CAPSULE REVIEW | The concept album, a set of songs meant to be digested as a whole, has long become a relic. In an age where more and more folks seemingly prefer their music in byte sizes, pop acts generally don't spend much time crafting albums anymore.

But the Counting Crows pay no attention to the pop conventions of the day. Five years after the rock band's last studio album, 2002's ambitious Hard Candy, the Crows return with Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, in stores today. The CD is packaged like a mini LP, with a gatefold and all. And the songs are supposed to flow like those on classic rock albums.

Here's the concept: Saturday nights, the first half of the 14-track album is brazen, full of surging choruses, and focuses on "sinful" tales of indulgence. Sunday mornings, the second part, is acoustic and musically sparse - the lyrics mostly centering on songs of redemption and self-reflection.  Although the concept may sound a bit contrived, the Crows seem inspired. The production, overseen by Gil Norton, is very polished in spots but largely retains an organic, live feel. Standout cuts include the "1492," "Cowboys" and "Anyone But You."

The warbling vocals of Adam Duritz, the Crows' lead singer and chief songwriter, still bristle with Van Morrison influences. And there's still a lot of lyrical navel-gazing. Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is unmistakenly a Counting Crows record but more tightly crafted. The raucous first half is better, the second part is less consistent.

But the combination still makes for a satisfying listen, a nice return to form.