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Folk-rockers Counting Crows opted to go the theme route on Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, their fifth studio album. The first half of the album channels the bar-hopping energy of a hard-partying Saturday night while the latter half evokes the introspective calm of a regretful Sunday morning through acoustic tracks mixed with a dollop of country twang. The result is a solid - albeit slightly bipolar - album of pleasant alt-rock.

Although I personally have never seen them in concert, Counting Crows has the general reputation of being a crowd-pleasing jam band. The harder edged Saturday Nights half of this album lends itself easily to impressive live performances. The insistent electric guitars and resounding drums on opening track 1492 showcase a more exuberant side of the band without seeming desperate. And when lead vocalist Adam Duritz sings/shouts “Now I’m the king of everything/ And I’m the king of nothing,” his voice approaches a raw intensity similar to that of Dave Grohl.

Another noteworthy track would be Cowboys, which features a pleading Duritz crying out over a blend of incessant guitars and the occasional piano. The angsty lyrics even feature a “come on, come on” chorus that ironically recalls the band’s 2004 perky pop hit Accidentally In Love, though I’m sure that was unintentional given the somber subject matter of the new track.

The softer Sunday Morning side of this album seems more like what I’d expect from the Counting Crows. It’s mellow and folky with the attention focused on twinkling piano keys (When I Dream of Michelangelo) and bluesy acoustic guitars (Le Ballet D‘Or). My only problem would be that some of the lyrics verge on being cerebrally self-indulgent (“I’m hungry like a wild waif or only child/ This lithium is heroin to me” - what exactly does that mean?) Other than that, it perfectly contrasts the first half without being melodically disappointing, mostly due to their use of various other instruments including harmonica, mandolin, and banjo.

I guess with Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings the Counting Crows were attempting to give audiences a taste of what could be without alienating any particular vein of their fan base. They rock a little harder than usual and get a little quieter than usual, and both halves work while not straying too far from expectations.