Customer Reviews

Crowded House: Something So Strong

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`SOMETHING SO STRONG' by Chris Bourke is arguably the greatest book ever written about a rock band. It is detailed, entertaining and informative. As well, the book is almost impossible to put down. Although the author is clearly a fan, he doesn't dodge around any contentious issues. He seems to have had unfettered access to the individuals involved with Crowded House and that, of course, is always a plus. Any music buff, regardless of whether you're a Crowded house fan or not, will enjoy reading `SOMETHING SO STRONG'. I've read dozens of books about musical groups and this tome is far and away the best. If I have a beef, it's that the Canadian market (where the band was huge) is pretty much ignored. For that you must read `PRIVATE UNIVERSE' by Doole and Twomey.

A great read about a great band that never quite fulfilled its potential. Something So Strong shows that writing and performing wonderful songs is only part of a band's journey. There's also dealing with the music business, and fashion. 'Something So Strong' gets inside the band, tells detailed stories about how the music was created, and also tells the other story: how the music business operates. The band made some mistakes - releasing 'Chocolate Cake' was one of them - but so too did Capitol. It's the best book on how a record is made and marketed since 'Star Making Machinery'.
PS, contrary to what it says here, the book is readily - and cheaply - available through Amazon's UK site amazon.co.uk .

The ballad of Crowded House, told by Chris Bourke, is entertaining, thanks to the way it was written. What makes this biography so enjoyable is that the author doesn't tiptoe around issues that arose during the band's lifetime. Although Crowded House kept aiming at the US market, the impact that they had in Europe, as well as Australia, is equally important, perhaps even more so, than this. Unlike other reviewers, I don't think it is necessary to label the band as US '2 hit wonders' when clearly they've made an impact elsewhere. Bourke chronicles this struggle well, and top marks go to his research. Great book - must for any Crowdies fan.

On the surface, Crowded House is a boring band to write a book about. There are no larger than life rock and roll tragedies recorded in this book; no one dies or even enters rehab by the book's end (although there are some descriptions of "soft" drug use by band members.)However, thanks to author Chris Bourke's escellent reporting, a story that is somewhat lacking in drama is made to come alive.
Neil Finn started Crowded House after leaving his brother's band, Split Enz. Unlike the Enz, however, Crowded House was never based on friendship. It was a commerical venture from the start. Although Finn and his two original bandmates, Nick Seynour and Paul Hester gererally got along well at first, the three men had little in common other than the music. Their first, self-titled album produced 2 top 10 hits in America,but they never had a top 40 hit after that (although they were popular in other contries.) When their success in the U.S. ended, the basic differences in their personalities were magnified, and caused their eventual breakup 2 years ago.
The first few chapters, detailing which songs they played at which clubs on the way to success, can be skimmed without missing too much. The most interesting parts come after the band began its commercial downfall. Every band member, producer and record executive has an opinion on why the band which was supposed to be the "next Beatles" became a 2 hit wonder in the U.S..
I recommend this book to Crowded House's fans (of course) and anyone else who might be interested in the radio and record industry and why some songs become hits and others do not.

Chris Bourke's "Something So Strong" is a detailed insight into this great band's career. From the early days in a Melbourne warehouse to a sellout concert at Wembley Stadium, to 200,000 screaming fans at the Sydney Opera House, Chris Bourke tells all, as it was. He has had access to nearly all of those close to the band during this time, and speaks with the members themselves.
He also tells of their struggles with the US radio industry, and their internal dilemmas.
I thouroughly recommend it to all of the band's fans.

Crowded House was one of the best bands I've ever seen, and they made great records, so why didn't they sell millions of records all over the world?

Read this fantastic book--complete with interviews from all the band members--and find out some of the reasons. The book is detailed and raw with emotion because many of the interviews took place right after the band broke up.

It is a sad tale, but not for the reasons you might think.

Overall, it is an excellent read for both hardcore and casual fans alike.

Crowded House was one of the best bands I've ever seen, and they made great records, so why didn't they sell millions of records all over the world?

Read this fantastic book--complete with interviews from all the band members--and find out some of the reasons. The book is detailed and raw with emotion because many of the interviews took place right after the band broke up.

It is a sad tale, but not for the reasons you might think.

Overall, it is an excellent read for both hardcore and casual fans alike.