Underwater Sunshine" is Counting Crows first album since 2008 and their first as an independent band. Frontman Adam Duritz expressed this idea about the album a while ago, "Sometimes it's great to play someone else's music and try to make it your own. Sometimes it's great Just because it's fun".
So what we get is a cover album where most are tracks you probably never heard, but also a few from the period before the band was called Tender Mercies and Sordid Humor. So it feels in some way as a “new” album from the band, which to me is nice since I don’t like covers.
Musically it sounds very Counting Crows all over the album with their characteristic alt country style, filled with soul and a lot of heart. However, the sound is more folk inspired this time and have to say that it doesn’t reach to any higher level. Does the fact think that all of the bands own albums are a lot nicer with better songs and a warmer sound.
"Underwater Sunshine" is somewhat flat in its sound and do not think there is no direct track that stands out here, unfortunately. "All My Failures" and "Like Teen Gravity" are highlights, but otherwise it is "only" an enjoyable and pleasant alt country trip that never gets exciting.
