Crowded House | ||
| Allmusic Biography : An institution in their homeland, a two-hit wonder in the U.S., and, during the last half of their ten-year career, bona fide stars in the U.K. and most of Europe, Crowded House recorded some of the best pop music of the late 80s and early 90s. Leader Neil Finns carefully crafted songs, meticulous eye for lyrical detail, and gift for melody are matched by few other songwriters. Crowded House formed in 1985 when Finn dissolved Split Enz rather than carry on after his brother Tim, the groups founding member, left to pursue a solo career. Instead of carrying through with the new wave direction of latter-day Split Enz, Neil moved in favor of a stripped-down, back-to-basics combo featuring ex-Enz drummer Paul Hester, bassist Nick Seymour, and guitarist Craig Hooper. Initially, the group dubbed itself after Finns middle name, touring Australia and recording demos under the name the Mullanes; Hooper was dropped shortly after this formative period. In June of 1985, the group headed to Los Angeles to shop for a record label, eventually signing with Capitol Records. Capitol requested that the band change its name, and the group settled on Crowded House, a reflection of the bandmembers living conditions in L.A. They began work on their debut, enlisting the help of then-unknown producer Mitchell Froom. A partnership between the band and the producer formed, making Froom nearly a fourth member. The partnership benefited both the band and the producer -- the band was helped by Frooms direct approach and more "American" sound as well as his input as a musician, and Froom was able to build a career as a high-profile producer. Crowded Houses self-titled debut didnt gain much attention upon its release in the summer of 1986, due to insufficient promotion from Capitol Records. In wake of the weak support from Capitol, the bandmembers took matters into their own hands. Rather than setting out on an expensive large-scale tour, the group took a more low-profile route, playing acoustic sets for industry insiders and for small crowds at ethnic restaurants and in record stores. This unorthodox approach began a buzz within the industry. On the talk-show circuit, they won over American and Canadian audiences with their charm and wit as well as their wacky antics. By February of 1987, the album broke into the American Top 40, eventually peaking at number 12. The album spawned the number two hit single "Dont Dream Its Over" and "Something So Strong," which reached number seven. In Australia and New Zealand, multi-platinum success followed. Released in 1988, Temple of Low Men was anything but a sophomore slump -- Finns new songs were among his finest, showcasing a notable progression in his songcraft. The albums slightly darker material, however, made for a more difficult listen and, although the material was stronger, the record lacked the immediate appeal of the debut. This, coupled with Capitols lack of promotional support, led to disappointing sales -- the album barely broke the U.S. Top 40 and the single, "Better Be Home Soon," stalled at number 42. Since hope had basically run out for the album, they abandoned plans for a major U.S. tour. A three-month break in touring revitalized the band for a well-received Australian and Canadian tour, but by mid-1989 the band had effectively broken up. Late in 1989, Neil reunited with his brother Tim and the duo began writing songs together for the first time, with the intention of releasing the material on a proposed Finn Brothers album. The collaboration was successful and the duo was prolific, writing 14 songs in a very short time. After the initial sessions with Tim, Neil began working on a new set of songs, designed for the next Crowded House album, but he soon found the new material unsatisfactory. Neil decided to combine the better moments of the Finn Brothers project and the scrapped third album, adding his brother as a fourth member of Crowded House. Crowded Houses third album, Woodface, released in the summer of 1991, proved the decision to combine the material from the two scrapped records was sound -- the album certainly represents their finest recorded moments. Although the choice of "Chocolate Cake" as a leadoff single was both misleading and off-putting to American audiences, effectively sinking the albums chances of success in the U.S., England and Europe embraced the band for the first time. After about six months of dormancy, they began charting in the U.K. and Europe with several singles, including the smash "Weather with You." The British success of "Weather with You" helped Woodface achieve platinum status in the U.K. and led the group to several headlining concerts at Wembley Arena. Tim, for all of his invaluable contributions in the writing and recording of Woodface, proved