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(More customer reviews)In the ten years since their final show was recorded, Crowded House have seemingly become both legendary and forgotten. Australia and New Zealand worship them as their Beatles, and give leader Neil Finn the mythic songwriter status of someone like Bob Dylan, while the US long ago discarded them as an 80's one-hit pop band.
Thankfully, over time more and more people are realizing that Crowded House had something very special going on, and like the aforementioned Beatles, to call them a "pop band" seems reductive and a little vulgar. Finn's songs have a way of sneaking up on you. What might sound crafted and catchy, if inconsequential, on the first few listens, can suddenly reveal itself to be brimming with imagery and almost frighteningly empathetic. Anyone who's sighed during the chorus of "Whispers and Moans" or "Nails In My Feet" knows what I mean.
"Farewell To The World" captures their final show in front of the Sydney Opera House. Well-known as a stellar live act in the UK and Europe, Crowded House were famous for making up songs on the spot, mixing bits of new songs in with the old ones, and generally messing around a lot while sounding effortlessly tight and solid. This show finds them reeling the antics and spontaneity in, just a bit, considering the weight of the occasion.
Neil Finn was in fine voice that night (as they all were; all provided backup vocals, chiefly drummer Paul Hester), and the band, in his words, "played as well as we ever have." Almost every notable song from their catalogue makes an appearance here, making it a decent enough place to get acquainted with them.
Aware of the poignancy of the event without succumbing to it, the boys still make room for some nice interludes and extended jams. "Hole In The River," about the suicide of Finn's aunt, ends with a tight, bluesy jam that gradually disintegrates into guitar feedback, dazzling keyboard runs, and wild drumming. "Sister Madly" stops in the middle for a Tina Turner impersonation from Paul Hester, and toward the end we're given a chorus-only singalong of "Throw Your Arms Around Me," a Hunters and Collectors favorite. Overall there's a feeling that Crowded House were still capable of anything at any moment, but chose to give us faithful renditions of their songs this last time.
"Farewell to the World" shows that the band were not only a songwriting force with four great studio albums, but could also deliver onstage in a way few other bands can. It'll probably be overlooked for the time being, but don't be surprised if in the future, this comes to be regarded as one of the better live albums around.
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