WOODFACE (1991)

This album saw the coming together of the Finn brothers for the first time since Split Enz. The album was originally just a Neil Finn authored Crowded House album, but was rejected by Capitol records leaving Neil to include some songs co-written and performed with his brother. The result is a terribly uncohesive album which contains some of the band's greatest songs. Songs like 'Weather With You', 'Four Seasons In One Day' and 'Fall At Your Feet' are beautiful, soulful and the basis for a great album. The contrasts with songs like 'Whispers and Moans', 'There Goes God' and 'Fame Is'(I hate this song), are too great for me and I really feel their are two albums hiding within Woodface. 'Whispers And Moans' is one of my favourite Crowded House songs along with 'Fall At Your Feet'. I don't know if the poor performance of this album on record charts was a factor but Tim left the band after the tour accompanying the album. He just didn't fit into the band for some reason, probably the ongoing rivalry between himself and Neil, which is never too great but just simmering beneath the surface. This album is just not as good as say Temple Of Low Men, but it was a change in direction for Crowded House. Few organs, more acoustics, less slick production techniques and a new creative influence all combined to make this a very different Crowded House album. It is still a great album, with some brilliant songs, but like an old jigsaw juzzle, all the pieces don't fit quite right. Order Woodface from CDNOW

Chocolate Cake It's Only Natural Fall at Your Feet Tall Trees Weather With You Whispers and Moans Four Seasons In One Day There Goes God Fame Is All I Ask As Sure As I Am Italian Plastic She Goes On How Will You Go