extraneous to the bands live show. He left the band in November 1991, as the band was in the middle of its tour and just prior to its breakthrough success in England. Following the success of Woodface, both Neil and Tim were awarded OBEs from the Queen of England in 1993; the honor was bestowed for their contributions to the arts. In early 1993, Crowded House regrouped to record their fourth album, adding American guitarist Mark Hart (who had briefly toured with the band around the time of Temple of Low Men) to the band and dropping Mitchell Froom as their producer, opting instead for ex-Killing Joke member Youth. Together Alone was released in October 1993 (January 1994 in North America) to unanimously positive reviews and solid sales in every country except the United States. Upon its release, Together Alone entered the English charts at number four; at the time, Woodface was still in the U.K. charts. After the album was released, Crowded House embarked on a successful European tour. They were beginning an American tour when Hester decided to leave the band to spend more time with his new family. Hiring a session drummer, the band rounded out the tour, eventually returning to Australia. By the end of 1994, Neil decided to cut back on the touring to work on side projects, which included some production work for Dave Dobbyn and a second try at a Finn Brothers album with Tim. The Finn Brothers finally released their long-awaited duet album in the fall of 1995. In June of 1996, Neil officially broke up Crowded House. That same month, Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House was released, entering the U.K. and Australian charts at number one. After a handful of "final shows" in various locations, on Sunday, November 24, 1996, Crowded House played their official farewell show at the Sydney Opera House to 100,000 fans as a benefit for the Sydney Childrens Hospital Fund. In 1997, Hester formed a new band, Largest Living Things, releasing two EPs and playing regular gigs in Australia as well as hosting his own television show. Neil made his debut as a solo artist in June 1998 with Try Whistling This. In December 1999, Afterglow, an albums worth of Crowded House leftovers and rarities, was issued in Australia and New Zealand; the album was released in the U.K. during January of the following year. Neil continued recording both as a solo artist and as part of the Finn Brothers with Tim. In 2005, Hester, after years of battling depression, took his own life near his home in Australia. A year later, the archival release Farewell to the World captured the Sydney farewell show on both CD and DVD. In 2007, Neil reactivated the band with Nick Seymour, Mark Hart, and a new drummer, Matt Sherrod. The album Time on Earth followed soon after. In 2010, Neil and new Crowded House lineup returned with the studio album Intriguer. Crowded House supported Intriguer with an international tour, during which time a new hits collection, The Very Very Best of Crowded House, appeared. Following the tour, the group went quiet, and in 2016 -- the same year their catalog received a Deluxe Edition treatment -- Neil Finn announced the group was indeed on hiatus. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 19 Title: Crowded House Released: 1986-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 42:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mean to Me (03:15) 2 World Where You Live (03:05) 3 Now We’re Getting Somewhere (04:05) 4 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 5 Love You ’til the Day I Die (03:32) 6 Something So Strong (02:52) 7 Hole in the River (03:58) 8 Can’t Carry On (03:56) 9 I Walk Away (03:06) 10 Tombstone (03:30) 11 That’s What I Call Love (03:38) 12 Dont Dream Its Over [Live Acoustic Version] (03:46) |
| Crowded House : Allmusic album Review : Split Enz needed to end, particularly since founding member Tim Finn found his little brother Neils growth spurt uncomfortable, but also because Neil was no longer writing tunes that made sense within the context of a band that ran the gamut from art rock to eccentric new wave. Neil was now writing songs that were undeniably totems of popcraft, but infused with the spirit and introspection of a singer/songwriter. This formula would later become quite popular with artists from Matthew Sweet to the legions of basement auteurs in the pop underground, but this sensibility was relatively unheard of in the mid-80s -- hence the birth of Crowded House. Neil retained Paul Hester from Enz, added Nick Seymour for the trio, and recorded one abandoned attempt at an album before joining with Mitchell Froom for the bands eponymous debut. At the time, Frooms clean production seemed refreshing, almost rootsy, compared to the synth pop dominating the mainstream and college scenes at the time, but in