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Woodface has an odd history in that some of the songs were intended for use on a “Finn Brothers” album by Neil and his brother Tim (the lead singer for the Split Enz). Eventually that material was combined with songs Neil had written for the third Crowded House album which were initially rejected by the record label. The result is alternately fascinating and frustrating in the same manner as the Beatles’ White Album. There are some simply incredible compositions while others seem unneeded.
The added voice of Tim Finn adds another layer that occasionally recalls some of the best efforts of Lennon and McCartney, namely the awesome It’s Only Natural with contrasting sections and a dual lead vocal. Personally, I think the addition of Tim Finn suggested a new direction and I feel that if the group had continued on this track, they would have garnered more Beatle-y comparisons.
Chocolate Cake
= 4 stars
A few things about this song bother me, namely how the harmonica solo comes blaring in, trying a bit too hard. I do appreciate the direct lyrics and the magical moment where the samples and piano burst forth after the first chorus (0.51).
It’s Only Natural
= 5 stars
This Neil and Tim duet reminds me of the Beatle’s Two Of Us, and the contrast between the major verse and the minor chorus is almost like two different songs - recalling We Can Work It Out. It’s a really tight pop-rock excursion and my favorite track of this album.
Unfortunately, I think by this point the label had handed the group off to some questionable video directors, resulting in this frankly, ridiculous video:
Fall At Your Feet
= 4 stars
There are superior versions of this pensive, spooky feel, either the previous album’s Into Temptation, any of the Together Alone songs, or Four Seasons In One Day. Still, it’s a great song - a more pop friendly take on the whole mood of Temple Of Low Men. It sounds like a distillation of ideas.
Tall Trees
= 3 stars
A standard rock song that feels a bit awkward in this location. Nothing remarkable.
Weather With You
= 4 stars
This nice, jaunty song was a big hit in Europe, and eventually used by some weathermen. A sing-a-long chorus eventually collapses into an amusing hand clap joyride.
Whispers And Moans
= 5 stars
I love the bass guitar intro which expands on the funk groove and pointed horns used on the first album. There’s also a Neil Finn “rant” vocal (3.10) to be further utilized on future tunes.
Four Seasons In One Day
= 5 stars
A perfect song of Revolver Beatle, baroque quality. At .26 is a piano on a IV chord, recalling Into Temptation. The accessible lyrics talk about how all good things have a complimentary bad side, which is echoed in the music - the verse is in minor and only resolves to the major tonic chord on the word “day.” The bridge (”blood dries up”) carefully avoids the dominant seventh resolving to the tonic (IV, I, V7, vi) and is good enough to be another song. The keyboard solo after the first bridge is a “round”. And yes, the bridge repeats twice, just like the best Beatle tunes. Lastly, the harmony ends on a perfect fifth. There are a few added production touches like tribal background vocals and a mandolin reminiscent of the Split Enz’s Six Months In A Leaky Boat.
This video hardly does the song justice:
There Goes God
= 3 stars
Rather average, and I’m not a fan of the wailing harmonica that pops up again.
Fame Is
= 3 stars
Another rock song, similar to Tall Trees and equally unneeded. The bridge is fairly cool though, and maybe would have been a better melody to base the song around.
All I Ask
= 5 stars
The Split Enz song I Hope I Never is a precursor to this mellow, pulsing show tune suitable for old crooners. Just orchestra, brushed drums, and Tim, who hits some glorious high notes. Thumbs up from me.
As Sure As I Am
= 3 stars
This is a pleasant enough waltzing tune, but the first time where I think the production is inappropriate - I’d prefer a more acoustic approach. I don’t understand the accordion either. At songs end, Neil goes off on some Lennon-esque mumbling.
Italian Plastic
= 2 stars
Apologies to drummer Paul Hester - yikes. There are some Abbey Road harmonies and the goofy outro is exactly like a White Album outtake - but the song itself is rather lame. But still, to have a strange diversion of a song written by a drummer recalls the Fab Four.
She Goes On
= 4 stars
This is a very pretty song, a memorial to a lost lover or a dead friend. The chorus with the second vocal of Tim is near perfection. There’s also a retro “big band” like instrumental break. I resist that last star as I find songs on the next album a bit more moving than this.
How Will You Go
= 3 stars
By this point, I’m a bit tired, and this pleasant enough tune could also be skipped.
Note: This song is followed by a strange “hidden track” called I’m Still Here.
Intra Album Rank: 3.78 stars
Wikipedia: Woodface
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I really like this album a lot. That you included videos makes this review awesome!
Yes it’s a pretty awesome album. I may not like a few songs but there are some really, really great ones that I still find myself returning to, all these years later.
This is easily their best album. Hands down. I think my overall album list would look something like this:
1. Woodface (by a good margin)
2. Crowded House
3. Time on Earth
4. Together Alone
5. Temple of Low Men
Woodface the favorite by far. The distance between albums 2, 3, 4 being very close (esp. btw 3 and 4). And Temple of Low Men being the clear lowest (imho).
Heh, Dave you’re always a few steps ahead. I think as I look at my Intra Album Rank, as far as I’m concerned, it’s working out to be Crowded House, Woodface, Together Alone / Time on Earth, Temple of Low Men. I think the 10 songs on the first album improve it in terms of the Album Rank method. But I don’t want to spoil all the beans yet because I haven’t ranked the songs on Time on Earth individually, yet. Of course I’ll do another post that ranks the albums.
Sorry! I didn’t mean to force your hand. I just love Woodface…”Whispers and Moans” is probably my all time favorite Crowded House song. Though English Trees is now in my top 5 — for sure (from the new album).
So you like I Feel Posessed, Whispers and Moans, and English Trees… interesting. Not gonna read too much further into that
I Feel Possessed wouldn’t be in my top 5 or even top 10 Crowded House songs. But if you are suggesting some kinky fetish…well…I’ll take the 5th
My 2 cents on the ones you posted videos for:
Chocolate Cake: This is one of those songs that I didn’t care for that much when it came out, but I never skip it when I’m listening to it on CD. ‘The excess fat on your American bones will cushion the impact as you sink like a stone’–ouch! (And I like how he doesn’t repeat the Tammy Baker line in full the second time.)
It’s Only Natural: Brilliant. Amazing harmonies, when I sing along I can’t pick one to follow cuz they’re both equally important. Have to agree the video is silly!
Weather with You: Great lyrics and again great harmonies.
Four Seasons in One Day: Haunting. Love that moment when the bridge begins.
Thanks for showing the videos!
Hi Em (long time Crowded House fan) … yeah I think the videos are rather funny. I had never seen three of them before - especially Four Seasons In One Day. It’s kinda odd to see a video so many years after one has had their own associations with a song over the years.
I do think It’s Only Natural is one of the best songs they ever recorded.