Crowded House: every album, every song

by Jon Magidsohn

When Crowded House arrived with their debut album and hit single ‘Don't Dream It's Over' in 1986, the seed of a unique musical journey was planted into our collective musical consciousness. The Aussie/Kiwi trio created a sound as playful as Split Enz – out of which two of its members graduated – with an adventurous spirit inspired by The Beatles, and crafted genuinely enduring melodies. Earworm-worthy songs like ‘Weather With You', ‘Distant Sun', ‘Better Be Home Soon' and so many others have become genre-bending, sing-along-able and timeless creations. What began with three buddies, led by songwriter Neil Finn, playfully frolicking, and mugging the camera in music videos, developed into mature artists reflecting on life, love and mortality after the death of their beloved drummer. In time, this blossomed once again into a true family band as the younger Finns joined their father as permanent members. Along the way, Crowded House consistently churned out unforgettable melody after intoxicatingly unforgettable melody over eight studio albums. This track-by-track exploration of their poetic lyrics and musical legacy recognises the quality that has brought them the love and admiration of music fans and fellow musicians from around the world.

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2024

Reviews

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can you say? I’ve been a Finnatic since 1986, and this little book detailing each Crowded House album and song, along with quotes from Neil Finn about the composition, lyrics and other trivia about his songs, is just the treat I needed in times that are less than ideal. He’s a rare mix of talent, humility, grace and humanity, and it has been a pleasure to follow him through 4 decades.