retrospect it seems a little overreaching and fussy, particularly in its addition of echo and layers of keyboards during particularly inappropriate moments. But Finn at his best overshadowed this fairly stilted production with his expert songcraft. As it happened, the record was blessed by good timing, and the majestic ballad "Dont Dream Its Over" became an international hit, while its follow-up, the breezy "Something So Strong," also turned into a hit. Both revealed different sides of Finns talents, with the first being lyrical and the second being effervescent, but perhaps the truest testaments to his talents are "Mean to Me," "World Where You Live," and "Now Were Getting Somewhere," songs where the lyrics meld with the melody in a way that is distinctive, affecting, and personal. If the rest of the record doesnt reach those heights, its still good, well-constructed pop, and these aforementioned highlights point the way to Temple of Low Men, where Crowded House (and particularly Finn) came into its own. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 19 Title: Temple of Low Men Released: 1988-07-24 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Feel Possessed (03:48) 2 Kill Eye (03:14) 3 Into Temptation (04:33) 4 Mansion in the Slums (03:45) 5 When You Come (04:45) 6 Never Be the Same (04:28) 7 Love This Life (03:36) 8 Sister Madly (02:52) 9 In the Lowlands (03:57) 10 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) |
| Temple of Low Men : Allmusic album Review : Following the success of Crowded Houses debut and the bands grueling promotion schedule, Neil Finn was clearly showing signs that he was no longer happy being New Zealands zany ambassador to the U.S. While the material on Temple of Low Men demonstrates great leaps in quality over its predecessor, it is a darkly difficult album, especially for those expecting Crowded House, Pt. 2 -- in short, there are no immediately accessible singles. Instead, Finn digs into the depths of his emotional psyche with obsessive detail, crafting a set of intense, personal songs that range from the all-too-intimate look at infidelity of "Into Temptation" to the raucous exorcism of "Kill Eye." Through all of this introspective soul-searching, Finn reveals most of all his true mastery of melody. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 19 Title: Woodface Released: 1991-06-24 Tracks: 15 Duration: 49:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 2 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 3 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 4 Tall Trees (02:19) 5 Weather With You (03:44) 6 Whispers and Moans (03:39) 7 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) 8 There Goes God (03:50) 9 Fame Is (02:23) 10 All I Ask (03:55) 11 As Sure as I Am (02:53) 12 Italian Plastic (03:39) 13 She Goes On (03:15) 14 How Will You Go (04:45) 15 I’m Still Here (01:07) |
| Woodface : Allmusic album Review : Where Crowded Houses previous album, Temple of Low Men, showcased the often dark side of a man alone with his thoughts, Woodface represents the joy of reunion and the freedom of a collaborative effort -- more than half of the album was originally conceived as a Finn Brothers project, which was Tim and Neils first crack at writing together. The songs are easily their finest to date, combining flawless melodies and the outstanding harmonies of the brothers perfectly matched voices. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 19 Title: Together Alone Released: 1993-10 Tracks: 13 Duration: 51:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Kare Kare (03:35) 2 In My Command (03:43) 3 Nails in My Feet (03:39) 4 Black & White Boy (04:00) 5 Fingers of Love (04:26) 6 Pineapple Head (03:28) 7 Locked Out (03:18) 8 Private Universe (05:36) 9 Walking on the Spot (02:54) 10 Distant Sun (03:50) 11 Catherine Wheels (05:12) 12 Skin Feeling (03:56) 13 Together Alone (03:55) |
| Together Alone : Allmusic album Review : More experimental and musically varied than any of their previous releases, Together Alone finds Crowded House branching out into traditional Maori music and heavy guitars, as well as the shining pop songcraft that is Neil Finns trademark. Picking up a new guitarist and adding the production skills of ex-Killing Joke member Youth, Crowded House energize their sound without losing sight of Finns classic pop songwriting, as "Locked Out" and "Distant Sun" prove. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 19 Title: Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House Released: 1996-06-21 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:10:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Weather With You (03:44) 2 World Where You Live (03:05) 3 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 4 Locked Out (03:18) 5 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 6 Into Temptation (04:33) 7 Pineapple Head (03:28) 8 When You Come (04:45) 9 Private Universe (05:36) 10 Not the Girl You Think You Are (04:09) 11 Instinct (03:08) 12 I Feel Possessed (03:48) 13 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) 14 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 15 Distant Sun (03:50) 16 Something So Strong (02:52) 17 Mean to Me (03:15) 18 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) 19 Everything Is Good for You (03:57) |
| Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House : Allmusic album Review : Recurring Dream is a 19-track collection which assembles most of the bands singles and adds three new studio tracks to entice fans -- "Not the Girl You Think You Are," "Instinct," and "Everything Is Good for You." As a career summary, the collection works fairly well, though the nonchronological sequencing makes for a slightly confusing listen. Nevertheless, for a band with no shortage of great material (theres not a bad album in the bunch), Recurring Dream is a good place to get acquainted with them. Initial pressings also came with a second disc which compiles highlights from the bands always entertaining live shows. Maybe a disc of non-album rarities and B-sides would have been a better choice, but for fans this is an essential addition. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 19 Title: Afterglow Released: 1999-12-08 Tracks: 13 Duration: 47:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Am in Love (04:37) 2 Sacred Cow (03:37) 3 You Can Touch (03:46) 4 Help Is Coming (04:49) 5 I Love You Dawn (02:34) 6 Dr Livingstone (03:57) 7 My Tellys Gone Bung (03:13) 8 Private Universe (04:08) 9 Lester (02:18) 10 Anyone Can Tell (03:36) 11 Recurring Dream (03:24) 12 Left Hand (02:57) 13 Time Immemorial (04:07) |
| Afterglow : Allmusic album Review : Like any band, Crowded House had some unfinished business after their split. Namely, they had a number of very good songs that never appeared on an official album. These werent rejects, per se -- they were tunes that didnt have a home, so they popped up on B-sides, soundtracks and live shows, where Crowded House regularly aired unreleased and rare songs. These often became fan favorites yet they werent readily available until the appearance of the rarities, B-sides, and "orphans" collection, Afterglow. Not every non-LP song made the cut, but everything here is quite strong and the album gels very well, sounding a bit like a lost album, even if the tracks were recorded between 1985 and 1994. Is it an essential collection? Well, for hardcore fans -- the kind that know that with the existence of Afterglow they can now piece together the running order of the original Woodface -- it certainly is. But its not just for them, since casual fans will find several gems here. Perhaps Paul Hesters endearingly silly "My Tellys Gone Bung" will rub them the wrong way, but such gems as the pre-Crowded House tune "Recurring Dream" and the gorgeous "I Love You Dawn" rank among the groups finest, proving that Neil Finn became an exceptional songsmith during the time he led Crowded House. They, along with several other tunes, mean Afterglow isnt just appealing for Crowded House diehards, but for anyone with a taste for fine, well-crafted pop. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 19 Title: Ghost Cars ... Released: 2000 Tracks: 16 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Mean to Me (?) 2 Fame Is (?) 3 I Feel Possessed (?) 4 How Will You Go (?) 5 Tall Trees (?) 6 Weather With You (?) 7 Tail of a Comet (?) 8 Love You Till the Day I Die (?) 9 Left Hand (?) 10 Better Be Home Soon (?) 11 World Where You Live (?) 12 Six Months in a Leaky Boat (?) 13 Something So Strong (?) 14 Hole in the River (?) 15 Recurring Dream (?) 16 Catherine Wheels (?) |
 | Album: 8 of 19 Title: Classic Masters Released: 2003 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Something So Strong (02:52) 2 Weather With You (03:44) 3 When You Come (live) (05:47) 4 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 5 Fingers of Love (04:26) 6 Nails in My Feet (03:39) 7 Never Be the Same (04:29) 8 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 9 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 10 Distant Sun (remix) (03:46) 11 Sister Madly (live) (02:57) 12 Hole in the River (03:58) |
