Crowded House (CD)

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Split Enz needed to end, particularly since founding member Tim Finn found his little brother Neil's 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 band's eponymous debut. At the time, Froom's 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 "Don't Dream It's Over" became an international hit, while its follow-up, the breezy "Something So Strong," also turned into a hit. Both revealed different sides of Finn's 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 We're 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 doesn't reach those heights, it's 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Performer	Crowded House
Music genre	Rock
Music subgenre	Pop
Music release type	Album
Media format	CD
Language	English
Number of tracks	11
Has parental advisory label	N
Number of discs	1
Track listing	Mean to Me,World Where You Live,Now We're Getting Somewhere,Don't Dream It's Over,Love You 'Til the Day I Die,Something So Strong,Hole in the River,Can't Carry on,I Walk Away,Tombstone,That's What I Call Love
Record label	Capitol
Songwriter	songwriter
Track name	Something So Strong, Weather With You, It's Only Natural, Chocolate Cake, Fall at Your Feet, Distant Sun, Better Be Home Soon, Four Seasons in One Day, Don't Dream It's Over, Mean to Me, Locked Out, Don't Stop Now, Pineapple Head, Instinct, Fingers of Love, Private Universe, Not the Girl You Think You Are, Nails in My Feet, Pour Le Monde, Now We're Getting Somewhere, World Where You Live, When You Come, Into Temptation, Sister Madly, I Feel Possessed
Is edited	N
Is enhanced	N