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Product Description
Review
Intriguer is Crowded House's second album since the suicide of drummer and co-founder Paul Hester in 2005 (and their sixth overall), and follows 2007's well-received comeback LP Time On Earth. Prior to that record's release, 13 years had passed since the band's fourth studio set, 1993's Together Alone.
This set improves upon Time On Earth, too–it's more of a band effort, whereas its predecessor was originally intended as a Neil Finn solo offering. It doesn't mess with the Crowded House formula, although those hoping for the instantly gratifying melodies of catalogue classics like Weather With You will have to dig a little deeper. But this is no bad thing, and singer-songwriter Finn claims to have experimented with new sounds here. Though the album doesn't overwhelm with adventurousness, scattered female harmonies provide relief and the vocoder on lead single Saturday Sun proves a ghostly and effective touch.
Hester's absence still hangs over the band–if not explicitly, then in spirit–as Intriguer continues the sombre mood of its predecessor. The lyrical, Paul Simon-esque folk of Falling Dove is one such example, while the haunting duet of Isolation shyly embraces electronics without sounding forced.
Finn's handling of a tune remains strong and his poetic sense of place, familiar to fans of the band, remains. This resonates in the wistful dreaming of Amsterdam and the joyful atmospherics of Either Side of the World, with its loose samba beat and disco-influenced piano (actually inspired by John Paul Young's Love is in the Air). The subtlety in the strength of material like the radio-friendly Saturday Sun and the gently epic Archer's Arrows bears out the band's instinct not to take their experimentation to excess. There are muddied moments which let some songs down: Elephants, for example, fails to transcend its ponderous title. But these dips are infrequent, and occur towards the end of the album.
Crowded House have always sounded in parts like the later solo career Paul McCartney should have had. Despite the anthems being on a tight leash, repeated listens reveal this to be one of their best albums. --Tom Hocknell
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CD Description
This sixth album from the colossally popular Antipodeans is the follow-up to 2006's Time On Earth and is the first to feature the band's full lineup throughout since 1993's Together Alone. Produced by chief songwriter Neil Finn with Jim Scott, who produced the 7 Worlds Collide sessions, it sees the band introducing new ideas into their classic pop-rock sound. It features the web single "Saturday Sun" and includes contributions from Jon Brion, Lisa Germano and Finn's son Liam.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like the Beatles double whammy of Rubber Soul & Revolver, Crowded House will forever be measured by the classic Woodface album and it's darker follow up Together Alone. Anyone expecting a re-run of earlier triumphs will be a tad dissapointed by Intriguer - there's no 'Weather With You' sunny singalong optimism and no obvious big singles to set the charts alight.
What you do get however is another record full of Neil Finn's creamy rich melodies, oblique lyrics and addictive songs that, once lodged in the brain, stay there. Business as usual then. Well not exactly. There is a good deal of experimentation on Intriguer that, for a band now on it's 6th release is quite surprising - effects, drum machines, loops, samples - all admirable envelope pushing but not always successful. 'Inside Out' in particular suffers from muddy production and over reliance on technology.
On the plus side Finn's voice has matured beautifully - witness the spooky McCartney like 'Isolation' and the White Album aping 'Falling Dove'. Both float prettily by but leave little impact on first hearing. Give it 3 or 4 listens however and your hooked. Lead single 'Saturday Son' makes it's case for best Crowded House 45 since the band's reformation and the catchy piano lead 'Twice If Your Lucky' is every bit as good as the live previews suggested.
Intriguer ends on a high note with the hauntingly beautiful 'Even If' and the lovely 'Elephants' - the latters 'Sweet Dreams/Make Waves/Find Bliss' refrain perfectly summing up what has gone before.
Intriguer isn't a perfect record by any means, it lacks pacing and, at times is a mite over produced and self conscious. But when those gorgeous harmonies kick in and that nagging hook or poetic lyric clicks into place you remember why you fell in love with Crowded House in the first place.
Repeated listening rewards in spades.
