I've written about my Counting Crows before and y'all know how I love them.  Maybe it's because I discovered them when I needed something, maybe it's because Adam Duritz can write a lyric that gets me, maybe it's because they're underrated and who doesn't love a band who does their own thing despite the what the critics say? 

Here's what I do know: Hard Candy was released in June of 2002, just before we moved to Canada and for some reason it rose to the top of my music collection and was decidedly my soundtrack for a good year.  It's a summer album, I think.  And since we're closing out summer, it's a good choice for Tunes Tuesday.  It's good stuff. 

It featured the hidden track, "Big Yellow Taxi," a Joni Mitchell cover, as well as several other songs I immediately loved.  "Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood (Up All Night)" is one I have to play several times when it comes up on the iPod and "If I Could Give All My Love to you or Richard Manuel is Dead" is awesome. 

The album still rocks.  Go get you some Hard Candy.

Here are a few of my fave tracks.  The title track, "Hard Candy" has a great line "she is something all together different, never just an ordinary girl"  — because who would want to be an ordinary girl?  And "you put your girl up on a pedestal and you wait for her to fall" is pretty damn telling, just listen.

"Miami" is just a plain good.   You need to hear it, baby, then we'll shut it down in New Orleans. 

Next up is "Why Should You Come When I Call,"  a song I've identified with on occasion.  It's a sweet song of love and codependency. Really.

And my favorite, "Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood (Up All Night)" is last but not least.  It's a fantastic song to drive to, sing to, dance in the kitchen to.  What? like you've never danced in your kitchen.  It's a good insomniac song (which you know I am), a good song about wanting to get high (but it's too late), and a good song for a Tuesday.  Enjoy your Tuesday.