FULL DWELLING (Together Alone - Crowded House)

Member Name: kylecoare

Product:	Together Alone - Crowded House
Date:	08/10/03 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: GREAT LYRICS, NEIL FINN, GOOD MUSIC

Disadvantages: NONE

CROWDED HOUSE - TOGETHER ALONE
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Crowded house were an amazing band, most people will know at least one of their songs, but you would probably be surprised at how many others that you know as well.

Over the years they have been most well known for the song 'Don't dream its over', but surprisingly this wasn't the only track this band recorded, in fact there were quite a few others!

Since 1986, this band has produced some outstanding tunes, spanning five albums, this is the second of my reviews of a band that has quite literally changed my life.

Most people have a single song that reminds them of a certain person, but for me this band reminds me of certain times and places, but even though some of these times were quite bad, the songs still hold me, and make me happy.

This album was in my cd player all the time whilst I was with my ex girlfriend, a girl that almost ruined my life, so for quite a while it was very hard to listen to, but then after a few weeks I decided that I would finally play it, and it shocked me quite how great it felt.

So here i am two years after the break up, and the music has taken a completely different stance, with my girlfriend, Amanda, things are great and again these songs really bring good feelings to the front.
Crowded House were one of those bands that would bring all your feelings and thoughts into one song and make you feel a lot better about your life, in fact all of their songs has some relevance to a point in everybodies life.

Crowded House were the plaything of lead singer Neil Finn, who used to be in a band called split enz, with his brother Tim.

Paul Hestor and Nick Seymour were the other two main members of the band, After Nick left Crowded house decided to call it a day, with a sell out show, viewed world wide, from sydney.

THE ALBUM

What can i say about these, their music has a
very listenable style, with hints towards the beatles and later bands like INXS, but always retaining that classic Crowded House sound.

---Track One---
--KARE KARE--

After the pop filled album, woodface, that came before this album, anyone would expect a poppy track that didn't stray too far from the idea of woodface, but that obviously didn't occur to Neil Finn, who thought it would be good to change a winning formula, and luckily for us it was the right choice.

Named after the beach in New Zealand, where this album was recorded, this song has an almost dreamlike feel to it, with the slow guitar playing, and soft drums.
It makes you think of late nights laying on the beach.

The song is slow, but lovely in texture and feeling, with Neil's vocals sounding very heartfelt and meaningful.

---TRACK TWO---
-IN MY COMMAND-

After the first slow song, this comes in quite nicely as a more upbeat tune, but by no means a fast tune.
Starting with a nice sounding chuggy guitar, it soon builds up enough for Neil to start singing, which is where all Crowded House songs win, the vocals are great, with some parts almost shouted, but in a tuneful manor, the rest see's Neil in full on rock pop ballad mode, which suits me just fine.

As with pretty much every Crowded House song, the chorus is top notch, very catchy, the sort you will find yourself singing along to after only a couple of listens.

---TRACK THREE---
-NAILS IN MY FEET-

With its almost lullaby like vocals and music, this track could easily be a filler, but after a couple of listens you realize quite how good this is, imagine the beatles if they had been around in the 90's and you'de have some idea.
Another ballad, but if your good at that sort of music you don't change to much, but again still has a fantastic chorus, which would more than hold up against anything released today.

---TRA
CK FOUR---
-BLACK AND WHITE BOY-

Hello electric guitars, yep this is a much rockier track than the last few, with a simplistic riff running throughout, and Neil showing that he is as capable at rock tunes as he is with ballads.

The tune is mid tempo, with a nice loud sound, with some good drumming and nice guitar work.

---TRACK FIVE---
-FINGERS OF LOVE-

Opens with another dreamlike guitar sequence, then Neils vocals come in with a slight echo on his vocals.
This all leads into another beautiful ballad, one of the best around, with some fantastic singing by Neil, reaching all the right notes at the right times, this is almost perfect pop.

The music is very dreamy, with twiddly guitars and soft drums, it is all very soft and atmospheric, whilst still holding a beautiful tune.

---TRACK SIX---
-PINEAPPLE HEAD-

After their last tune, this is a much more up beat number, whilst the verses are still very slow and ballad like, the chorus is very upbeat and melodic.

with some nicely picked guitar work making an initial impact on you, its actually the bass line that holds this all, and makes it a great tune.


---TRACK SEVEN---
---LOCKED OUT---

Wow, this is one of the rockiest songs by the band, almost punky in its style, with a fast paced guitar picking notes, and some good dancey style drumming.

The vocals show Neil to be quite talented at the shouty punky tunes as well as the ballads, although he is better with ballads!

---TRACK EIGHT---
-PRIVATE UNIVERSE-

Another slowie, but another fantastic song, with a tune that sends you to another world.

The vocals add to this feeling of solitary, and they make you feel like you are dreaming the song, As if anyone could write a song this good!!!
The music is very slow and atmospheric, with an acoustic guitar strumming in the background, with a smart bass line bringing all the feel
ings together.
There are lots of instruments used in this song, all mixed into what can only be described as a beautiful song.
The tune is a little strange at first, with some very interesting percussion used throughout.

---TRACK NINE---
-WALKING ON THE SPOT-

This sounds a lot older than the rest of the tunes, with a 50's / 60's feel to it, with a basic piano tune, and Neil singing.

As with all songs on this album, the music has a lot of hidden depths, after one listen you will get the basic tune, but listen a bit more and you start to notice all the delicately placed notes, which makes these songs such a delight to listen to.


---TRACK TEN---
--DISTANT SUN--

This is not only the best song on this album, but also one of the best songs ever written.

Opening with a fantastic acoustic guitar riff, and soon the drums start to beat away, and your already drawn in.

Then Neil pulls off a world beating vocal performance, with some great moments.
The tune is fairly mid tempo, and has a feel of the classic 3 minute pop tunes from the 60's.

When im feeling down this is always the first song i choose to make me feel better, it has everything that you need from a pop tune.

---TRACK ELEVEN---
--CATHERINES WHEEL--

This is a close second for the best song on the album, starting as a slow acoustic number, it is really the vocals that make this so good.

After about halfway through the song it suddenly changes tune a little, picking up the pace a little, and adding some more different instruments, this really makes this song special.

---TRACK TWELVE---
--SKIN FEELING---

This song was written by Paul Hestor, and is a much more rocking track than most others on offer here.
With a very INXS feeling to the song, with some good guitar riffs running in the background and a cool drum beat, this song doesn't really push Neils
vocals quite as well as most others available here, but he still gets to put in yet another fantastic chorus.

---TRACK THIRTEEN---
---TOGETHER ALONE---

This is the title track for the album, and it is quite a surprise.
The song starts quite like any of the other songs with Neil singing a slow ballad type song over a percussion based tune, this soon builds up to a full on New Zealand tribal type song, which really opens your mind to world music.

With a New Zealand chorus choir group providing a lot of the vocals for this song, it sounds like a real campfire tune.

OVERALL
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So the album finishes, what do i think about it?
Well obviously I like it, in fact its one that is always near my cd player.
Everyone that likes music should really own this album, with 13 songs and no real fillers, it makes a fine purchase, the album is often seen in sales, so can easily be found for less than 6 pound, which will be the best six coins you spend on an album ever.

Thanx for reading, please comment.

Kyle

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