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Neil Finn is possibly most famous from being the frontsman for the 80s/90s band, Crowded House - named after a shared rental house with five other band members. By 1987, the Melbourne band had a massive hit with "Don't Dream It's Over" on US radio, or otherwise known by most people as that "Hey now, hey now" song (which I've always thought they were singing "head-on", which made no sense). The song was quickly followed by another hit song, "Something So Strong", thus making them not a "one-hit-wonder".
Admittedly, although I do own some random singles and their greatest hits album, Recurring Dream, they were not on my radar until a few years ago when I had heard that Neil Finn teamed up with Johnny Marr for a live rendition of "There is a Light that Never Goes Out", for Neil's very important project 7 Worlds Collide (named after a Crowded House song, "Distance Sun").
7 Worlds Collide is basically a super group project, a collection of musical talents from around the world - all in a charity for the Medicins Sans Frontiers. Some of the talents included Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Lisa Germano (4AD recording artist), Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam). It was a great project, and seven years later, the sequel: The Sun Came Out is released.
This time, the new album will be benefiting Oxfam, and includes even more powerhouse artists: Marr again, Germano again, Ed O'Brien & Phil Selway* (of Radiohead), KT Tunstall, Don McGlashan, Bic Runga, Glenn Richards, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), etc.
I feel like the original 7 Worlds Collide, that these albums are family affair. Not just fellow like-minded musicians, but also features the Finns musical family. For instance, including Neil, we also have Neil's wife, Sharon (Sharon Johnson was a backup singer for Crowded House), brother Tim Finn (who served with Neil in Split Enz and the Finn Brothers), and son Liam Finn (who, in his own right, is made some noise with his debut album I'll Be Lightning a few years ago).
Although there are the familiar of cast and themes, this studio album contain new songs, not just covers. I eagerly listened to Johnny Marr & Radiohead tracks ("Learn To Crawl" and "The Ties That Bind Us"). I was surprise to hear that it is Selway that is singing on the later song! He has such a calming voice!
Speaking of surprises, Neil's wife, Sharon Finn, does a great job on her songs. They put her track early on, "Little By Little" and I just love the harmony she does.
However, I think for most people, they will be instantly drawn to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco fame. His song, "You Never Know", will definitely stand out on the album - considering it is such a great song. That song earned Wilco their #1 AAA hit song in over twelve years, for their self-titled 2009 album.
There is a single disc edition of The Sun Came Out, but for only a few more dollars, you should get the double-disc set. The album was made available in Australia in August - but for the US, you'll have to wait until September 27th via amazon. Remember proceeds goes to charity - so buy a few for Christmas gifts!
Update 09/17/09 07:42 pm: I am told that the US version will only get the 2-disc edition.
Admittedly, although I do own some random singles and their greatest hits album, Recurring Dream, they were not on my radar until a few years ago when I had heard that Neil Finn teamed up with Johnny Marr for a live rendition of "There is a Light that Never Goes Out", for Neil's very important project 7 Worlds Collide (named after a Crowded House song, "Distance Sun").
7 Worlds Collide is basically a super group project, a collection of musical talents from around the world - all in a charity for the Medicins Sans Frontiers. Some of the talents included Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Lisa Germano (4AD recording artist), Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam). It was a great project, and seven years later, the sequel: The Sun Came Out is released.
This time, the new album will be benefiting Oxfam, and includes even more powerhouse artists: Marr again, Germano again, Ed O'Brien & Phil Selway* (of Radiohead), KT Tunstall, Don McGlashan, Bic Runga, Glenn Richards, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), etc.
I feel like the original 7 Worlds Collide, that these albums are family affair. Not just fellow like-minded musicians, but also features the Finns musical family. For instance, including Neil, we also have Neil's wife, Sharon (Sharon Johnson was a backup singer for Crowded House), brother Tim Finn (who served with Neil in Split Enz and the Finn Brothers), and son Liam Finn (who, in his own right, is made some noise with his debut album I'll Be Lightning a few years ago).
Although there are the familiar of cast and themes, this studio album contain new songs, not just covers. I eagerly listened to Johnny Marr & Radiohead tracks ("Learn To Crawl" and "The Ties That Bind Us"). I was surprise to hear that it is Selway that is singing on the later song! He has such a calming voice!
Speaking of surprises, Neil's wife, Sharon Finn, does a great job on her songs. They put her track early on, "Little By Little" and I just love the harmony she does.
However, I think for most people, they will be instantly drawn to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco fame. His song, "You Never Know", will definitely stand out on the album - considering it is such a great song. That song earned Wilco their #1 AAA hit song in over twelve years, for their self-titled 2009 album.
There is a single disc edition of The Sun Came Out, but for only a few more dollars, you should get the double-disc set. The album was made available in Australia in August - but for the US, you'll have to wait until September 27th via amazon. Remember proceeds goes to charity - so buy a few for Christmas gifts!
Update 09/17/09 07:42 pm: I am told that the US version will only get the 2-disc edition.
Update 09/23/09 10:19 am: NOTE: Just related bands tour, Liam Finn, Wilco.
* PS, I have interviewed Phil Selway live on KFRS 90.7FM before. I had spent the previous night written out questions for Thom Yorke or Johnny Greenwood - and of course, they were all tossed out when I discovered that I will be getting Selway instead. It was a terrible interview, but Phil, we love you just the same!-
Oct 1 Iowa City, IA @ University of Iowa*
Oct 2 St. Paul, MN @ The Roy Wilkins Auditorium*
Oct 3 (t)Bloomington radio Liam Finn
Oct 4 Farm Aid in Maryland Heights, MO Wilco
Oct 6 Kansas City, MO @ The Crossroads*
Oct 8 Cedar Park, TX @ Cedar Park Center*
Oct 9 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom*
Oct 10 Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre*
Oct 11 (t)Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsey Liam Finn
Oct 12 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts*
Oct 14 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall*
Oct 15 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall*
Oct 16 Ann Arbor, MI @ Hill Auditorium*
Oct 17 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Oct 18 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavillion (Wilco)
Oct 19 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavillion (Wilco)
Oct 21 (t)Indie 103
Oct 22 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
Oct 23 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Oct 24 Portland, OR @ Dante’s
Oct 25 Seattle, Wa @ Crocodile Café
Oct 26 (t)Vancouver radio day
Oct 27 (t)Winnipeg radio day
Oct 30 Montreal, QE @ Theatre Plaza
Nov 1 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
Nov 2 (t)Philadelphia radio day
Nov 3 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Nov 4 Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House
Nov 5 NYC media day
Nov 6 NYC media day
*Wilco w/Liam Finn
Johnny Marr is doing some Nov dates w/The Cribs
09/17/2009 11:26:50 ♥ vu (
) ♥crowdedhouse.com♥ myspace.com/neilfinn
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