Three years after the release of their critically acclaimed seventh album. The dreamers are waitingthe legendary band Crowded House, send their latest work, gravity stairs. The album reflects a dreamy quality but is as lyrically direct as all of singer Neil Finn's efforts have been in the past.
Crowded House with the beautiful songs on the release is proving that thoughtful pop songs are still in demand. In gravity stairsFinn and Co. deliver some of the best songs of their career some four decades after their first release in 1985.
gravity stairs was produced by Crowded House with Steven Schram. This round's line-up is made up of OG members Neil Finn and Nick Seymour, adding Neil's sons Elroy and Liam, while seeing producer Mitchell Froom move from the production chair to full member of the band. Crowded House reveal that they are continuing just as they started with a new setup to cover all the musical bases.
The album's name comes from a stone staircase in Greece near where Neil Finn is on vacation. This staircase led Finn to wonder how times change and to become aware that we are getting older. He affirms, “The title is a metaphor for growing a little older and becoming aware of one's own mortality and physicality… Also the compulsion to climb with more determination to reach the top.” Also of note is the album cover, which is a pastiche of the Beatle's song. Stir, created by Seymour. The title and cover indicate that we are in for another slice of contemplation and unique melody from Crowded House.
gravity stairs begins with “Magic Piano,” a track that combines the classic sounds of Crowded House with the sensibility of the Beatles. The song refers to stairs titled as figurative and literal steps in life. The track is filled with shimmering pianos, as he speaks dreamily of life's changes. It's beautifully constructed and at the end it floats into the ether with the lyrics, “Life is the love they once gave me.” Overall, the track encompasses all the musicianship that will be displayed throughout the album.
“Teenage Summer” combines an organ with the band's legendary Maori guitar strumming and excellent drum work. The song talks about the madness of youth, while the lyrics talk about current reality versus the imitations of life, the facade that we all try to show. Finn's lyrics always contain wisdom, and here Finn discusses how life experiences influence the makeup of a person. It's an uplifting and lovely track.
“The Howl” has a seductive country rock vibe with a pop bounce conveyed by glorious guitar riffs. The song spirals up to the middle section and then descends using an impressive sonic structure. “All That I Can Ever Own” recalls Neil's solo work as he counts his blessings and recounts intimate moments; have a grandchild, a long-lasting marriage and a life of purpose. He compares it to his own insomnia, worries and possible losses. His conclusion is that he has found a winner. The bottom line is that no matter how bleak Crowded House can get, there is always a positivity that shines through even in the darkest of times.
“Oh Hi” is the first single from the album released with an attractive video. The song is full of joy and hope. Finn claims that children have such potential to do better than adults. The pop track is attractive and shows the great maturity of Crowded House while having a great pop impact.
The “don’t miss track” from the album “Some Greater Plan” is inspired by Finn’s father, who passed away in 2019. The song refers to a wartime romance his father had during World War II. Meditate on being part of the greater plan, “Do you want to be part of some bigger plan? …Do you want to be a part of healing this broken man?” The song expands and questions the listener if they want to be a part of making good things happen and that not everything is predestined, we can still change things for the better. This song is definitely a participant in the pantheon of great Crowded House songs.
“Black Water, White Circle” gets under your skin. The song gives off a tribal vibe as it combines dramatic drums with guitar, resulting in a soft-edged psychedelic track. “Blurry Grass” has a very early Crowded House vibe as a wah-wah pedal-laden rocker. It feels linked to the next song, “I Can't Keep Up With You.” This mid-tempo selection features fantastic guitar playing and is very reminiscent of Finn's solo work on dizzy heights. The two tracks are brilliant in their sequence and complement each other.
“Thirsty” contains a brilliant drum performance that, combined with the guitar of Crowded House, Maori Strum, makes it something beautiful. It's one of the highlights of the Crowdies album. Finn shows a longing for beauty and goes back to the melancholy of Temple of the Low Men. Finn, always a wordsmith, draws parallels between an endless pursuit of beauty and striving to live a life of purpose knowing it must end. “Blow out the candle, it fades to black.” “Thirsty” is a simply stunning song that must be heard.
The final track, “Night Song,” has all the amazing elements that make up Crowded House songs; Beautiful bass work, attractive piano work, unique guitar sounds and great construction. The listener feels transported to a jazz club where Finn exposes his final discoveries conveyed by lyrics full of consciousness. The song ends with a recording that Finn made while he was trying to fall asleep while a person on the street kept him awake with his monologue.
gravity stairs is a worthy addition to Crowded House's illustrious discography. As with any album the band decides to release, it is once again an inspired collection of lyrical ideas and sonic delights. Neil Finn is a man gifted with the ability to paint a picture and sing it along with the band he fronts. Invariably gravity stairs is an example of precise Crowded House songcraft. On release, Crowded House show what they excel at: taking the listener on a journey, acknowledging the good and bad in life while suspending reality for a time and offering a refuge from the world and its discord.
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