| Classic Masters : Allmusic album Review : By their very nature, compilations omit songs -- theyre designed to distill an artists body of work to ten or 12 songs, so its only natural that critics and fans alike will complain about what tracks were left behind, particularly for a band like Crowded House, which had a limited number of charting hits, lots of released singles, and a passionate fan base that made album tracks seem like hits. Nevertheless, Crowded Houses volume of Capitols Classic Masters series gets it about as wrong as it possibly could. Yes, the 12-track collection has four of the big hits ("Dont Dream Its Over," "Weather With You," "Something So Strong," "Its Only Natural"), but the remaining eight songs are a weird mix of lesser-known singles, solid album tracks, and relative rarities -- a remix of "Distant Sun" and previously unreleased (at least in the U.S.) live versions of "When You Come" and "Sister Madly." This hodgepodge is particularly baffling when you consider what could (and should) have been on here: "World Where You Live," "Fall at Your Feet," "Locked Out," "Into Temptation," "Private Universe," "I Feel Possessed," "Four Seasons in One Day," "Mean to Me," and "Better Be Home Soon" were all on the previous hits collection Recurring Dream, and should have been here (any one of them would be better than "Chocolate Cake," at the very least). Even if it leaves off some genuine hits, that list of songs would have made for a better, more representative listen than this disc which, while listenable, is far from their classic work, and pales dramatically in comparison to Recurring Dream. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 19 Title: Essential Released: 2003-04-07 Tracks: 16 Duration: 57:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 2 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 3 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 4 Whispers and Moans (03:38) 5 Now Were Getting Somewhere (04:04) 6 Love This Life (03:25) 7 Sister Madly (02:52) 8 There Goes God (03:50) 9 Nails in My Feet (03:30) 10 Fingers of Love (04:26) 11 Weather With You (03:44) 12 Walking on the Spot (02:55) 13 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) 14 Something So Strong (02:52) 15 Into Temptation (04:32) 16 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) |
| Essential : Allmusic album Review : Crowded Houses greatest hit, "Dont Dream Its Over," cemented them firmly into the collective American consciousness as a mere highlight of a John Hughes soundtrack or momentary inhabitants of the mid-80s college rock ghetto. Though they rose to highest U.S. acclaim with that song and its follow-up, "Something So Strong," Crowded House charted consistently in their homeland of Australia and were widely popular outside of the States for the second half of their initial run. Songs like "Better Be Home Soon" and "Weather with You" charted massively in the U.K., Canada, and New Zealand, but never brought the group more than a cult following stateside. Including a variety of singles and highlights from albums Woodface, Temple of Low Men, and their self-titled debut, Essential provides a comprehensive overview of Crowded Houses wistful songwriting style and bouncy pop productions, all of which predated the rise of alternative, but didnt quite fit any mainstream mold. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 19 Title: Farewell to the World Released: 2006-11-27 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:50:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mean to Me (04:11) 2 World Where You Live (03:33) 3 When You Come (05:54) 4 Private Universe (05:35) 5 Four Seasons in One Day (02:54) 6 Fall at Your Feet (03:25) 7 Whispers and Moans (04:30) 8 Hole in the River (06:47) 9 Better Be Home Soon (04:43) 10 Pineapple Head (04:04) 11 Distant Sun (04:51) 12 Into Temptation (04:49) 13 Everything Is Good for You (04:09) 1 Locked Out (03:49) 2 Something So Strong (03:51) 3 Sister Madly (04:54) 4 Italian Plastic (03:51) 5 Weather With You (05:22) 6 Its Only Natural (05:07) 7 There Goes God (04:54) 8 Fingers of Love (05:35) 9 In My Command (04:26) 10 Throw Your Arms Around Me (02:57) 11 Dont Dream Its Over (06:22) |
| Farewell to the World : Allmusic album Review : Crowded House called it a day on November 24, 1996, with a farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House attended by well over 100,000 people, making it one of the largest concerts in Australian history. The double-disc set Farewell to the World was released a decade later to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the event, and while the performance lacks the loose energy and off-the-cuff banter that made Crowded Houses concerts memorable, it has aged well, and not just because Neil Finns songs sound every bit as fresh and sharp as they did upon their initial release. That much can be discerned from a listen to any of the groups albums, or their excellent hits compilation, Recurring Dream, but what Farewell to the World reveals is what a tight, professional live band Crowded House could be if the occasion called for it -- and certainly, this farewell show was an occasion that called for it. This was a large-scale, historic performance, and it sounds like it: the band plays all the hits and standards, with none of the left-field detours that could characterize their live shows (and are well documented on the many fan club-only live releases over the years), and they play with focused precision that may not be as exciting as some of their other live shows, but it certainly is easy to enjoy, whether it was in person at the Sydney Opera House in 1996 or hearing it on record years later. This may not be a major release, but for fans it is a welcome one: a souvenir of a fine farewell show, and a nice reminder of the strengths of Crowded House as a live band. