorused rhythm guitars with a decent white funk groove. Try to imagine a cross between early R.E.M. and an INXS compilation and you might have an idea.
When it works, as it does on much of the album, it approaches the best moments of the more famous act. But there are other times when the songs consist of little more than Duritz singing aimlessly over a simple chord progression.
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