Customer Reviews

Dizrythmia

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

 

 

Split Enz emerged form the indulgent art-rock scene with this solid collection of straight-ahead pop (their 3rd, after "Mental Notes" and the revamped version "Second Thoughts" for the wider release--which still had the title of the first album in most markets--confused yet?). Anyway, the first side is filled with perfect pop confections, a few ("My Mistake" and "Parrot Fashion Love") bringing to mind old music-hall-type songs. They jangle along with piano and horns chiming in. The opener, "Bold as Brass" is a real ear-catcher, with a heavy bass 'n' drum disco beat, and a rubbery guitar/keyboard line. This is the one that will burrow deep into your brain and not leave--incredilby infectious. Rounding out the side is "Sugar and Spice" (not a remake of the old 60's hit) and "Without a Doubt." The second side stretches out a bit with the ballad "Charlie" (sounding a bit too strained for my taste, and the slow rocking groove of "Nice to Know", and, perhaps hearkening back to the earlier days, "Jamboree" which doesn't stick to one mood--a multi-movement thing, if you will. Oh, and I believe it's "Crosswords", not "Crossroads" as listed above. What makes this group unique for the time is, I suppose, its clean, simple sound, the unique instrumentation, unusually literate lyrics, and the warbling voice of Tim Finn, whose delivery could assure that Split Enz would never get too serious--this is, and always was, a good-time band, despite their occasional forays into topicality ("Six Months in a Leaky Boat", for ex.). Their style would change slightly within the next few years, and the production would get slicker, but Split Enz are never less than pleasing to these ears.

I purchased a sealed vinyl copy of Dizrythmia a few months ago. If I didn't know that this album was recorded in 1977, I would never have guessed it was 25 years old. It is surprisingly modern sounding (except for some dated keyboard sounds). This was the first Enz album without co-leader Phil Judd and the first to feature Neil Finn on guitar. Thus, the songs are a little less artsy and vaudevillian (is that a word?) than their first 2 lps. This is not to suggest that the music isn't still artsy, because it is; however, it incorporates more of a modern edge and pop song structures. To my ears, it sounds great. The lead-off track, 'Bold as Brass,' is just awesome. Great fast beat and bassline. On side 2, 'Charlie' is another standout track with a slower tempo and somber lyrics.

Overall, this album succeeds as a whole because of the unity and quality of the songs. Those familiar with post-True Colors era Enz--who view the band's music as primarily pop or new wave--may be surprised at the level of musicianship displayed here. These guys can flat-out play!

As usual with any release involving the brothers Finn this album is worth a listen . Split Enz were a fun band with an excellent ear for melodic pop and this album catches them fresh with their less mainstream off kilter pop sensibility going strong . Anyone who was around then would probably remember 'My Mistake' which still sounds good today . So does this whole album . If you like good pop music done really well then do yourself a favour and ....you know the rest.

There are two distinct Enz periods, the original period and the post Phil Judd period dominated by the Finn brothers. They were a good pop band post Judd. But during the original period with Judd there was nothing else like them. Vaudeville, tack piano, avant-garde, rock, early jazz mixed together with an Addams family like humorous touch. Really a miss match of styles that worked beautifully. Shockingly original, and really really beautiful gorgeous stuff. I mean really really heart breakingly beautiful but at the same time weirdly off the wall. Mostly due to the weirder sensibilities of Judd tempered by the pop oriented Tim Finn. A clash of personalities if there ever was one. When they were able to work it out it worked like nothing else. Lucky for us collectors of the unusual, obscure and great.

Dizrythmia & Mental Notes are the two from the original period. There is nothing like either of them. Unfortunately one of my favorite songs "The Woman Who Loved You" is absent from both CDs.

I've owned over 10,000 records and these are of a few that have grown in stature over time, in my mind. Still have my originals in plastic. Had to have the CDs too though.

I was five when this album came out. Genesis was going pop without their peculiar former front man, the BeeGees had gone disco. Queen, Bowie and Floyd were about the best (commercially) the UK had to offer at this point. America had promising progressives like Stix. Paul McCarteny (wings) had some interesting stuff so pop acts like Ambrosia and others were emulating him rather than define their own style. Everybody around me looked like something out of a post apocalyptic hippie commune, with the droopy clothes, bush heads and long hair, not to mention the mandatory wireframe pilot sunglasses. The disco scene was like a nightmare from Guatamala. Nobody had any style, and that was hip. Bands like "the clash" and "The Specials" and "Devo" were just getting started.

