I’m guessing there are at least two readers of this blog that care about Crowded House, but MSN Music has a full concert recorded of a recent Crowded House concert from the House of Blues in Chicago - August 18, 2007. It’s over at MSN Music (USA link) and played just fine on my Mac.

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After the band broke up in the mid-nineties, a handful of Crowded House tracks surfaced on Recurring Dream (a greatest hits compilation) and Afterglow, a mishmash of unreleased recordings.

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So my Crowded House Intra Album Rank project is done - here are the albums ranked from best to worst, with links to the reviews:

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By Crowded House’s fourth album, Tim Finn had left the group and touring musican Mark Hart became a full band member. He plays piano and lead guitar (the latter of which he wasn’t particularly good at) lending an unpolished edge. The recording took place in a remote New Zealand house on Kare Kare beach - literally near the end of the world - with new producer Youth.

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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.

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Crowded House’s second album Temple Of Low Men was released in 1988 and commercially, would be a good example of the musical “sophomore slump”. It didn’t sell as well as the previous album, and the band actually briefly disbanded.

I remember eagerly anticipating this album and for a time I considered it my favorite, but as the years have gone on, I’m not so sure. I find I’m drawn to the friendlier tunes and variety on Crowded House and Woodface.

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The first self-titled Crowded House album came out in 1986. The New Zealand / Australian trio consisted of singer / songwriter Neil Finn, drummer Paul Hester, and bassist Nick Seymour. Both Finn and Hester were in the art rock band Split Enz, where Neil’s older brother Tim was the lead singer. Crowded House hoped to explore a simpler, live sound. The trio relocated to Los Angeles to record with then unknown producer Mitchell Froom. Two other members, guitarist Craig Hooper and keyboardist Eddie Rayner were lost along the way.

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Crowded House recently reunited and released Time On Earth, their first album of new material in over a decade. The new group consists of Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod. Mark Hart was a member on Together Alone. Matt Sherrod is a new drummer - original drummer Paul Hester committed suicide in 2005. As an original member, the late Hester’s presence is felt, via the album’s somber, contemplative mood. Neil’s brother, Tim Finn, who added much to the sound of Woodface is noticeably absent.

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So it seems Crowded House might be the latest eighties band to get back together, despite the sad death of drummer Paul Hester. The group will consist of Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mark Hart, and an as-of-yet undetermined drummer. Sounds awesome to me. I wonder if Mitchell Froom will be involved?

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