O Crowded House, the immaculate, the supreme... just writing about them puts me into poetry mode. This band, led by Neil Finn, the ghost of Split Enz, had a ten year career, and put out a few albums that I will always treasure. Yes. They were my first 'favorite band.' On the eve of their 1996 breakup, they released their Greatest Hits album, "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House."
The Very Best, because quite a bit of their best didn't make it onto this album. It's a good mix though, well-balanced with a good selection of material from each album.
The songs that became singles and huge hits in Australia and New Zealand are songs that American radio never even considered playing. So there are lots of people who haven't heard the best of Crowded House. Album by album, here it is.

"Crowded House" (self-titled) (1986)
Their first group album, maybe their best, but certainly a beginning. After this album they expanded much more adventurously into different musical territories, so that when one comes back to listen to this album, it seems simplistic in a way. Just plain rock.
Its first track is "World Where You Live," a tune built on an easy rhyme and dreamy but modest music; it's so unassuming, and I'm not sure why it turned out to be a favorite of mine. "I don't know where you go/ Do you climb into space?/ To the world where you live..."
We've also got "Don't Dream It's Over," the single that first launched Crowded House into international pop recognition, and into my own personal consciousness.
"Something So Strong" is also Americanized, a great simple short tune, cute keyboards, clear, fine Finn vocals, crafted just right. A song in a box.
And "Mean to Me" is one of the best. I love the lyrics. It's about as close to doing some real kickass rocking out as Crowded House ever got. Nasty old horn choruses follow Finn around, and he gives a good howl, and growls a lot of the lines. Great!

"Temple of Low Men" (1988)
I never really got into this album. Considering the drooling spazz attacks I suffered over the other 3 big albums, it's pretty weird I was so cool to this one. Even though it didn't flip the same switch in my head, it's still every bit as good as the others.
"I Feel Possessed" seems kind of muddled and every-whichway until it straightens itself out in the pop chorus.
"Into Temptation" appears here, too, and I surely tried to love it. Smooth verses sliding by and the sudden euphoric choruses and symphonics, it's a pretty odd hit.
Time for reminiscing with "Better Be Home Soon."
And there's "When You Come," a song that's more interesting than inspiring. "When you come, your majesty, to entrap me/ Prince of light receding, the sooner the better now/ And when you come to cover me with your kisses, hard like armor." A great old CH hit, and good use of the word 'cumulonimbus.'

"Woodface" (1991)
When I discovered this album sometime in tenth grade, I thought I had expired and gone on to my Great Reward. I got it on cassette and before long had played it to a warped mess.
"Weather With You" is an interesting way to start off the Greatest Hits. Sung in divine Finn harmony, and decorated with watery string melody and a textured percussion arrangement, it's mighty soulful to be a pop hit.
Never listen to "Fall At Your Feet" when you're depressed. Neil Finn seems to be singing to some woman who's really on the edge of disaster. "Whenever I touch your slow turning pain/ You're hiding from me now/ There's something in the way that you're talking/ Words don't sound right..." and so it goes until you're beyond consolation.
And "Four Seasons In One Day" is one more riveting tale of endless depression, a big wet blanket. I didn't know that song was a hit at all.
The sun comes back out for "It's Only Natural," but we still get an undertone of things not being quite right: "You've seen me at my worst, and it won't be the last time I'm down there."

"Together Alone" (1993)
In their last album, Crowded House ventured into mystical and dream-poetry lands, for some good artistic rocking.
"Locked Out" you may have caught on the thoroughly disgusting "Reality Bites" soundtrack. It's deeper than the prom-band teen rock it sounds like. I think it was more of an attempt to put some variety into the silkiness of "Together Alone." It's so pop I've even heard it on US radio.
"Distant Sun" is more fun. Great song! "Dust from a distant sun will shower over everyone!" he sings exuberantly. Isn't that nice, a sweet classic.
The too-artistic-for-pop "Private Universe" has sound bites and a long amazing percussion solo, and splintered lyrics: "They talk to me... birds talk to me..."
So why the heck did they put "Pineapple Head" on the Greatest Hits? Was it really? Strange. Gorgeous song, but not one of my favorites. If they had put "Nails In My Feet" or "Fingers of Love" on here, I would have understood. Their absence is very obvious.

New Stuff '96
"Not The Girl You Think You Are" sounds extremely 'wait a minute, this isn't Crowded House." Truly something different, but a good little nugget. What's with the rambling cowboy guitar? Evolution is what these guys are best at.
"Instinct" is similarly new, sort of aseptic average rock. And "Everything Is Good For You" is a sleepy though upbeat end for our journey.

So, if you've not yet explored the realm of Crowded House, don't dream it's over... but the fans will have to go on dreaming with Neil Finn, and brother Tim Finn, with their solo albums.
Crowded House: best lyrics I've ever heard, beautiful music, all kinds of instrumentation, artists from musical backgrounds who never fail even when they try something new.



Recommended: Yes