5 Live Review

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(More customer reviews)This album is actually quite different from A Round And About - for a start, the sound recording quality is actually a little worse, but on a more positive note the band sounds quite a bit better, even (or maybe, who knows, especially) without Jools Holland.
The choice of tracks is occasionally surprising - they leave out "Labelled With Love" and "Up The Junction" for example and include some forgotten album tracks like "I Think I'm Go Go" - but when they perform well they are truly brilliant. "If I Didn't Love You" is simply superb; "Piccadilly" is excellent; "Take Me I'm Yours" has a real edge to it.
There's no reason to buy this album if you're not already a fan, but that's probably a good thing, because while fans won't be disappointed it is, when all's said and done, 'just' a live album, and not even a complete 'best of'; and I wouldn't like to introduce friends to one of England's best bands of the last 30 years unless it was to their best material, performed and polished with more care than a raw, best-to-be-there crowd-pleasing sing-a-long.
I'd actually give this album more than just three stars, but I wouldn't like to put it up there with four-star albums, of which Squeeze have produced many (and even more which get five stars).
Nice to see John Bentley back, too, especially as it kind of adds a note of validity to the Squeeze brand (last time I saw them live it was Glenn Tilbrook plus backing musicians). Buy this if you already like the band, and want to make your day a little bit brighter.

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Live album from one of the most beloved UK Pop/Rock bands of all-time, Five Live captures the band in concert during the American leg of their 2007 reunion tour. Original members Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford and bassist John Bentley are joined by two new members, adding fresh energy into the performances. This 18 track album finds the band on top form and features some old favorites still sounding as fresh as ever including 'Take Me I'm Yours', 'Tempted', 'Up The Junction', 'Annie Get Your Gun', 'Cool For Cats' and many more. Love. 2007.

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Farewell to the World Review

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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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Crowded House Photos
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Woodface Review

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(More customer reviews)"Woodface" was to be Crowded House's return to the top of the pop charts--Neil Finn, I understand, delivered a much darker record to Capitol that they rejected, and that's how Tim came into the band--he and Neil had been collaborating on a Finn Brothers project that pretty much became "Woodface." And while Tim Finn is truly an outstanding songsmith in his own right, he's not the consistently impressive lyricist that Neil is--some of the lyrics don't work as well as one would expect from a Neil Finn composition. Still, much of the material is among the best and catchy Crowded House stuff available--"She Goes On," "Four Seasons in One Day," "Fall at Your Feet," "Fame Is," "Weather With You"--which is why, I think, it's such a popular album in Europe--that, along with the tongue-in-cheek poke at American shallow consumerism: "Chocolate Cake." In a nutshell, they bartered some of the artistic lyricism for pop sensibility when they brought in Tim (and if you want to hear the "Woodface" rejects, pick up "After Glow"). But it works--this may be the most immediately accessible of all Crowded House stuff. The only truly "weak link" is the obligatory Paul Hester comp that shows up on all of their albums--the Ringo effect, I guess. "Italian Plastic" is okay, but it's a bit like serving a platter of corndogs at a wedding reception--sure, they're tasty, but don't belong with the caviar and champagne.

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Another reissue in the Centenary Edition, in a Slipcase with Bonus Tracks.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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The Living Enz (2-CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Music is excellent but sound is not than good. I adore Split Enz but this double CD need a urgent remasterization.

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Australian import, 2-CD LIVE set. RARE, first pressing, issued on Mushroom Records, 1991, #D45029/30, UPC# 9399604502920.

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