Customer Reviews

Crowded House - Dreaming The Videos

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a longtime fan of CH & Neil Finn, I've hoped they would release something like this for years. It's an unfortunate thing that American radio & MTV didn't appreciate their genius like the rest of the world. Hardly a video was seen in the US beyond their S/T record. "Dreaming the Videos" has every video they ever made in chronological order, plus a bonus interview with them from 1986 when they were promoting their 1st record. I was particularly amazed by the videos from the record "Together Alone." The video for "Four Seasons In One Day" was total eye candy. The only video from that album that got play from that record here in the states was "Locked Out" because it was a song featured on the soundtrack to the movie Reality Bites. I must admit my fave reason I love this DVD is being able to watch "World Where You Live", the video/song which made me fall in love with CH back in 1986. "Don't Dream It's Over" is still one my favorites, as well. I love the kitschy/vintage 50's theme in both of those videos...

Something you really get to see by watching this DVD is their wonderful sense of humor (they're goofballs!). If you were lucky enough to see them live, you probably already know what I'm talking about. I disagree with some of the other reviewers that felt that Nick and Paul's antics could be a bit distracting or take away from their brilliant music. Videos are an accompaniment to the song, they were never made to take place of the song in record form. If you wanna listen to the music, put on the record. It's as simple as that.

Whether you are a longtime fan of CH, or you have discovered them recently, you should own this. It'll make you gain a whole new appreciation for them as people, not just a band.

As a long-time Crowded House fan living in the US, I had only seen one of these videos ("Don't Dream It's Over") before I bought this DVD. Because I'm such a fan of the band's music, I've found this DVD to be entertaining enough--but many of the videos simply aren't anything special. Some of them ("It's Only Natural," "When You Come") lack focus and can only be described in the end as a string of miscellaneous shots of the band being goofy (and as charismatic as Crowded House were onstage, sometimes their antics come across as forced in their videos). "Into Temptation," an otherwise fine video, is spoiled with a few inexplicable shots of silliness from Nick and Paul. Why couldn't they just let it be a dark, beautiful video for a dark and beautiful song? Other videos feature some cool surrealistic images ("Four Seasons," "Private Universe") but don't amount to much more than the sum of their parts. "Don't Dream It's Over" remains one of the band's best videos--its smashed plates and cups are a perfect illustration of Neil Finn's lyrical fascination with domestic breakdown. Other standouts are the appropriately ethereal "Distant Sun," the tastefully modernistic "Not the Girl You Think You Are," and "Chocolate Cake," whose bizarre humor fits well with the song. It's unsurprising that the videos don't always match the quality of Crowded House's music--they were a great band with no shortage of wonderful songs. The included live performance of "Sister Madly" is good and the included interview is interesting enough, even if most of it is redundant as it is constantly cutting to clips of their videos. Fans will definitely want to purchase this DVD, if only to decide for themselves what they think of the videos, but based on the videos' merit alone, it's occasionally great and at its worst merely OK.

Buy this simply to watch the lively, goofball antics of drummer Paul Hester, who always added much color to Crowded House, and nowhere is it more apparent than in this series of promo videos. CH was never an extraordinarily groundbreaking video band, but these clips are worth watching just to see the guys in action throughout a number of video styles that evolved over the years. Paul, by all accounts, was a funny and likable man who clearly kept his personal demons well-hidden. Often called "a frontman positioned behind a drumkit," he nearly steals all of these clips with his humor and silliness and his fans will always have that. RIP, Paul Hester.

"Dreaming: The Videos" encapsulates the entire career of Crowded House. Their videos were decent, but not great. I've seen much worse from the time period these videos spanned. There's a generous selection from all four of their albums plus two videos from their "Best Of" album. All the videos appear to be here. The "Catch 22" interview is really just a re-hash of their videos from their first album mixed with intermittent footage of an interview with the band. It could have been left off and no one would have missed it. Overall, this disc, minus the interview is 1 hour and 22 minutes. It's slightly over-priced for what it offers. Capitol should have made it a two disc set with the second disc offering a live concert of the band's choosing. If you are a Crowded House fan, this compilation should be suitable.

Crowded House is my favorite band of all time after The Beatles. I have seen only a few of their clips over the years, so getting this DVD was a must for me. And I got it right here from Amazon!

21 clips, in chronological order of their release including the LIVE "Sister Madly" from the "Temple Of Low Men' album. You see the progression from the raw "Mean To Me" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere" (which reminded me immediatley of The Beatles 'Ticket To Ride' sequence in the movie 'HELP!') onto the "Don't Dream It's Over" clip which is still one of the greatest ones I have ever seen.

Before this DVD I had only seen the clips for "Don't Dream It's Over" (which was the first CH song I ever heard and THE one song that got me into this band,) "Something So Strong", "World Where You Live", "Into Temptation" and "Better Be Home Soon".

I watched with joy last night for the first time clips for songs that I have been singing along to for years. 'Chocolate Cake' was just as zany as I expected it to be and both 'Fall At Your Feet' and 'Locked Out' fit the songs perfectly.

