Ocelopotamus

The new Crowded House album, Time on Earth, was released last week in the US and the week before in the UK. It’s available for download from iTunes (with bonus tracks!) and of course you can get the CD from Amazon.

The band will be touring through December (including their two shows here in Chicago, August 18 & 19 at the House of Blurgh), and after that Neil Finn says he’s ready to hit the studio again:

“There’s a real spring in our step as a band,” [Finn] said. “I’ve got a bunch of new songs and want to ride the momentum we’ve got.”

A few of my favorites after listening to Time on Earth for a week or so (other than the thoroughly brilliant first single “Don’t Stop Now,” which I’ve already written about):

• “She Called Up” is a fun, radio-friendly little number and I’m just guessing here that it will be the second single.
• “Silent House” — written with the Dixie Chicks — is a quiet, moody stunner with a gorgeous atmosphere that really sneaks up on you after several listens. Oh, and it features a hurdy-gurdy.
• “You Are the Only One To Make Me Cry” slips into a gentle jazz-standard sound, somewhat reminiscent of “All I Ask” from Woodface, and graced by one of Neil’s most affecting vocal performances to date.

The lyrics that jumped out at me on the first listen are these, excerpted from “Pour Le Monde” (titled in French, the language of Freedom!) Something about liars who “believe their own dark medicine,” and being “for the world not for the war.” Hmmm …

… and I wake up blind
like my dreams were too bright
and I lost my regard
for the good things that I had
and the radio was sad

and he won’t hesitate
though it might lead to heartache
in the night club indigo
for the world not for the war
pour le monde pas pour la guerre

When you listen for good
in a hope that comes to nothing
cos the liars have moved in
And they brew their own dark medicine
Believing it’s good …

Methinks hanging around with those Dixie Chicks must have rubbed off on Neil a little.

Download Time on Earth from iTunes:

Previously on Ocelopotamus:

• Crowded House Releases “Don’t Stop Now” (with Video and Neil Finn Interview)
• New Crowded House Album Due in July; Johnny Marr on Two Songs
• Tim Finn and His Imaginary Kingdom