Somewhere Under Wonderland (Deluxe Version)

Six years since their last studio album of original material, Counting Crows slip back into their distinctive sound on Somewhere Under Wonderland as if it’s only been a matter of weeks since they last pulled together new material. Singer Adam Duritz’s poetic lyrics rise to the surface on the jazz-inflected opening track, “Palisades Park,” which despite its length of eight-plus minutes was picked as the album’s first single. This old-school artistic ambition (think Neil Young, Bob Dylan)—matched with traditional rock ’n’ roll sounds of electric and acoustic guitars, pianos, organs, bass guitars, and drums—has endeared the group to music fans with an affection for guitars and the album format. “Earthquake Driver” continues the acoustic-poetic path, with “Dislocation” turning up the amplifiers that get a further workout on the Neil Young & Crazy Horse–influenced “Scarecrow.” The album’s nine tracks are exactly what Counting Crows fans expect from the band. (There are 11 on the deluxe edition, which provides acoustic demos of “Earthquake Driver” and “Scarecrow.”)