What you do get however is another record full of Neil Finn's creamy rich melodies, oblique lyrics and addictive songs that, once lodged in the brain, stay there. Business as usual then. Well not exactly. There is a good deal of experimentation on Intriguer that, for a band now on it's 6th release is quite surprising - effects, drum machines, loops, samples - all admirable envelope pushing but not always successful. 'Inside Out' in particular suffers from muddy production and over reliance on technology.
On the plus side Finn's voice has matured beautifully - witness the spooky McCartney like 'Isolation' and the White Album aping 'Falling Dove'. Both float prettily by but leave little impact on first hearing. Give it 3 or 4 listens however and your hooked. Lead single 'Saturday Son' makes it's case for best Crowded House 45 since the band's reformation and the catchy piano lead 'Twice If Your Lucky' is every bit as good as the live previews suggested.
Intriguer ends on a high note with the hauntingly beautiful 'Even If' and the lovely 'Elephants' - the latters 'Sweet Dreams/Make Waves/Find Bliss' refrain perfectly summing up what has gone before.
Intriguer isn't a perfect record by any means, it lacks pacing and, at times is a mite over produced and self conscious. But when those gorgeous harmonies kick in and that nagging hook or poetic lyric clicks into place you remember why you fell in love with Crowded House in the first place.
Repeated listening rewards in spades.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Disappointing. Whereas the magnanimous 'Time on Earth' - and pretty much everything released hitherto by Crowded House/ Neil Finn et al, has been Grade A sublime - evocative and beguiling; replete in crisp imagery, adroit chordal harmony, rich engineering, and rarely short of the most important quality of all - catchy songs - Intriguer just floats by without ... doing much at all.
Whilst many may rightfully disagree, if you're expecting vintage Crowded House, you may sadly be disappointed.
Whilst many may rightfully disagree, if you're expecting vintage Crowded House, you may sadly be disappointed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album a few days ago and haven't stopped listening to it. Bought it in FOPP for £3, having forgot that this album was released a few months back (and owning all of the Crowded House, Finn brothers and Neil/Tim Finn solo albums). Tracks such as Amsterdam, Twice If You're Lucky and Elephants are as good as any that Neil Finn has written (can't believe that Amazon highligthed 'Elephants' as a weak track with its beautiful lilting melody!) with a real sense of growing maturity in his writing. The rest of the tracks including the single 'Saturday Sun' are also highly enjoyable. Buy it and judge for yourself.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not so intriguing
I have been a Crowded House/ Finn brothers fan since the mid eighties and have always been biased when it comes to their music. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. S. Breese
Boring
Have been a Crowded House fan for a long time and have loved all of their music (studio albums, live albums and dvds) but this is easily the most staid thing that the band has... Read more
Published 14 months ago by wii fan uk
Superb
The songs vary somewhat but that's the beauty of the album. It isn't quite the same as 'Woodface' but that's because they've moved on.
Published 18 months ago by Darvel
STRUGGLING!!
As a huge Crowded house fan, i have to ask, where have all those wonderful uplifting catchy songs gone? with all the hooks that leave you begging for more. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Peter
Average album (from a CH fan)
After the excellent Time on Earth I was really looking forward to this album. I enjoyed it as a Crowded House fan, and there are a few highlights, but it hasn't grown on me like... Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. Login
Crowded House is definitely back in business :D
The album grew on me. I liked it so much I had to go back and give Time On Earth another try, as well as certain older Crowded House and Finn Brothers songs I only "kind of" liked. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Agincourt
Intelligent, Grown-up, Pop Music with Guitars....
Crowded House are a band easy to admire, but maybe less so, i find, to get overly excited about. The magnificent 'Time On Earth' went someway to changing my opinion of them, and i... Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. Willis
Crowded House - Intriguer
What a fantastic album! I've been playing it in the car, not stop since I bought it back in June (sorry Radio 2!). It's good have Crowded House back!
Published 21 months ago by woody2
Watching a boy grow into a man...
The first time I saw Neil, and the only time I met him, was when he played with Split Enz in London in 1976, replacing Phil Judd, which was a shock in itself. Read more
Published 22 months ago by C. Whyatt
Ditch those expectations and listen closely for the treasures
You may know Crowded House for their cheery, breezy hits and sparkly ballads - think of that as a mall. Read more
Published 22 months ago by AB
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