WHEN it comes time to do a list of the greatest Aussie/Kiwi bands of all time - which I'm sure I'll have a crack at writing one day - Crowded House would have to be at or near the top.
Not only were they a solidly entertaining live act with a string of hit albums, but their finest singles stand among some of the best pop songs ever committed to record.
Now in the second phase of their career, after a decade on hiatus and the tragic loss of drummer Paul Hester, the Crowdies have released their sixth studio album Intriguer this week and gone straight to the top of the Australian charts once again, proving there's still a lot of love for the band.
Here's a look at their first phase, and the albums and songs that catapulted them to global acclaim.
Crowded House (1986)
In the wake of Split Enz's split, singer/guitarist Neil Finn and drummer Hester decided to form The Mullanes in Melbourne with Nick Seymour (brother of Mark "Hunters & Collectors" Seymour) on bass. The trio boldly tried their luck in the US after a brief touring and demoing stint in Australia, eventually scoring a deal with Capitol Records, who insisted on the name change (which stemmed from their cramped living quarters during the recording of their debut album). The resulting record, produced by the then-unknown Mitchell Froom, is a remarkably polished debut, stacked with great songs. Don't Dream It's Over and Something So Strong remain their most successful tracks in the US, helping the album climb to number 12 on the Billboard charts. In the Antipodes three more singles - rocky opener Mean To Me, the soulful keys and choruses of World Where You Live and upbeat ditty Now We're Getting Somewhere - were also hits, but almost every song is a winner, including the raucous stuttering Love You 'Til The Day I Die and the moody Hole In The River.
Temple Of Low Men (1988)
LESS rock-inspired than its predecessor, and a disappointment on the US charts, but the Crowdies' second album confirmed Finn's abilities as an impressive songwriter with a knack for amazing melodies and glorious choruses (even if his impressionistic lyrics border on the cryptic). Just listen to the way I Feel Possessed and When You Come burst into life, the singalong beauty of closer Better Be Home Soon, or the falsetto hook of Never Be The Same - that's quality. Kill Eye was a throw-back to the edgier flourishes of their debut, although Hester's way around a rock beat continues to shine through in key moments. In fact, Hester is something of an unsung hero on this album, particularly on When You Come and Never Be The Same, while his brushwork on the skiffley shuffle of Sister Madly helps sell its authenticity as more than just an album track or stylistic diversion. While considered darker by many, and tracks like the twisty Mansion In The Slums certainly beg for repeated listens to decipher, Temple Of Low Men has moments that sparkle, such as Love This Life, Sister Madly and the love-soaked singles.
Woodface (1991)
THEIR third and greatest album proved to be a double-edged sword. Opening single, the deliciously savage anti-US rant of Chocolate Cake, effectively ended their US career, but Weather With You kick-started a massive following in the UK and Europe. The album was a struggle to write for Finn who, depending on who you believe, either threw out most of the songs he'd written for the record or they were rejected by Capitol Records. Finn turned to his older brother and Split Enz bandmate Tim and asked to use some of the songs the siblings had penned together for a planned Finn Brothers album (Tim asked to join the band in return). As a result, the majority of the songs on Woodface are Finn-Finn co-writes, with the song-writing team yielding the best songs on the record (and some choice harmonies) including Chocolate Cake, It's Only Natural, Weather With You, Four Seasons In One Day and There Goes God. Two Neil Finn-penned songs are gold - Fall At Your Feet and the sexy Whispers & Moans - but the real surprise is Hester's contribution, the gorgeously heartfelt Italian Plastic. A sonically intriguing and beautifully constructed album, piled high with wondrous melodies.
Together Alone (1993)
CAPPING off phase one was this, the Crowdies most inventive album. Still filled with hit singles, the band - which no longer included Tim Finn but now featured multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart - stretched out in different directions. A Maori choir and acoustic instrumentation added new shades to the title track, Black & White Boy seemed to be a nod to the growing grunge trend, and the accordion-wheeze and stripped-back vibe of Walking On The Spot was a fresh colour in their pallette. The highlights include Split Enz-ish In My Command, the sensous Fingers Of Love, the Beatlesy jangle of Pineapple Head, the straight-ahead rocker Locked Out, the haunting drone of Private Universe, and the classic Crowdies sound of Distant Sun. Together Alone proved to be their best-charting album in the UK, although when it was released there, Woodface was still on the charts. Neil Finn ended the band officially in 1996, despite the group having already put together a couple of tracks for an intended fifth album.
Epilogue
IN the wake of Finn's announcement, the band released Recurring Dream, a best-of boasting three awesome new tracks including The Beatles-ish Not The Girl You Think You Are, the groove-pop Instinct, and the exceptional pop song Everything Is Good For You. An accompanying special edition live disc was an added bonus as it relied heavily on album tracks as opposed to singles, breathing new life into lesser-known songs. The Crowdies then bid farewell to the world with an emotional and exhilarating concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in November 1996 in front of an estimated crowd of more than 100,000 people (and an even bigger audience when the concert was screened on TV days later). Not only did it serve as a fitting farewell at the time, but the subsequent DVD/CD/VHS releases have served as reminders of how exciting, free-wheeling and fun the band was live. Three years later, the band released Afterglow - a surprisingly strong b-sides and rarities compilation, which featured many of the Woodface offcuts. The band reunited in 2006 with Matt Sherrod on drums and recorded comeback album Time On Earth. Sadly, Hester committed suicide in March 2005, depriving the world of his skills as a flexible drummer with a flair for showmanship.
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