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 19 Title: Time on Earth Released: 2007-06-30 Tracks: 14 Duration: 58:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Nobody Wants To (04:10) 2 Don’t Stop Now (03:54) 3 She Called Up (02:53) 4 Say That Again (05:21) 5 Pour le Monde (05:10) 6 Even a Child (03:57) 7 Heaven That I’m Making (03:56) 8 A Sigh (03:17) 9 Silent House (05:52) 10 English Trees (03:43) 11 Walked Her Way Down (04:17) 12 Transit Lounge (04:25) 13 You Are the One to Make Me Cry (03:43) 14 People Are Like Suns (03:54) |
| Time on Earth : Allmusic album Review : Although Neil Finn was always the undisputed leader of Crowded House, they also possessed an undeniable band chemistry, most apparent on their freewheeling live shows but also evident on their four studio albums, each possessing a distinct identity from each other. When Neil pulled the plug on Crowded House after 1994s Together Alone, it was clear that it was for musical reasons, that he wanted to step out and try some new things, resulting the kaleidoscopic Try Whistling This and the hazy One Nil, both book-ended by albums with his brother Tim. Neil planned to follow that second Finn Brothers album with another solo project, but as he started work, tragedy struck: his longtime friend Paul Hester, the drummer for Split Enz and Crowded House, committed suicide in 2005. In the wake of his death, Finn reconnected with the other founding Crowded House member, bassist Nick Seymour, and slowly the third solo album turned into a Crowded House album, with latter-day second guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart brought in along the way, working alongside guests like Johnny Marr and Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner. It was an organic reunion -- and not uncommon in the Enz universe, either, as the band keeps falling together for occasional anniversary concerts and popping up on each others albums -- that arose perhaps as part of the grieving process, or perhaps Neil realizing hed rather be part of a band than a solo act and, in his words, "what other band could I be in." So, the very fact that Crowded House re-formed made sense, but the resulting 2007 album Time on Earth feels considerably different than the bands first four, often betraying its origins as a Neil Finn solo album. To begin with, its streamlined where their previous albums were ragged, and the most notable element thats been trimmed is the humor that ran throughout each of their albums. This curtailing of good spirits is an appropriate, even expected, reaction to Hesters death, and his ghost does linger over the whole of Time on Earth, beginning with its very title and carrying through to Seymours artwork, but most apparent in the subdued, contemplative tone of the album. Finns lyrics are littered with allusions to Hester -- sometimes deceptively so, as on "Silent House," co-written with the Dixie Chicks prior to the drummers death and first appearing on their 2006 album Taking the Long Way -- and this mildly mournful vibe is enhanced by the subdued tone of the album. This set of songs takes its time, relying heavily on ballads and meditative, mid-tempo pop tunes, and even the brighter numbers like "She Called Up" are far from sprightly. Finn may in a ruminative mode but Time on Earth is not heavy-handed or oppressively sorrowful: its contemplative and sweetly melancholy. Given this hushed vibe, its not surprising that the album, as a whole, is a bit of a grower, as Finns tunes take some time to reveal their gifts. A few songs have an immediate impact -- such as the gently propulsive "Dont Stop Now," the snappy, jangly Marr collaboration "Even a Child" (the closest this record comes to a rocker) and the spacy, tongue-in-cheek "Transit Lounge," featuring Beth Rowley as vocal support -- but most of these are subtle songs that unfold at their own speed. It may take some time for the songs to catch hold, but once they do, they dig deep, sticking around in the memory like much of Finns best work. But even if the best of this album does stand proudly alongside the best of Finns music, Time on Earth is still quite unlike any of his other records: strangely, it feels more like a solo album than either of his solo albums, partially because its such an introspective work, partially because it sustains a bittersweet tone from beginning to end, whereas his other solo efforts careened wildly between moods. But even if this is unquestionably Neil Finns show, this also does feel like the work of a band, since there is a warmth here, a feeling of support, that sounds like a group, not a one-man-band. This curious intermingling of sounds and intent makes Time on Earth a haunting yet comforting affair that is quite unique in Neil Finns body of work, yet functions as an oddly appropriate, utterly worthy, comeback as Crowded House. