Crowded House - Woodface
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Free Music Notes for Woodface
Free Music Review: excellent
Hit: 4 Stars
When this came out in 1991, I was suprised when I heard "Chocolate Cake" on the radio. After years of enduring Michael and Modona and posers like Bryan Adams and Loverboy, real rock was back. Nirvana and Pearl Jam were about to break big, and hearing drums that sounded like drums and guitars that sounded like guitars was something I thought I would never hear again.
This is no grunge album, but does catch that excitment lovers of real rock felt in 1991-the currents had shifted. Woodface has a real Squeeze influance, evidenced on tracks like "Chocolate Cake" and "Everywhere You Go."
Speaking of 1991, Woodface has an innocence to it that would be impossible today. Gorbachev was ending the cold war. The fresh, clean songs on this album have a feeling of spring springing, things beginning new. For a brief time, peace was breaking out all over. When the singer here sang about a women giving birth and bowling 257, Andrew Lloyd, Tammy Fey, or Mrs. Harry Legs, he piled on the cultural confetti we became obsessed with through much of the 1990s, and that seems nostalgically nieve in a post September 11th world.
Crowded House sounds like Squeeze here,but rocked harder. And if they don't merit a direct Beatles comparison for Woodface, you still can't help but hear the ghost in the distant background. This type of 80s influenced power pop--but with an older school organic playing- is not an out and out fab four tribute, but certianly has at least a few blood lines to some of the melodic templates the Liverpool Gods set all those years before.
Liniage aside, fantastic albums for fans of good rock music.
Free Music Review: Witty Release
Hit: 5 Stars
I liked these Kiwis from their first self titled debut. Seeing them live three times over their career re-inforced my respect for their songwriting, musicianship, harmonies and over all will. The Finns brothers are reunited again on this one, althought the could not weather their difficulties to remain together for this entire tour, with Tim leaving in the middle, right before one of the NY dates. "Chocolate Cake" takes a tongue in cheek view of American culture, from the outsider's perspective. The segue directly into "It's Only Natural" is great, taking the listener from the dangling vocals of the prior tune directly into the poppy ditty that follows. "Fall At Your Feet" is one of my favorites, a song of devotional love. The next stunner is "Weather With You", which is still a show stopper live. "Whispers In Moans" is a similar chord progression and feel as "Fall At Your Feet", but the bass line by Nick Seymour make it a memorable classic. "Four Seasons in One Day is a sparsely orchestrated slower tune with the strong harmonies that distinguished the boys from other bands of the era. "There Goes God" is another tongue in cheek view of the Almighty, that will make you laugh while singing along. "Italian Plastic" is an acoutic, stripped love song to a girl with interesting taste. The rest of the disk is good, but not as special at the earlier tunes. Be sure to listen to the end of the disk for the bizzarre hidden song at the end. The band broke up, with drummer Paul Hester moving on as the Paul the Cook in the children's show the Wiggles. After his tragic suicide, the band reformed with a new drummer, toured and released a new disk. This is a very good disk, by a band I really like. Enjoy it, for it's humor and sheer joy. Free Music Review: Pop Bliss that Melts the Ears
Hit: 5 Stars
....was the tag on the cover from the NME review of the time, and by Jove, they were right! I remember where I was when Margaret Thatcher resigned, and I remember where I was when I heard this album first. I had finished playing a cricket match at the County Ground in Derby and was driving between Uttoxeter and Stone in my little Peugeot 205, it was a beautiful hot Friday evening and the sun dappled through the trees as I drove, it would have been about 6:30 and I was listening to a show called (I think) "Round Table" (possibly hosted by Paul Gambuccini) which was a show that reviewed new album releases. And then they played "Its Only Natural" and that was me hooked. It was one of those perfect moments, a perfect song for a perfect evening and it became cemented in my head. Of course I got the tape, wore it out, got another tape wore that out and then the CD. I was already mildly aware of CH as I had an interest in Australian and Kiwi music but this catapulted The House into the stratosphere for me. I saw then play live many times, and possibly the finest concert I ever witnessed was Tim and Neil at the City Variety in Leeds, just the 2 of them switching between instruments and busking whatever people wanted them to play in the well known CH style. They asked what we wanted for an encore and due to our position in a box overlooking the stage, we managed to get Tims song Persuasion played, Tims voice gave out though and Neil finished the song for him. What a night that was. And as if that wasn't enough, they were supported by Dave Dobynn playing an acoustic set.
Anyway, where was I? Woodface. A really tight collection of summery, sometimes wistful tunes lovingly performed. Much more like the first CH album, the odd numbered ones tend to be upbeat and summery and the even numbered ones more sombre in tone, 4 seasons in one day if you like. All of the 4 CH albums are wonderful but this one is flawless, and will be enjoyed for many years to come by generations of music lovers.
Free Music Review: Pretty Damn Good
Hit: 4 Stars
I picked up Woodface in a Dollar Bin at the flea Market as soon as I saw it, as if I had found a hidden gem and if I were to let go it would immidiatly be stolen. Now that may have been a little far fetched but it WAS a good find. This CD is something that you can pop in and let go. As you'r going about your business whilst listening to this album you will pause and say, "I liked that song" to every song. 'Nuff Said.Free Music Review: A Durable Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this album inspired by their great compilation "Recurring Dream" . "Woodface" was the logical choice with the outstanding "Weather With You" and the fine singles "Fall at Your Feet" and "It's Only Natural" - moreover "Woodface" is the only album to feature both Finn brothers.
At first the 4 tracks from "Recurring Dream" seemed to be the highlights of the albums, but soon I realized that there was much more to go for.
The Beatles inspiration is obvious on most tracks, not least on the great opener "Chocolate Cake" - "Rubber Soul" ala 1991.
Neil Finn's country-inspired "She Goes On" - is simply beautiful; reminds me of the best tracks of the Eagles' "Desperado".
Drummer Paul Hester's "Italian Plastic" is refreshingly different - with its raw John Lennon approach.
Of course the beautiful folkish "Four Seasons in One Day" has to be brought forward.
A durable album that can be listened to again and again.