Anything Finn-ish! (Crowded House/Split Enz, etc.)

Who loves Neil Finn? I do!! He is a master songwriter and the work he's done, from Split Enz through the current incarnation of Crowded House, is phenomenal. Solo stuff and Finn Brothers (with Tim) are also chock full of awesome. And now Neil's son Liam is on the scene...there is waay too much musical talent in that family, am I right?

Finn-ish.

Oh dear.

*sigh*

Calum wrote:

Finn-ish.

Oh dear.

*sigh*

Heh heh...sorry, couldn't resist. Cheesy jokes/puns are a weakness of mine!

oh yeah, it's the BOMFUNK

in seriousness, there's a whooole lot of metal bands from Finland isn't there http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bands_from_Finland
only one I can see I know is HIM.

I quite like Woodface, and I've got Together Alone but I have to admit to never playing them anymore.

That Finnish artists list doesn't mention Wimme - not Finnish metal but my favourite Finn. Traditional "yoik" singing with ambient electronic backing - nice.

Sorry, not Crowded house either, I know I too, only have Woodface, but saw them last year when they were on a double bill with Peter Gabriel - very good they were too - but PG was deffo the highlight for me - then again, from comments I heard around me and reviews I've seen since, most of the audience were Crowdies so it probably evens out somewhere...

You know, I seriously can't believe that nobody here is into Crowded House and the other Neil/Tim Finn projects! Listen, if anyone is willing and able, go find a DVD from a few years back called Seven Worlds Collide. It's a live show featuring Neil Finn and friends...including Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder, Lisa Germano, Tim Finn, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead, and Sebastian Steinberg. It's an awesome show even if you're not familiar with the Finns.

I like crowded house.

ChrissieInFL wrote:

You know, I seriously can't believe that nobody here is into Crowded House and the other Neil/Tim Finn projects! Listen, if anyone is willing and able, go find a DVD from a few years back called Seven Worlds Collide. It's a live show featuring Neil Finn and friends...including Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder, Lisa Germano, Tim Finn, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead, and Sebastian Steinberg. It's an awesome show even if you're not familiar with the Finns.

I'm quite surprised Eddie from Pearl Jam was involved, but on the other hand, everywhere they go, they always take the Vedder with them.

(sorry, that's worse than your Finn-ish joke isn't it?)

lee spoons wrote:

I'm quite surprised Eddie from Pearl Jam was involved, but on the other hand, everywhere they go, they always take the Vedder with them.

(sorry, that's worse than your Finn-ish joke isn't it?)

Oh man! That one took me a minute... at first I was all , and then I was like and now I'm totally Very punny, lee!

Apparently, Eddie Vedder grew up on Split Enz songs ; according to Neil Finn in Q magazine, a new album is due round about April, featuring contributions from sons Liam and Elroy, Johnny Marr, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway, amongst others.

Yes, heard about the new disc and am stoked to hear it! It features the lineup (more or less) from the series of concerts Neil did in the 90's and that was AWESOME. Also, if I remember correctly, Eddie Vedder has an even stronger bond to the Finns then just being a fan. He is an avid surfer, as they are, and he often takes surfing trips to the Finn's native New Zealand. On one of these trips, late 90's, I think, he was out with Tim Finn and came off his board. Tim Finn apparently helped life guards to rescue Eddie and get him on shore. So I think his relationship with the Finn family is fairly tight, besides the professional stuff they do together.

I have always liked Crowded House even though I'm more into deep, dark, post-punk psychedilia (and more recently nu-folk)
The guitar on "Stormy Weather" is pretty close to the sort of stuff Will (of Echo & the Bunnymen) can achieve.

Together Alone is one of my favourite albums, with a cool story about how it was made:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYHbywNEGY
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoySd1j1qnE

in another thread, ChrissieInFL wrote:

Bright Grey wrote:

Looks interesting. My gold standard for band bios are my Split Enz and Crowded House books.

Which books are those, Bright Grey? I love the Finns and wonder if I'd be able to track those down as I'd be quite keen to read them.

The Split Enz book is called Stranger Than Fiction and is a collector's item these days and if you can find a copy it's usually expensive. But several years ago permission was gained from author Mike Chunn to scan the book and put it online here:

http://www.book.russells.id.au/

Not the easiest way to read it because each page is uploaded individually (was done in the days before pdf converters etc were common), but you can always print out your own copy...

But it's a good yarn.

Along with STF, essential listening for any Enz fan or just interested in music biographies is the fantastic Enzology series made by Radio New Zealand, which can be streamed or downloaded here:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/enzology


The Crowded House book is called Something So Strong and these days can be purchased direct from the author Chris Bourke:

http://www.chrisbourke.co.nz

Might be worth sending him an email first to make sure he still has copies before going through the ordering process. He also has lots of articles and reviews about CH and the Finns he's written on the site.

Last week was 4 years since Paul Hester died...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD8pMIH1puw

Jonny wrote:

in seriousness, there's a whooole lot of metal bands from Finland isn't there http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bands_from_Finland
only one I can see I know is HIM.