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 19 Title: Platinum Released: 2007-10-30 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 2 Now We’re Getting Somewhere (04:05) 3 Something So Strong (02:52) 4 Mansion in the Slums (03:47) 5 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 6 I Feel Possessed (03:48) 7 Black & White Boy (04:00) 8 Recurring Dream (03:24) 9 There Goes God (03:50) 10 Distant Sun (03:50) 11 Hole in the River (03:58) 12 Sister Madly (02:52) |
 | Album: 13 of 19 Title: iTunes Festival: London 2007 Released: 2007-11-18 Tracks: 6 Duration: 26:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Distant Sun (04:08) 2 Dont Dream Its Over (04:26) 3 Heaven That Im Making (04:38) 4 Locked Out (03:26) 5 Silent House (06:05) 6 Something So Strong (03:29) |
 | Album: 14 of 19 Title: Intriguer Released: 2010-06-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Saturday Sun (03:26) 2 Archers Arrows (04:04) 3 Amsterdam (03:34) 4 Either Side of the World (04:35) 5 Falling Dove (04:35) 6 Isolation (04:37) 7 Twice If Youre Lucky (03:33) 8 Inside Out (03:19) 9 Even If (04:02) 10 Elephants (04:30) |
| Intriguer : Allmusic album Review : With the heavy lifting of the Crowded House reunion out of the way, Neil Finn is able to settle into comfortable craft on Intriguer, the band’s sixth album. Intriguer isn’t as self-consciously weighty as Time on Earth -- Finn is not tackling mortality in the wake of the death of his longtime friend and bandmate Paul Hester -- but it’s also not as hazy as Finn’s pair of solo LPs. In tone and timbre, it’s closest to the second Finn Brothers album, the ruminative Everyone Is Here, but it lacks the reflective undertow of that 2004 album; it may be subdued, but it’s not reveling in its melancholy, it’s riding a gentle wave, swaying from song to song. Sometimes the tempo gets slightly heated -- “Inside Out” works a nicely grinding guitar riff, “Saturday Sun” pulsates to an electronic rhythm -- but the album doesn’t command attention so much as it teases it. This light touch suits Finn’s songs; he’s favoring subtle craftsmanship over immediate hooks, so it only fits that the mood of Intriguer is soothing, something that pays off great dividends upon close listens. It may not be flashy but it’s sturdy and expertly honed, reflecting Finn’s craftsmanship on a song-by-song basis but holding together better as an album than any Finn project in recent memory. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 19 Title: The Very Very Best of Crowded House Released: 2010-10-18 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:11:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Something So Strong (02:55) 2 Weather With You (03:44) 3 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 4 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 5 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 6 Distant Sun (03:50) 7 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) 8 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) 9 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 10 Mean to Me (03:15) 11 Locked Out (03:18) 12 Don’t Stop Now (03:54) 13 Pineapple Head (03:28) 14 Instinct (03:08) 15 Fingers of Love (04:26) 16 Private Universe (05:40) 17 Not the Girl You Think You Are (04:09) 18 Nails in My Feet (03:39) 19 Pour le monde (05:11) |
| The Very Very Best of Crowded House : Allmusic album Review : The second big-scale Crowded House compilation -- following the first, Recurring Dream, by 14 years, and the budget-line set Classic Masters by seven - 2010’s The Very Very Best of Crowded House (the second “very” distinguishing it from Recurring Dream, which was merely “The Very Best”) comes in two incarnations: a single CD running a tight 19 tracks, and a digital download that’s expanded to 32 songs. The CD version offers up much of Crowded House’s canon including “Weather with You,” “Something so Strong,” “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” “Four Seasons in One Day,” “It’s Only Natural,” “Better Be Home Soon” and “Mean to Me,” ultimately repeating 14 of Recurring Dream’s 19 songs while finding space for a pair of tunes from the 2007 reunion Time on Earth (“Don’t Stop Now,” “Pour Le Monde”). The three tunes left behind -- “World Where You Live,” “Into Temptation,” “When You Come” -- are all missed but they can be found on the digital edition, along with a clutch of other great songs that help make it the best Crowded House comp so far, verging on the definitive. Naturally, the single disc isn’t as thorough, but it does as good a job of offering the basics as Recurring Dream, and will surely satisfy listeners who don’t believe they need more than a disc of Crowded House. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 19 Title: Intriguer Live: Start to Finish Released: 2011-11-18 Tracks: 22 Duration: 2:02:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Feel Possessed (04:43) 2 Something So Strong (04:17) 3 Amsterdam (05:34) 4 Either Side of the World (06:06) 5 Fall at Your Feet (05:21) 6 Don’t Stop Now (04:28) 7 Not the Girl You Think You Are (04:55) 8 Isolation (05:18) 9 Archer’s Arrows (06:47) 10 Nails in My Feet (05:29) 11 Private Universe (08:33) 12 Don’t Dream It’s Over (05:52) 1 Twice If You’re Lucky (04:21) 2 Say That Again (05:41) 3 Pineapple Head (04:58) 4 Distant Sun (04:16) 5 When You Come (10:56) 6 Four Seasons in One Day (04:24) 7 Locked Out (03:20) 8 It’s Only Natural (05:49) 9 Weather With You (06:46) 10 Better Be Home Soon (05:02) |
 | Album: 17 of 19 Title: Alle 40 Goed Released: 2012-03-30 Tracks: 40 Duration: 2:29:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Weather With You (03:44) 2 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 3 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 4 When You Come (04:45) 5 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 6 Everything Is Good for You (03:57) 7 Tombstone (03:30) 8 Not the Girl You Think You Are (04:10) 9 There Goes God (03:50) 10 Don’t Stop Now (03:54) 11 Never Be the Same (04:29) 12 Private Universe (05:36) 13 Throw Your Arms Around Me (03:00) 14 Can’t Carry On (03:56) 15 Something So Strong (02:52) 16 I Walk Away (03:06) 17 Nails in My Feet (03:40) 18 Fingers of Love (04:26) 19 Into Temptation (04:33) 1 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 2 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) 3 Distant Sun (03:50) 4 I Feel Possessed (03:48) 5 Pineapple Head (03:28) 6 Instinct (03:08) 7 Sister Madly (02:52) 8 Silent House (05:52) 9 Tall Trees (02:21) 10 World Where You Live (03:04) 11 Recurring Dream (03:25) 12 Hole in the River (03:58) 13 Love You ’til the Day I Die (03:32) 14 Locked Out (03:18) 15 Mean to Me (03:15) 16 In My Command (03:44) 17 Whispers and Moans (03:38) 18 Pour le monde (05:11) 19 She Called Up (02:54) 20 Now We’re Getting Somewhere (04:05) 21 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) |
 | Album: 18 of 19 Title: 2 for 1: Crowded House + Woodface Released: 2013 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:27:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Mean to Me (03:15) 2 World Where You Live (03:04) 3 Now We’re Getting Somewhere (04:05) 4 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 5 Love You ’til the Day I Die (03:32) 6 Something So Strong (02:52) 7 Hole in the River (03:58) 8 Can’t Carry On (03:56) 9 I Walk Away (03:06) 10 Tombstone (03:30) 11 That’s What I Call Love (03:38) 1 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 2 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 3 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 4 Tall Trees (02:19) 5 Weather With You (03:44) 6 Whispers and Moans (03:39) 7 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) 8 There Goes God (03:50) 9 Fame Is (02:23) 10 All I Ask (03:55) 11 As Sure as I Am (02:53) 12 Italian Plastic (03:39) 13 She Goes On (03:15) 14 How Will You Go (04:51) |
 | Album: 19 of 19 Title: Gold Released: 2014-01-17 Tracks: 35 Duration: 2:08:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Weather With You (03:44) 2 Chocolate Cake (04:02) 3 Fall at Your Feet (03:18) 4 When You Come (04:45) 5 It’s Only Natural (03:32) 6 Everything Is Good for You (03:57) 7 Tombstone (03:30) 8 Not the Girl You Think You Are (04:09) 9 There Goes God (03:50) 10 Never Be the Same (04:29) 11 Private Universe (05:36) 12 Can’t Carry On (03:56) 13 Something So Strong (02:52) 14 I Walk Away (03:06) 15 Nails in My Feet (03:39) 16 Fingers of Love (04:26) 17 Into Temptation (04:32) 1 Don’t Dream It’s Over (03:55) 2 Better Be Home Soon (03:08) 3 Distant Sun (03:50) 4 I Feel Possessed (03:48) 5 Pineapple Head (03:28) 6 Instinct (03:08) 7 Sister Madly (02:52) 8 Tall Trees (02:20) 9 World Where You Live (03:05) 10 Recurring Dream (03:24) 11 Hole in the River (03:58) 12 Love You ’til the Day I Die (03:32) 13 Locked Out (03:17) 14 Mean to Me (03:15) 15 In My Command (03:43) 16 Whispers and Moans (03:37) 17 Now We’re Getting Somewhere (04:05) 18 Four Seasons in One Day (02:48) |