A Classic Album (Together Alone - Crowded House)

Member Name: paulie1975

Product:	Together Alone - Crowded House
Date:	03/05/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful songs, great harmonies, fantastic lyrics

Disadvantages: None

Together Alone is the final album created by the celebrated antipodean band, Crowded House. Formed in 1984 as Split Enz, with Neil Finn and his brother Tim, the band evolved into Crowded House with Neil Finn being the main singer and songwriter and lead of the band, his New Zealand influence is all over this album, and for me is an absolute legend of modern music and is someone I would put in the higher echelons of musicians and songwriters of our time. This album was recorded in New Zealand with the producer Youth and you can hear the influences run through the album, Finn has always claimed to have been inspired by the Beatles, Stones and has influences including traditional Maori music through celtic and Slavic music too, he is eclectic and his songs are too but all perfectly formed, the lyrics are superb but occasionally random. Overall they are a poppy band that I really rated and this is for me one of their best two albums, the other being Woodface.

Album Tracks:


Kare Kare - I love this song, it starts with an acoustic guitar strings and a beating snare drum, then it falls into Neil Finn and his dreamy lyrics, I never quite understand what this song is about, but every time I hear it and I've listened to it hundreds of times, I'm seduced by the vocal, the gorgeous sounds and the lyrics, I imagine a serene, untouched part of New Zealand and a man being lost there, torn between utter happiness and madness. I understand the song is named after a beach in New Zealand but I have my own interpretation of what essentially is a long and utterly gorgeous jam session.

In my Command - This is a great tune, distorted guitars, banging drums, Neil Finn sounds brilliant almost shouting at points, but at others, his rich tuneful voice and the gorgeous harmonies shine through, this is a well crafted and lyrically rich song, this reminds me in many ways of a Beatles song, great slightly surreal lyrics layered over an entrancing pop song.

Nails in my Feet - A stunning song and one of my favourites ever, this starts with Tim Finn and an acoustic guitar, it breaks into strings and harmonies, the lyrics are fantastic and touching in their humanity. There is an interesting guitar solo on the album, but the strings, vocal and lyrics make this for me, I love the story of a man lost and confused with his life, it's a gorgeous song from a man and a band at the top of their game.

Black and White Boy - A slightly rockier song with throbbing guitars backed by a banging drum beat, clapping and a cool female backing vocal. The vocal is superb, poppy, clear, the lyrics are superb again they make you think and you can always read what you want to into a Crowded House tune. The chorus is simple but the song is so well structured it is a small part of this tune, but an integral one. This is a great tune with so many musical layers to it.

Fingers of Love - The distorted guitar makes you think of faraway places from the start of the song, it is a beautiful tune that draws parallels with their best tunes, Finn sounds majestic, the band are incredibly tight and the lyrics are great, this is a natural song which evolves perfectly and sounds fantastic.

Pineapple Head - I like the child like melody and the fairy tale element to this song, the lyrics have a bittersweet nature which make sense occasionally, the music is sweet and Finn sounds almost cynical on this song, the chorus is gorgeous and the whole tune will stick in your head for ages.

Locked Out - Rockiest tune on the album, fast paced, with Finn almost yelling at points, it is still a role model of melody and a great band playing at their peak, perfect backing vocals, great lyrics and fantastic vocals from Finn, this is a great song that will have you rocking out.

Private Universe - It begins with the sound of motor vehicles and the wash of the sea, which is a real contrast and makes you wonder which of these arenas is the private universe, for me as with most of the album, the song conjures up majestic Kiwi landscapes, a place to escape to. They lyrics are amazing on this song, the tune builds with wonderful Maori drums adding to it, this is a love song of two people caught up in each other so much that the rest of the world is irrelevant, or it is to me anyway.

Walking on the Spot - This is much like a lot of older Crowded House songs, melodic, Finn sounds in a soulful, reflective mood, the use of wordplay and soliloquy is wonderful, he builds landscapes to fit the song, the melodies are perfect, guitar, piano and drums all interchange beautifully, this is one of the most beautiful songs on the album.

Distant Sun - I love this song, its beautiful, it is up there with Pet Sounds Beach Boys and the Beatles on Revolver, it is the perfect pop song, it is so well paced, the lyrics are gorgeous, the music and melody are simple but perfectly formed, the chorus is amazing, while some of the songs are introspective on this album, this is a powerful and perfectly formed love song in my mind. One of my personal favourite songs ever.

Catherine Wheels - This is a more introspective song, it has melancholy allied to a beautiful, perfectly reflected voice, the tune has depth, the layers of music and effects are brilliant and there are sounds of nature again, these sounds run through the album.

Skin Feeling - Rocky with a heavy bassline this sounds like U2 did on Achtung Baby, Finn sings through effects, the distortion works perfectly, this has a faster pace than other songs, the lyrics and tune work really well and its worth repeated listens to really get to grip with all the layers of this song.

Together Alone - The title track and final song on the album, this is one of my favourite songs ever, it has a hand drum sound, for me this is Finn's most beautiful performance singing and lyrically, he talks about being together alone and you know he is talking about love, loss and the sense of belonging that is felt from it. We have a maori choir singing in the background which allied to the tribal sounding drum beat make this song so beautiful, the choir are stunning, finns growly vocal has real emotion and is perfectly pitched, again the lyrics are stunning, I think this song is one I will never forget it gives me strength when I feel sad and makes me feel confident, the Maori type haka at one point also makes me feel energised, this is a gorgeous end to an album, the use of this choir is revelatory and sums up the album for me. An introspective view of life in New Zealand from its premier band,


My Verdict:

Well as you may have spotted I'm a big fan, I think Distant Sun and Together Alone are two of my favourite songs ever, they are powerful, evocative, sad and happy at the same time and filled with love and compassion. I think Private universe, in my command, walking on the spot, locked out and Nails in my Feet are all fantastic too.

Crowded House were an amazing band for their ability to create perfectly formed melody and pop songs, I think Neil Finn is amazing as a vocalist and lyricist and this album has stood nearly 15 years of time with me and is still played regularly, songs are multi-layered, have great instrumentals, the chorus' always have a hook and the bands melodies are wonderful. While most of the band are Aussies, Finn is a New Zealander and his influence on this album is overwhelming, the use of Maori choirs as well as traditional drums and the regular sounds of the environment conjure images of one of the most beautifully landscaped countries on Earth.


Where to Buy

Available for £6.99 on Amazon its cheaper on Market place or ebay, its available to borrow for listening at most good libraries and is also available for download on Itunes.

Summary: A Classic Album