REVIEW: Crowded House, Together Alone
- Bob Gajarsky
There once was a band from New Zealand known as Split Enz. After worldwide success (except in the United States) topped by their single "I Got You", the band split up in 1984. Remnants of it surfaced two years later in the band Crowded House.
Crowded House, who chose their name in 1985 when forced to live in cramped quarters, has earned the critics respect, but has been unable (like Split Enz) to muster widespread popular support in the United States.
Now, Crowded House is back, with their fourth album, titled Together Alone. "Locked Out", the first U.S. single, shows a more rocking side of the group than previously discovered. In fact, it could almost be said that the band cultivated this song for the American audience. Although radio is slow to jump on it, its irresistible hooks should keep listeners humming along.
Other highlights on Together Alone include "Distant Sun", a U.K. single; "Nails At My Feet", which sounds much like the Rembrandts and Danny Wilde; the rocking "Black and White Boy", the poignant "Catherine Wheels", and the expansive "In My Command", which has some similarities to Supertramp.
The disc stalls out when trying to incorporate a slower, distinct sound. Two songs, "Kare Kare" and "Private Universe", both utilize sounds of the South Pacific with a boring touch. Several other cuts, including the title track and "Pineapple Head", take a good musical idea and go nowhere with it.
There are too many valleys in the album to issue a widespread endorsement, but some of the peaks ("Locked Out", "Black and White Boy", "Distant Sun", "Nails at My Feet") will please Crowded House's loyal fans. Suggested audience for Together Alone? Adventurous adult-contemporary listeners, looking for a new twist, or mellow "alternative" listeners. Other listeners? Well, they'll just be left...solo.
