They’re back.

Just when it seemed they were out of the music game, the Counting Crows released their new album, “Underwater Sunshine.” This new release depicts some cover songs and rare, old Crows’ hits. The cover songs are from the band’s inspirations before they made it big, as well as bands they enjoyed during their successful career.

Counting Crows’ lead singer Adam Duritz has been called brilliant. According to the band’s Facebook account, The band’s deep lyrics, vivid sounds and Duritz’s incredible voice support this claim. Throughout their career they have stayed with the times. Their hits fall into one of two types: either a very deep ballad or an upbeat melodic song. These hits include, “Mr. Jones,” “Hangin Around” and from the Shrek 2 movie, “Accidently in Love.”

Along the same lines as these hits, “Underwater Sunshine” offers varieties of different sounds within each song. The album kicks off with the song “Untitled (Love Song)” which is upbeat and kicks the album off nicely. It is the best track on the new release. My other favorite is “Amie” originally performed by Pure Prairie League.  I was very disappointed with the rest of the album. Though the vocals and music are beautifully done, slow renditions of “Hospital,” “Mercy,” and “Like Teenage Gravity” make the first half of the album difficult to get through. The upbeat songs “Coming Around,” “Four White Stallions,” and “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” breathe life into the second half of the album, though it isn’t enough to save the album.

This album is a big disappointment. There are too many slow, songs. I wouldn’t recommend this album to anyone. In fact, I would point them in the other direction.