I have a couple of gripes. Nothing that would not makes this DVD 5 stars...but...there is a great interview with the band from Catch-22 Video channel which is intercut with long pieces of the video clips you just watched! I would have loved to see just the interview, man! Also, I would have liked to see what directors credits for the clips. AND...a interior booklet with the bands' musing and comments on the various clips. A second audio track with commentary would have been the best...BUT...I'm not complaining. I'm very happy to have this DVD and I highly recommend IT and Neil Finn's '7 WORLDS COLLIDE: Neil Finn & Friends LIVE at the St. James Theatre'!

Track listing (which are not listed yet here on Amazon ?!?!)
1. Mean To Me, 2. Now We're Getting Somewhere, 3. Don't Dream It's Over, 4. Something So Strong, 5. World Where You Live, 6. Better Be Home Soon, 7. Sister Madly (Live), 8. When You Come, 9. Into Temptation, 10. I Feel Possessed, 11. It's Only Natural, 12. Chocolate Cake, 13. Fall At Your Feet, 14. Weather With You, 15. Four Seasons In One Day, 16. Distant Sun, 17. Nails In My Feet, 18. Locked Out, 19. Private Universe, 20. Not The Girl You Think You Are, 21. Everything Is Good For You, 22. Catch 22 Interview.

To see the videos here in perfect quality...was long overdue from CAPITAL! I can't believe others found these videos boring and outdated. Each Video has a quality that is far superior to most of the video garbage that has graced MTV since...do they even show videos anymore? The EXTRAS are GREAT! CROWDED HOUSE LIVE, signing records; You even get to hear an early live version of BETTER BE HOME SOON. One of the GREATEST bands in the history of music and Neal continues to thrive as a solo artist!

like the beatles in that they dropped in for a decade and left behind a fantastic body of work. these videos showcase everything that made them great; finn's beautiful songs, the terrific chemistry and humor, and the look that isn't the least bit dated nearly 20 yrs later. not to mention superb musicianship. the best part about the collection is the fact that hardly any of these videos were seen in the states, except those from the first record(don't dream, something so strong, getting somewhere.) current mtv/vh1 clips are not nearly as technically beautiful. witness four seasons in one day or nails in my feet. this band made great art, but they didn't take themselves too seriously. what higher compliment? if you love the music,even though it was ignored here, you gotta have the dvd. more acts should collect and package their vids like this. crowded house rip!

This collection serves as an interesting and enjoyable look back at the underappreciated band Crowded House. Even the casual US music fan will recognize "Don't Dream It's Over" and perhaps "Something So Strong", but chances are this collection will be more of a chance for the already-converted to get a look at videos which never appeared on this side of the Pacific. Stylistically, the videos run the gamut from almost home-movie quality (what's up with that ski cap, Neil?) to the well-polished, studio-massaged productions that music videos have become.

The only minor complaint is that the "extras" consist of a 20-some minute "interview" which is really just a replay of the videos from the first album, interlaced with scenes of the Crowded House guys goofing off for the cameras... not much to get excited about.

For a Crowded House/Neil Finn fan, this is an absolute winner -- either to get the videos you've never seen before, or even just as an freshening-up of the "I Like To Watch" video. For the casual fan, I'd probably start with the audio CDs so you can focus on the music, and work your way up to this one, once you've discovered the delights of Crowded House more fully.

Frankly, it doesn't get any better than Neil Finn and Crowded House. I was a bit disappointed to see that "Fingers of Love" isn't on there (my FAVORITE song of all) and was filmed in Austin when i was in college there. I knew it was only a european release, but I hoped beyond hope it would be included. Otherwise, interesting set of videos and a bonus interview of the Crowdies from their early days. Well done interface, two thumbs up.

It's difficult not to be bitter about the way CH was treated by Capitol. Dylan once said that money doesn't talk, it swears. It is true that the story of bands being squandered by their labels is a "take a number situation", but clearly there are at least 16 people here who cared a great deal about Crowded House.

It's not that CH didn't get the visual arts. Nick Seymour has done album and singles covers. Their early stage designs were imaginative. However, let it be conceded that videos were not their strong suit. In composition they are very much of their time. But again, it's not like the label was giving them anything near free rein. Videos were meant to sell product and sometimes all it took was getting the band in front of the camera. Cool to see the guys together again, just don't come expecting Bergman or Fellini.

As a product, Capitol is holding true to previous form. We can't complain too much I suppose because something is better than nothing for a band long gone. But the transfers are dicey, the packaging and volume of material is skimpy at best. But who knows what, if anything, we'll get in the future? Take the bait, but keep your expectations in check.

Crowded House deserve better, but then, they always did. Another reviewer slyly alluded to the ad campaign for their Best Of ('you know more Crowded House songs than you think you do'). Unfortunately this was, and is, all too true since the subtext here is, "despite the tremendous strength of the material we are in the unfortunate position of reminding you this band exists because we buried them."