You only know HIM? that is a bit depressing. Finland is one fo the best countries to make proper good metal music.

Bright Grey, that is a veritable cornucopia of Finn awesomeness you posted! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yeah, i don't mind a bit of Crowded House in my mellower moments.
Only have their greatest hits on digital these days, but occasionally go for a blast of reminiscing.

For some reason i really like Pineapple Head, must be a memory of an old girlfriend (as usual!)

I like Crowded House - saw them at a brilliant gig in Sherwood forest last year.

This really needs to be mentioned here given that it's only just over a month away from release:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaU1ia3Bquw
https://www.youtube.com/user/7worldscollide

The Press Release wrote:

7 Worlds Collide - The Sun Came Out
The first 7 Worlds Collide album, a collection of amazing musical talents from across the globe in aid of Médecins Sans Frontières, was a unique live performance experience, fusing the varied talents of a stellar cast across a range of cover versions to create a series of shows that culminated in the live album of the same name. Seven years after that project, instigator Neil Finn has upped the ante with the new 7 Worlds Collide project, ‘The Sun Came Out’, a double album of original songs created and recorded by many of the original cast alongside notable new additions in an intense three weeks in his native New Zealand. This time the beneficiaries of this album will be Oxfam, as well as music lovers worldwide.

Familiar faces from the original album abound, Johnny Marr, Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead but this album, first and foremost presents the listener with new songs rather than interpretations of old favourites. ‘The Sun Came Out’ also features a whole host of new guest talents such as KT Tunstall and Wilco and heart stopping firsts, including Phil Selway's songwriting and vocal debut as well as dream collaborations such as those between Johnny Marr and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy; and KT Tunstall and Neil Finn .

At the heart of the record is Neil Finn. His enthusiasm and drive persuaded the likes of celebrated producer Jim Scott, Lisa Germano, Johnny Marr and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Pat Sansone, John Stirratt and Glenn Kotche (amongst others) to spend their Christmas holiday in New Zealand and even interrupted KT Tunstall’s honeymoon in the process. The setting had its advantages though, as Neil notes, if the worst came to the worst the assembled cast could write it off as a holiday. Thankfully, the results mean that all those involved got both a holiday in one of the world’s most stunning landscapes and created some of the best music you will hear all year.

With families welcome, the studio became a constant whirl of creativity and energy throughout the three weeks allocated to create the record. Johnny Marr returned from a run on the beach with the basis of ‘Too Blue’, where Jeff Tweedy was waiting to add his talents; KT Tunstall stopped Neil retiring to his bed to complete ‘Hazel Black’; a wandering Johnny Marr added a chorus melody to Liam Finn’s ‘Red Wine Bottle’; Ed O’Brien fashioned ‘Bodhisattva Blues’ from a Tibetan chant. In this atmosphere, anything was possible and Neil’s wife Sharon found herself laying down her debut vocal on ‘Little By Little’ whilst Phil Selway also took his vocal bow and unveiled a hitherto unknown songwriting talent with his solo turn ‘The Ties That Bind Us’ in one take.

From Neil’s original doubts over the idea, “I thought, what is this? Is it just an ego thing’”came a double album of astounding collaborations for the listener and amazing memories for all those concerned in the recording. At the centre of it all stands Neil Finn, too humble to take the glory himself, it is left to KT Tunstall to give the credit due to the man who made this happen: “It’s Neil. It all comes from him. There’s something about him that made everyone open up creatively”.

Jeremy Hobbs, Director of Oxfam International said: "7 Worlds Collide is a great project - I hope The Sun Came Out is a huge success. Not just because it's a unique musical experience but because each CD sold will make a difference - raising money to fund Oxfam's work to fight poverty."

Oh good Lord yes. SOOO excited to get my mitts on this - thanks Bright Grey!

Dabamash wrote:

I like crowded house.

Me too - love them. Saw them at Sherwood Pines Forest last year. Sun - good crowd and brilliant music.

Been a fan for a long long time.

I love Neil Finn's solo work it is beautiful.
I saw the live 2001 7 Worlds Collide concerts and they were amazing, I can't wait for this release!!!!

Neil Finn is one of the best Melody writers out there. Love all of his work, particularly Woodface and Together Alone. Crowded House were/are one of the best live acts I've seen. The recent concerts were very good, but nothing will ever quite match the gigs that featured former drummer Paul Hester - He was a real character. It was nice to see the band remember him with their own tribute on the reunion tour. Very moving indeed.

Did anyone manage to get to this, I was at the Laura Marling extrvaganza, but it would have been amazing! Dam it!!

http://www.nme.com/news/neil-finn/46644

LongLegs wrote:

Did anyone manage to get to this, I was at the Laura Marling extrvaganza, but it would have been amazing! Dam it!!

http://www.nme.com/news/neil-finn/46644

Oh, holy cheese! That looked INSANE!!! Would've loved to have been there, for sure.