Crowded House / The Exponents

CROWDED HOUSE
Afterglow

(Capitol)

* * *


THE EXPONENTS

Hello, Love You, Goodbye

(Sony)

* *


Review: Russell Baillie


Just in time for Chrissy, two going-out-of-business- sale albums from a couple of old firms with local connections.

Crowded House, of course, shut up shop a few years back. Afterglow is an album of stuff left lying on the shelves. Odds and sods which didn't find a place on their four studio albums, a couple of home - some might say homely - demos, and songs both prehistorical and recorded just prior to the split.

For all its timespan it still makes for a cohesive album - just like a bought one, really. Only without the singles.

And it does prove a little illuminating about Neil Finn's post-Enz songcraft through the years.

Like early song Recurring Dream is definitely a child of the mid-to-late 80s with its U2-ish blend of echoing guitar and heroic vocals. Fast forward to youngest track Help Is Coming, a demo recorded prior to the split and you can hear an atmosphere and intimacy also found on Finn's 1998 solo album.

Elsewhere, it's at home with the Finns with I Love You Dawn (a song of domestic devotion to his wife) and Lester (an jaunty Enz-ish ode to his pet dalmatian after it had a close call with a car, awhooooo...).

Mostly though it's tracks that might have made lesser album filler, some a little lacklustre, some like Paul Hester's My Telly's Gone Bung a little trying, and one - the African sojourn-inspired Dr Livingstone - possessing all the charm of a Sting B-side.

However, the likes of the spartan version of Private Universe, the closing Time Immemorial and the exuberant opener I Am In Love keep this a collection of rough diamonds with the occasional gem.

For the Exponents, Hello, Love You, Goodbye is a valedictory effort.

With its six new tracks and eight live olides, it would seem to continue the recording bad habits which has marred their recordings of their second decade. That is, not quite being able to finish an album nor capture their live thing in the studio.

But among the new tracks, Cathode Ray offers a energetic stomp, Red White and Crimson engages with its electronic/acoustic/psychedelic urges and the title track is a ready-made terrace anthem to go out on.

As for the live tracks ... well they sure went down well that night at the Poenamo by the sound of it.

It may all work as a those-were-the-days collection once it's all over. But the real farewell will be coming soon to a pub near you.