Customer Reviews

Intriguer

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nearly 25 years since the self-titled, Crowded House, Neil Finn has solidly establish himself as a songwriting institution of the South Pacific whose art is enjoyed globally. Frustrating for many in the USA, is that Finn has never received the recognition stateside that he has received overseas. Regardless, if he is making music with family (brother, Tim Finn Anthology: North South East West or more recently son, Liam Finn I'll Be Lightning) or if he is practicing his trade within the beloved Crowded House, he practices the art of songwriting in a nearly unparalleled manner and has garnished the praise of fans around the world and other notable names in popular music (Sheryl Crow, Eddy Vedder, Dixie Chicks, etc.)

The hardest part of providing a critique of Intriguer is considering it on its own merits. Ignoring his great work with Split Enz (20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Reis), after five Crowded House albums, two Finn Brother albums (most recently Everyone Is Here and two solo outings, his catalog is so developed that its easy to say that Intriguer does not measure up. It would also be a bit short sided and wrong.

This album, like others penned by Finn, will not likely win over listeners with a single or even a single play. However, it likely will bait you for a second consideration. Intriguer, like earlier albums Temple of Low Menand Woodface, grows on the listener with each play. Yes, I said "album," as in a series of songs sequenced to create an overarching experience for the listener.

Though there is no denying that Crowded House is a vehicle for Neil Finn's music, Time on Earth (2007), while good in its own right, felt more like a Neil Finn album with a Crowded House badge attached to it. Fans and critics didn't really mind because the product was cathartic in light of the suicide of beloved former drummer, Paul Hester.

On the deluxe version of Intriguer, video of Nick Seymour, Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod reveal that Intriguer is a return to the band format. Other than wardrobe, Seymour is slick as ever on the bass, vocal, and album art Hart proves himself to be an everpresent triple threat on vocal, guitars and keys, And Matt Sherrod plays with a presence and joy that even the mosted devoted Hester fans should appreciate.

Nostalga hounds and Mitchell Froom devotes may be disappointed. However, the material on this album will keep the faithful Crowdies smiling and likely win over a few newbies. After more than 30 years, consistantly cranking out good songs can't be an easy task. Nevertheless, Neil Finn carries on and still seems to be up to the task. The result on Intriguer is worthwhile.

Finally and with little fanfare, "Intriguer" is here. Having seen two of the shows on the recent tour, there is no doubt that CH has gotten better with age. It will be criminal if this music is not heard by all. Many of the songs were previewed by the band in shows in America two years ago. As a collection, the songs are outstanding, well crafted, hooks galore, great vocals and the band sounds great. Neil Finn remains an amazing song writer and his voice, as he ages, has gained such depth and beauty. My only complaints are the length of the album (10 songs) and how many great songs that we heard on the tour, did not make the cut. That being said, Intriguer is outstanding. "Twice if Your Lucky" would have been a hit in the 60's, 70's and 80's but won't cause a blip on the charts today. "Even If" is one of most beautiful and endearing songs that Mr. Finn has ever written, and that is saying something. "Amsterdam" is remarkable in so many ways: in some ways it hints at what the Beatles would sound like today, great chord changes,lilting themes and dramatic vocals. The whole of "Intriguer" leaves the listener wanting more!

On the Deluxe version, the second disc has live recordings of most of "Intriguer" which are beautifully realized songs and some other goodies. Well worth the investment.

CH/NF fans understand the remarkable body of work that he has created. "Intriguer" bolsters Neil Finn's legacy as one of the best song writers and singers of our generation adn Crowded House as at the top of the pop music talent.

"Intriguer is another great album in the CH collection. The songs will endure and grow better with age. Try to catch the current tour for the chance to see a great live band. Do not miss them or Intriguer.

Granted I'm a crowded house fan, but Time on Earth didn't do anything for me. I thought this album was on par with the earlier albums and with Neil's solo work (One Nil especially), which I think is absolutely amazing. I just saw them in concert and the songs live were even better, which is not often the case.

If you like CH this is a must buy IMHO.

I love this album - it has gimmers of Crowded House's orginal incarnation, but def has a more modern and revamped feel to it; more akin to Time on Earth, but even better.

Even as a long time fan of Crowded House, they'd fallen out of my rotation for the past few years. However, these guys haven't lost a step, and this release is consistent with and even better than much of their older material, some of it somber and moody, some of it more edgy (by Crowded House standards), but all good. I'll admit, it's much better than I expected, as every song is high caliber and doesn't cause me to reach for the skip button during playback. Old fans will be very pleased w/ this one, but I'll bet they gain some new ones w/ this release.