Yes, mid-late 70's was pretty sucky. I was traumatised by the radio's constant playing of "Fly Robin Fly" and "You come again (dolly parton)", "How deep is your love" and "Were all alone". Well, looking back this music wasn't bad considering the crap played on pop radio post MTV era. But, as a small kid I hated disco because it was what the smart-ass flare legged teenagers were listening to. When new wave began to emerge, it was something that threw a middle finger to this depressing "Meatloaf" worshipping era.

So what was so great about Split enz? For one, their music. This 1977 album is unashamedly gershwin-esqe, sounding vaguely like "Supertramp", and a prelude to more famous acts to come such as "Madness", "XTC" and other second wave ska that is now thrown into box of new wave. They had a strong classical influence that seeps through, yet they weren't another Moody Blues clone. This was an example of how you can actually place well-written lyrics in "feel-good" music, and not be compromised either way.

Then their was the look. These guys never really hit the mainstream like their emulators - acts like "A Flock of Seaguls" and others, but they fostered the 80's "Look" that became one with new wave/rock, starting with cubist abstract pop-art that's all over their albums and photo-shoots. They incorporated the vaudvillian character of their music by dress/make-up as neo-harlequins. This was a testament to the fact that pop-music doesn't have to take itself seriously, yet it can still be just as arty. These guys were the new wave when the word didn't exist.

I have prayed for years for some cosmic muffin to remaster Dizrythmia and Second Thoughts, and, finally, here in 2006, only a decade before the polar ice caps melt down, Eddie Rayner has answered my prayers. Thank you, Eddie!

Try this out for lyrics (from Sugar and Spice):

Well there's love on the menu ...
I'll be the knife and you be the fork
I'll try the rump steak and you try the pork

Isn't that sooooo romantic? Well, it may not be everyone's entree but this is one of my favorite CDs and the remaster makes it much more enjoyable. This was their last album with Robert Gillies (sax and trumpet) and the first with Neil Finn (Crowded House). Dizrythmia and its predessor, Second Thoughs, are two excellent albums, and the remasters are well worth upgrading to.

THIS IS A MASTERPIECE PROBABLY TOO ARTISTC FOR THE MASSES TO COMPREHEND. THIS BAND OR AT LEAST THIS ALBUM RANGES IN SEVERAL MUSICAL STYLES AND IS NO LESS THEN A WORK OF SHEER BRILLIANCE AND GENIUS I CAN TRULEY APPRECIATE. I FIND IT MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR LATER WORKS.

Dizrythmia, Split Enz's 3rd album, was released in August of 1977.

Split Enz were at a Crossroads in 1977. They lost 3 members (Phil Judd, guitar/vocals/songwriting, Mike Chunn, bass and Emlyn Crowther, drums) and replaced them with Neil Finn (Tim's younger brother) on guitar/vocals/songwriting, Nigel Griggs on bass and Malcolm Green on drums. Dizrythmia showed the band drop the neo-classical arrangements of the first two albums and replace them with Tim Finn's more straightforward pop approach while a considerable amount of Phil Judd influences are still present (Judd wrote/co-wrote three tracks on the album: Sugar And Spice, Nice To Know (with Tim and Eddie Rayner) and Jamboree (with the rest of the Enz).

Here is my breakdown on the tracks:
1. Bold As Brass- Second single off the album with a crazy video and a vibraslap in the middle
2. My Mistake- First single with a catchy refrain (That was my mistake, that was my mistake) and another memorable video (Trumpet and piano thieves, anyone?)
3. Parrot Fashion Love- I don't know what parrot fashion love is, but like a lot of this album, is rather bouncy and upbeat.
4. Sugar And Spice- Extremely catchy song with lots of guitar riffs and lyrics mixing love with food, courtesy of Phil Judd.
5. Without A Doubt- The first 'dark' track on the album, took a fair while for me to get used to and appreciate but once I did, this is one of Tim's highest moments on the album, without a doubt.
6. Crosswords- Bouncytown sandwiched between the two acoustic guitar driven opuses.
7. Charlie- The album's masterpiece, a 5 and a half minute masterpiece of pure excellence so good you have to listen to it.
8. Nice To Know- Another poppy tune, with an accidentally left in cough from Tim at 0:44 and memorable solos from Robert Gillies and Neil Finn.
9. Jamboree- The almost-seven minute closer starts very quiet with only a piano, but builds up to a smash of a climax.
BONUS TRACK ON 2006 REMASTER. Another Great Divide- Single, January 1977
Overall grade for the album: B
COMMENT: Considering the loss of Judd etc. Tim seems to have found solid ground rather quickly, but th Enz would not be walking on concrete until February 1979, when Frenzy came out.