STACK NZ Nov #79

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By Graham Reid

CROWDED HOUSE

Crowded House (1986) The impressive debut which included the signature song Don't Dream It's Over and other hits Something So Strong , Mean to Me , World Where You Live and Now We're Getting Somewhere alongside the highly personal Hole In The River and their re-recording of Split Enz's I Walk Away . Among the 17 extra tracks are the studio demo of Hole In The River and the home demo of Don't Dream It's Over . Temple Of Low Men (1988) famous farewell on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.To celebrate all this, six studio albums and the rarities collection Afterglow are being given the expanded reissue treatment. But for the generations that missed the beloved band in their heyday, where to start? tracks are live versions of the Byrds' Eight Miles High and So You Wanna Be A Rock'n'Roll Star , plus Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man (all with former Byrd Roger McGuinn). Together Alone (1993) Although its predecessor Woodface (1991) found Neil reunited with brother Tim and included Four Seasons In One Day , It's Only Natural , Fall At Your Feet and the American-baiting Chocolate Cake (perversely the first single), Together Alone is a more interesting album. It didn't spring hits but does contain Private Universe , Distant Sun , the rocking Locked Out and has a Maori choir and log drums on the title track. The band was stretching. Time On Earth (2007) Recorded after the death of drummer Paul Hester and their first studio album in almost 15 years, this was a return to form… but with a twist. Among the many guests were former Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr, Finn's children Elroy and Liam, and producer/arranger Ethan Jones. Musically ambitious, lyrically fascinating and again full of memorable songs. The extra 13 songs are mostly home and studio demos. And also... Check out the combined star power on 7 Worlds Collide CD/DVD set (2001), the Finn-helmed project with Marr, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Tim and others, and Finn's more recent dream-pop Dizzy Heights (2014). When Crowded House play their reunion concert in Sydney this month it will be 30 years since their self-titled debut album and 20 since their In a rudely suggestive title, this second album confirmed Neil Finn as one of the greatest pop songwriters since the Lennon-McCartney team. He spun out memorable singles with Better Be Home Soon , Into Temptation , When You Come , Sister Madly and I Feel Possessed . Half the 10 songs were released as singles, and among the 21 extra

Various Artists Stir It Up: Aotearoa's Tribute to Bob Marley

Bob Marley's messages of love and assertion (“Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights”) came at the perfect time in Aotearoa New Zealand. Issues of Maori land rights and

honouring the Treaty of Waitangi were fuel for debate in the 70s. And Marley's birthday on February 6 – coincidentally Waitangi Day – saw gatherings and celebrations of harmony at a time when the nation was becoming visibly divided. This terrific collection allows local voices to acknowledge Marley, but the versions are pleasingly diverse. Here are Tiki Taane's electronica-infused Get Up Stand Up (with samples from Marley's interview in Auckland with the late Dylan Taite), Aaradhna's dub-flavoured R'n'B Could You Be Loved , Unity Pacific's groove-riding Exodus , Vince Harder's joyous One Love/People Get Ready , the soulful yearn of Thomas Oliver's Is This Love , Anika Moa's delightfully exotic Three Little Birds … Excellent packaging too.

MUSIC

Various Artists Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney and Harrison Given just how much black music – Motown, girl groups, Chuck Berry etc – influenced the early Beatles it's no surprise black Americans would find Beatle songs to adopt and adapt. This 22-song collection in a Let It Be -like cover – a sequel to Come Together , black artists on Lennon- McCartney songs in a Revolver - styled cover – has Aretha ( Eleanor Rigby ), the Four Tops ( Fool on the Hill ), Screamin' Jay Hawkins ( A Hard Day's Night ), the Temptations ( Hey Jude )… and the oddity is Ella Fitzgerald with Harrison's ode to Eric Clapton's sweet tooth on Savoy Truffle . Beatles got soul.

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band

Released as a companion to Lennon's soul-baring album of the same title in 1971, this remains Ono's most defining aural assault. While her screaming, orgasms and discordant singing were hard to take then, the decades since produced Pere Ubu, John Lydon, Axl Rose, Bjork and other singers to challenge us and make this easier. It's still demanding but the spare, fist-tight backing (Lennon on furious and brittle guitar) makes for definitive post-punk before punk happened. And there's her free-form rehearsal piece with Ornette Coleman and his band in 1968. An astonishing album then and now. On vinyl and CD.

For more interviews, reviews and overviews from Graham Reid visit www.elsewhere.co.nz

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