I was convinced that Crowded House was gone and Tim Finn’s wonderful “Imaginary Kingdom” last year was all that was coming out. An older, wiser Crowded House now releases “Time on Earth” and although I’ve been a fan for many years, this disk takes more time to grow on you. This sounds closer to a Neil Finn Solo record and unfortunately can’t hold a candle to Crowded House classics like “Woodface.” It’s a melancholy affair that laments over mortality and this was recorded with the death of Paul Hester (the band’s original drummer, occasional songwriter and friend of Neil’s since the end of Split Enz) looming in every track. It still has it’s share of hooks like the single “Don’t Stop Now” and the up-tempo “She Called Up” which is the best song on the album in my opinion. However the ballads here take over. “English Trees” and the beautiful “Nobody Wants to” are more the somber tone here. These are great songs but midway through the album it loses momentum and ends with a whimper in “People are like Suns.” The other bright spot is a collaboration with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr on “Even A Child.” These bright spots lift the entire album up from being a mid-tempo mediocrity. This is a fitting tribute to Hester and I hope the next album is more upbeat.
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Listen to “Don’t stop now”