Split Enz needed to end, particularly since founding member
Tim Finn found his little brother
Neil's growth spurt uncomfortable, but also because
Neil was no longer writing tunes that made sense within the context of a band that ran the gamut from art rock to eccentric new wave.
Neil was now writing songs that were undeniably totems of popcraft, but infused with the spirit and introspection of a singer/songwriter. This formula would later become quite popular with artists from
Matthew Sweet to the legions of basement auteurs in the pop underground, but this sensibility was relatively unheard of in the mid-'80s -- hence the birth of
Crowded House.
Neil retained
Paul Hester from
Enz, added
Nick Seymour for the trio, and recorded one abandoned attempt at an album before joining with
Mitchell Froom for the band's eponymous debut. At the time,
Froom's clean production seemed refreshing, almost rootsy, compared to the synth pop dominating the mainstream and college scenes at the time, but in retrospect it seems a little overreaching and fussy, particularly in its addition of echo and layers of keyboards during particularly inappropriate moments. But
Finn at his best overshadowed this fairly stilted production with his expert songcraft. As it happened, the record was blessed by good timing, and the majestic ballad "Don't Dream It's Over" became an international hit, while its follow-up, the breezy "Something So Strong," also turned into a hit. Both revealed different sides of
Finn's talents, with the first being lyrical and the second being effervescent, but perhaps the truest testaments to his talents are "Mean to Me," "World Where You Live," and "Now We're Getting Somewhere," songs where the lyrics meld with the melody in a way that is distinctive, affecting, and personal. If the rest of the record doesn't reach those heights, it's still good, well-constructed pop, and these aforementioned highlights point the way to
Temple of Low Men, where
Crowded House (and particularly
Finn) came into its own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine