Although his presence brought more experimentation, the pretty acoustic ballad “Distant Sun” is Finn at his most accessible and it became the group’s third UK Top 20 single. Having helmed the group’s first three albums, Mitchell Froom was replaced by ex-Killing Joke bassist Youth who by Together Alone’’s 1993 release had become an in-demand producer. It became the group’s second Billboard Hot 100 hit as the album reached No.12 in the States. However, anyone listening closely enough to the album would have realized there was more substance to Crowded House than catchy melodies.įollowing the Australian-only release “Mean To Me,” the harmonic, uptempo “World Where You Live” served as the group’s first international single and was typical of the big-sounding production that made up their debut. Their self-titled first album, recorded at LA’s Capitol Recording and Sunset Sound Recording studios with producer Mitchell Froom, was perfectly crafted for the American market with its radio-friendly, pop-rock songs and polished, purposeful production. When The Los Angeles Times wrote about the band’s LA debut in February 1987, its review opened with the question: “Is Crowded House the great white hope of power pop?” In these early days, as Finn and his colleagues chalked up a first US breakthrough hit, it certainly seemed that way.
Early American Adventures (World Where You Live, Something So Strong, Hole In The River) Listen to the best of Crowded House on Apple Music and Spotify, and scroll down to read our introduction to the best Crowded House songs. The appropriately titled Dreamers Are Waiting, the group’s first studio album in 11 years, was released in June 2021.
Another long hiatus followed when Finn returned to his solo career and became part of Fleetwood Mac’s touring band, but they reunited again at the end of 2019 with Mitchell Froom and Finn’s two sons Liam and Elroy joining the line-up. However, the death in 2005 of Paul Hester after years of fighting depression brought the band back together for two more albums. Only one further album followed before the group split and Finn went solo. While they lost the US mainstream with third album Woodface, its set of uplifting, sonically-pleasing songs won them newfound popularity in the UK and Europe. For all the stunning songs reflecting Finn’s love of The Beatles and other melodic giants, their music had real potency and was unafraid of exploring difficult, sometimes painful topics. It was an early sign that the group were not prepared to compromise for easy commercial gain.
Having broken the States, the group could have easily served up more of the same, but their second album Temple Of Low Men was a darker, more intense affair that highlighted the maturing of Finn’s songwriting, but lacked its predecessor’s obvious hits. The American sound of their self-titled debut album began to slowly resonate in the US and hit a peak when the single “Don’t Dream It’s Over” climbed to No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Initially comprising vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter Finn, Split Enz drummer Paul Hester, and bassist Nick Seymour, the group found their immediate musical direction when they signed to Capitol Records and relocated to Los Angeles to record with producer Mitchell Froom.
#Songs about weather pop series#
Neil Finn formed Crowded Houseout of the ashes of New Zealand power-pop band Split Enz and it edged him closer to pop perfection with a series of beautifully crafted and melodically rich songs built on depth, emotion, and self-reflection.
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