Every day of this summer we go back to the same summer day somewhere in history
1 July 2026
Legendary pop songsmiths CROWDED HOUSE (1985–1996, 2006–2011, 2019–present) from down under released their 3rd album, named WOODFACE on 1 July 1991, today 35 years ago.
It topped the New Zealand charts, reached #2 in Australia and #6 in the UK.
AllMusic said: Woodface represents the joy of reunion and the freedom of a collaborative effort, more than half of the album was originally conceived as a Finn Brothers project, which was Tim and Neil’s first crack at writing together. The record combines flawless melodies and outstanding harmonies of the brothers’ perfectly matched voices.”
Press info: For more than four decades, Crowded House leader Neil Finn has
been on an evolving, winding journey. Crowded House’s mid-Eighties hits like
“Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong,” combined with albums like Woodface and Together Alone, set the standard for the period’s erudite jangle
pop while always pushing the band’s art forward.
That creative spirit brings Finn and his Crowded House bandmates to Gravity Stairs,
their first new release since 2021’s Dreamers Are Waiting. The album shows the band
in its current incarnation — Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn’s sons Elroy and Liam — as sharp as ever, feeling musically adventurous, and still capable of reaching the staggering highs that have made them an international favorite. It’s the act of climbing those figurative “gravity stairs,” inspired by a heavy stone staircase near where Finn vacations, that he likens to his own mindset as a creator.
TUTV: Crowded House took some years off a couple of times, that’s why only 8 LPs
in 40 years, sounds like they were pretty lazy. But New Zealand-native founder/frontman Neil Finn kept being busy in between with 5 solo albums.
He’s the band’s heart and soul and songwriting captain, also on this new longplayer
which results (again) in a sonic stream of well-crafted guitar-pop songs that stand together, shoulder to shoulder, making Gravity Stairs a full, zestful accomplishment.
Lively and colorfully melodic, vividly sunlit and titillating, spiced with lots of Beatles/Beach Boys-like harmonies and Finn‘s hearty voice. One more thing, I listened to GS for the first time, about a half hour after I enjoyed MGTM’s new one again. At times the polyphonic and sweet-toned resonance between these 2 records is quite striking. Check it out and entertain your ears.
New Zealand stars CROWDED HOUSE are coming and going and
coming back again (1985–1996, 2006–2011, 2016, 2019–present).
They’ll have their 8th LP, named GRAVITY STAIRS out on May 31.
First apéritif was the gloriously feel good tune Oh Hi
and here’s the 2nd new track. TEENAGE SUMMER is
also an easy-going and jaunty pop song.
Neil Finn (frontman): “My grandson Manaia told me ‘Teenage Summer’ was
one of his favourite songs. He’d identified the peak moment in the song and
a light went on. It’s that simple, the children must be heard.
New Zealand stars CROWDED HOUSE are coming and going and
coming back again (1985–1996, 2006–2011, 2016, 2019–present).
In 2021 they released their 7th album, named Dreamers Are Waiting
and they’re back in the house now with brand-new single OH HI!
The band’s orchestrator Neil Finn already shared a demo of the song
a couple years ago, and it’s inspired by his work with the non-profit
organization So They Can, which builds schools in Kenya and Tanzania.
“I’m hoping the song comes across without needing to know the backstory.
But it’s very much inspired by these incredible kids and their magnificence.”
HO HI is a glorious sing/hum/whistle along pop tune
with joyful choir harmonies on the chorus.
Some time ago, before the horrible corona crisis started NEIL FINN toured with
megastars Fleetwood Mac replaced longtime guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.
But last year he revitalized CROWDED HOUSE once more with a video starring Mac DeMarco for new song Whatever You Want.
And just now the band confirmed that a new album called Dreamers Are Waiting is ready for an early June release.
“We were fortunate to be recording in the studio right before lockdown and so began
this album with band tracks recorded live in a room, all brimming with character and
energy. We then spent our strangest year, 2020, at distance from each other but connecting daily, swapping files and making those tracks complete. We’re so excited and grateful to be
back in one room together now, rehearsing, first to play live in front of audiences in NZ and soon we hope for the rest of the world, ” says Finn in a press statement.
Along with the good news comes new cut TO THE ISLAND.
A foot-tapping stomper that sticks from the kick-off.