First of all, I should say that I have a personal bias. I am a Crowdie from way back and love virtually (I say virtually because they do have a few throwaways(Kill eye and Chocolate Cake)everything either Crowded House or Neil Finn has created. Neil is an absolute genius as a songwriter; often dark, often sunny, and always eloquent. Neil likes to paint pictures with words. A good example of that on this album is "Amsterdam" Makes me feel like I am walking those streets and canals with him. Neil does not say what's easy and trite. He is a creative wordsmith who does not stick to banalities but who challenges the listener to delve a little deeper. In "Elephants" he suggests that we are like elephants at the waterhole "and the alligator waits his turn" Sounds a bit strange until you listen to the song and then it makes perfect sense. Anyone but Neil would have said something like 'Someone will be out to get you" "Let's admit the world doesn't care about us" and the refrain "Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss" Pure poetry. "Twice if you're lucky" is a great song but one that had to grow on me. It's probably one of the simpler, most accessible songs on this album for most people, especially those of us of a certain age. Neil's wife, Sharon, provides harmony vocals on two tracks "Archer's Arrows" and the amazing "Isolation" "Isolation" reminds me a bit of "Hole in the River" It starts as a ballad and ends up a psychedelic rocker and it is probably my favorite track on the album. Multi-instrumentalists Mark Hart and Neil go to town with the guitar at the end in a mind-blowing way on this track. The guitar reminds me a bit of "Fingers of Love" while remaining different from that track. "Saturday Sun" is a pop piece with a killer bass track by Nick Seymour. "Even if" sounds so much like McCartney you could be forgiven for thinking thast's who you were listening to, and I mean that as a compliment. The way it is constructed is a piece of genius. Again, the lyrics are amazing. "In the darkness from the stage; the sting in my tail" "Either Side of the World" and "Falling Dove" are nice tracks that are immediately accessible. "Falling Dove" is also McCartneyish. I was lucky enough to get to see CH twice in the last couple of months. Before the album came out in May in Glasgow, Scotland and just last week in Dallas. If you ever get the chance to see them live, do yourself a favor and go. You will just be amazed at the level of their musical ability. I have seen all the greats including Queen, Muse, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney and many more and CH are in that league. Their musicianship is extraordinary. Their albums are great, but live they just blow it out of the water. Intriguer takes a few listens to fully appreciate. Like the layers of an onion, each listen reveals a little more to the point that you find yourself nodding or saying to yourself "Ah-hah" If you have only listened once or twice and are not sure about it, find youself some time to be alone with it and really listen. Savor it like a fine wine. To this day, I am still discovering little gems in "Together Alone" and "Woodface" although I must have listened to each hundreds of times.

Well, first of all, after one year of having purchased this album, I found out that it has an average rating of 4 stars, which is, to me, totally unfair. That's what encouraged me to write this review. "Intriguer" definitely deserves a five-star rating. No real Crowded House should dare to rate it lower than four stars. I guess the people who did so rushed to write their reviews based on just one listen or two at the most. Yes, perhaps it's not an easy album to digest. It takes at least two listens to get to understand, to feel the whole album. It's like a movie you don't understand. You might have loved some parts but not all of them the first time you saw it; however, after seeing it twice or even three times more, all of a sudden you get to understand it and, therefore, love it.

On the other hand, I must admit the reason that led me to buy this album was the DVD. It contains 8 of the 10 tracks performed live at Neil's home. It's so intimate; it makes you feel like they are rehearsing just for you. My only complain is that not all of the tracks of "Intriguer" are performed. It's a complaint since I love the whole album.

To me, "Intriguer" is the best album Crowded House has ever recorded. Although it might sound cheesy or like some kind of cliché, CH are like the finest wine, they get better with age, and that sets the foundation for what they have to surprise us in the near future, hopefully.

Do not hesitate to buy this album, especially the deluxe edition, it's totally worth it.

After listening to their best album to date: 'Time on Earth, (controversial I know, but the melodies are there combined with a depth of soul and expression that I have rarely seen equaled by any group)I hoped its follow up would continue in its footsteps.

Intriguer is a different sort of album. Initially it seems understated and difficult to get into and you're wondering where the sing along songs are.

But with a few listens the songs blossom into rich evocative and moving mini-epics. Like Time on Earth, the strong metaphysical element is present and it seems to me Finn is becoming a better and better song writer with age, not content to sing about platitudes, this man has something to say, his voice too just seems to get better.

For me, this and the last album reflect a renaissance of a great group into something which surpasses the charming pop group they used to be.

Hoping we will have many more years of Crowded House.

BTW saw these guys at Glastonbury 2008, and they managed to dispel the clouds on a gloomy Saturday when they played 'Weather with you'.... and the sun came out and stayed there all day.

These guys are more than just a band.

While I am glad to have ANY new material by Neil and the boys, I am dissapointed by the album as a whole (though do enjoy the DVD performances etc..). One of the main Product Reviews says this is a much more coherent effort and sounds more like a 'ban effort' than Time On Earth, I heartily dissagree. TOE had much better melodies, tunes, avante garde qualities, and so on - every song interesting and listeneable and structured well. While there are a few gems on Intriguer, the 3 cuts which follow the opener Saturday Sun are much too slow and uninteresting. And slow is not the real problem, as I really enjoy some of Neil's slow songs. Also, and this is not to rip on CH's new drummer, but just an honest critique - the drumming sounds exactly the same the whole album through (and that goes for TOE album too). He needs to 'tune' and change up the drum sounds! Subdued is one thing, but good drummers know how to change the 'dynamics' of their instrument and adjust playing style to create new sounds and atmospheres.
No, this sounds like a sub-par 'Neil' album, and not a 'band' album. Worth owning for the gems, but does not get played too often. Still love you Neil!

At first listen I was a bit underwhelmed. I think with most great bands or artists we often listen to new material with their past triumphs too much in mind. We compare to earlier great works like Woodface, or say, "It's not as good as "Together Alone". I think groups should grow, change, be different. I know I'm not the same person I was 10 or 20 years ago, and this album reflects a group changing. Some have said, "It's boring!" I'm older and don't want the banging dumb music I may have enjoyed as a youth. The music on Intriguer is mature and thoughtful. I personally like Either Side of the World( the live video from Auckland on the bonus disc is great and it features a dancing couple in the background,cool) and Twice If your lucky.