Woo-doggies, this week we get Time on Earth, the first new Crowded House album in a decade. I haven't heard this yet, but Neil Finn created the greatest song John Lennon never wrote. Indeed, "Don't Dream It's Over" will go head to head even with anything Lennon did write.
The problem is that Neil Finn just ain't much of a rock star. Sure, he's one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, but where's the controversy? He's never been hooked on heroin, or picked up DUIs, got arrested with underaged girls nor committed suicide. He's not even gay. Some rock star!
They Might Be Giants have a new album The Else, with production by the famous Dust Brothers. Having listened to this a dozen times, I don't hear that much of a difference for their presence.
The album's pretty good overall, perhaps a little above They Might Be Giants fairly high average. The first two songs in particular are real sharp, obvious candidates for a future box set. Overall though, the album seems relatively homogenized or normal. That's not a compliment. These songs have some good hooks and choruses, and good orchestration, but they nearly entirely lack the unique quirky geekdom that really makes the band special.
Billy Corgan is putting out a nominal Smashing Pumpkins record called Zeitgeist, some years after it had passed him by. Still, his album is #2 currently at Amazon, so he's obviously still got some juice.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases, courtesy AMG:
Crowded House Time on Earth ATO
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Much of Neil Finn can go toe to toe with Lennon, or Macca, or both, even. "Take the Weather with You" - yeah, I imagine Paul's got that in the "Songs I Wish I'd Written" file.