Customer Reviews

Corroboree

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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Split Enz was faced with following up their most commercially successful release, "True Colors", and, on an artistic level at least, they did not disappoint. "Corroboree" ("Waitia" here in the USA) brims with catchy, hook laden pop dramas that resound in your head long after you put the CD away. It is a pity that it didn't sell as well in the States as "True Colors". This was the album that should have sent Split Enz to superstar status. As things turned out, it stands as a creative peak for an underappreciated group.

Corroboree (as the album is known in Australia) is the followup to Split Enz' triumphant record "True Colours". Like "True Colours", "Corroboree" was produced by David Tickle. Although "True Colours" deliberately had different colour combinations on the cover, Noel Crombie was shocked when America decided to have their own colour combinations for "Corroboree".

Appropriately enough, the opening track for this album is called "Hard Act to Follow". That famous phrase just about sums up the pressure Split Enz were under to produce something that matched the commercial success of "True Colours". To satisfy the record companies, the band were obliged to make History Repeat.

Two songs by Neil Finn, "One Step Ahead" and "History Never Repeats" became the singles, along with Tim Finn's "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although "Corroboree" failed to achieve the same level of success as "True Colours", this is still a good album. (It reached No. 1 in New Zealand.) For me the stand-out song is "History Never Repeats". All the songs are good, really. "Ghost Girl" is kind of sad. The album concludes with a pleasant instrumental by Eddie Rayner called "Albert of India".

If Split Enz were not satisfied with "Corroboree", they would surpass themselves with their next album "Time and Tide".

I won't get into the debth and with of this album, I just have to a write a few lines and say that this, to me, is one of the best albums of its time. I absolutely love Split Enz, the two Finn Brothers and the whole wibe and feel of this band, in it's many incarnations. If you are new to Split Enz, but know of and have heard Crowded House, then this is a very good way to star appreciating Split Enz. The band was going very strong, incorporating more and more the extremly professional pop song sensibility of Neil Finn, merging it with Tim Finn's weary melancholy, and not least both members quirky and at times superbly dark lyrics.

An absolute joy, I can't recommend it enough.

The follow-up to 1979's "True Colors",it is far better than that album.}Except for Mick Haggerty,s artwork of "True Colors"}.Even though it followed the same formula as its predecessor, it,s the one for me. Some of the group,s best material, is heard here. It is also better than 82's "Time and Tide". It represents "Split Enz" at the high point of their creative career.
for me it is one of the most enjoyable albums they recorded. I think it was captured while the band still had lots of energy and spontaneity. Their creative juices were still flowing great.
I think it is one of the best of thier albums. "I think it,s a little weird in places, but all of the tracks are strong from beginning to end, including the two instrumentals on the album "Wail",and "Albert of India.

The nucleus of the group was still in tact at this period, with producer David Tickle at the Helm. This classy art rock band from "New Zealand" perform at it,s best. The stylistic production shows through on the album and a few of my favourite cuts are:the slow brooding, "One Step Ahead", "Iris" and "Ghost Girl". I feel that this music is one way of perserving the early 80,s.

Split Enz at its finest!

A remastering of the orginal release of Waiata/Corroboree (I have the Waita LP) with a bonus track written by Tim. In some songs one can hear, for the first time, full intros, outros and quite a few nuiances that cannot be heard at normal listening volume on the original. The synth/keyboard/piano and vocals are brought to the forefront, sometimes at the expense of the guitars and bass, with the drums and various percussive sounds in the middle. This gives quite a number of songs a 'crisper' feel where other songs, in my opinion, suffer a little for it. Overall, worth the money and time, even if you already have the original.

though not as poppy and catchy as true colours, still good...when i first heard the album i quickly shelved it but after a future listen it finally grew on me...listen to "walking through the ruins" and "i don't wanna dance." "hard act to follow could be one of the best songs i have heard in a LONG time...

Although a little uneven, this release has two timeless ballads ("Iris" and "One Step Ahead") and some rollicking good time pop songs (History Never Repeats, I Don't Wanna Dance, Hard Act To Follow) and the dazzling "Ships" which is one of my favorite Enz songs. Actually I think it is better than thier debut and shows a lot of growth.

True Colors showed Spit Enz ability to write great lighthearted pop songs with a bit of the cutting edge that the group started with. Waiata continued that sound and began to showcase the great talent of Neil Finn. Songs like History Never Repeats, Ships and Iris are great examples of his outstanding vocals. The songs are perfect new wave era. Split Enz tried hard to fit into that movement and they did very well. They're style was slightly off kilter but still accessible. This is the band at it's peak.

Corroboree" (or Waiata depending upon whether you bought this and listened to it in Austrlia or New Zealand)finds Split Enz delivering another terrific album. The follow up to "True Colours" brought them close to international success as "I Got You" broke through on radio in the United States. Featuring a number of terrific songs, Neil Finn steps in with some of his most infectious work yet; both "History Never Repeats" and "One Step Ahead" got airplay in the United States (as did "I Don't Wanna Dance")but the sublime "Iris" hints at the delights of the next album's "Message To My Girl". Rayner checks in himself with "Wail" a terrific instrumental and "Albert of India". Tim's "Walking Through The Ruins" and "Ghost Girl" are both terrific tracks as well.

Although generally some fans feel this is a less consistent album than "True Colours", I would disagree. Even if it does have filler (and there are those that would argue that point), the filler is better than most bands best tracks. Both Neil and Tim are in top form contribuing some of their best songs and the instrumentals are always interesting to listen to. We do get a bonus track--"In the War" a very good b-side to the single "History Never Repeats".

We also get complete lyircs (with the exception of the bonus track)but no liner notes discussing the making of the album. Rayner's remix sounds marvelous bringing out details lost with the previous mix and improving the clarity and depth of the recording. Unlike a lot of "modern" remixes, this one sounds extremely close to its original release (at least to my ears)and it doesn't suffer from the heavy compression/reduced dynamic range that is a flaw with most modern CDS (this usually results in a loud CD where there is no difference between the quietest moments and loudest taking much of the dramatic power out of the music).

Eddie Rayner has remixed/remastered this classic album and it has never sounded better. It's a step up in my opinion over the previous CD and captures the vibe of the original vinyl while delivering greater detail. The booklet include all the lyrics for the songs (except the bonus track "In the Wars")but no liner notes on the recording of the album.

"Corroboree" has some tracks that rank among the best that Neil, Tim and Eddie wrote. This, along with "Frenzy", "Mental Notes", "True Colours" and "Time & Tide" is definitely worth picking up.
Frenzyand Mental Notesand True Coloursand Time and Tide

Some memorable albums recorded later include: WoodfaceTry Whistling Thisand Before & After

Finalizing my collection of vinyl and cassette to digital media. Amazon makes it very affordable. High ranked vendors not only have quality merchandise but ship quickly too.