Intriguer (Deluxe Edition CD+DVD) |  | Artist: Crowded House
Label: Fantasy
Category: Music
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $10.55
as of 9/7/2010 02:53 CDT details
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Seller: cdbaron
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 1,275
Format: CD+DVD, Deluxe Edition
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.6
UPC: 888072322585
EAN: 0888072322585
ASIN: B003K025XM
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Saturday Sun | | • | Archer's Arrows | | • | Amsterdam | | • | Either Side of the World | | • | Falling Down | | • | Isolation | | • | Twice If You're Lucky | | • | Inside Out | | • | Even If | | • | Elephants |
Disc 2
| • | Either Side Of The World | | • | Amsterdam | | • | Saturday Sun | | • | Twice If You're Lucky | | • | Elephants | | • | Falling Dove | | • | Isolation | | • | Archer's ArrowsLive at the Auckland Townhall | | • | Either Side of the World | | • | Don't Dream It's OverMusic Video | | • | Saturday Sun |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Following up on their 2007 release Time On Earth - their first studio recording in 14 years - the internationally acclaimed Crowded House deliver Intriguer. Produced by Jim Scott (Wilco), this all-new recording brings together singer/guitarist and chief songwriter Neil Finn with original Crowded House bassist Nick Seymour and keyboardist/guitarist Mark Hart. Says Finn: "Intriguer is exotic in parts, traditional in origin. It may just be the best thing we've done."
Album Description
Limited deluxe CD/DVD edition includes bonus DVD. 2010 release, the sixth album from the colossally popular Australian band and the follow-up to 2006's Time On Earth. Produced by chief songwriter Neil Finn with Jim Scott, who produced the 7 Worlds Collide sessions, it sees the band introducing new ideas into their classic Pop-Rock sound. It features the web single "Saturday Sun" and includes musical contributions from Jon Brion, Lisa Germano and Finn's son Liam.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 18
 Even if: I Love It July 14, 2010
Vinzo (Boston, MA United States)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Finally and with little fanfare, "Intriguer" is here. Having seen two of the shows on the recent tour, there is no doubt that CH has gotten better with age. It will be criminal if this music is not heard by all. Many of the songs were previewed by the band in shows in America two years ago. As a collection, the songs are outstanding, well crafted, hooks galore, great vocals and the band sounds great. Neil Finn remains an amazing song writer and his voice, as he ages, has gained such depth and beauty. My only complaints are the length of the album (10 songs) and how many great songs that we heard on the tour, did not make the cut. That being said, Intriguer is outstanding. "Twice if Your Lucky" would have been a hit in the 60's, 70's and 80's but won't cause a blip on the charts today. "Even If" is one of most beautiful and endearing songs that Mr. Finn has ever written, and that is saying something. "Amsterdam" is remarkable in so many ways: in some ways it hints at what the Beatles would sound like today, great chord changes,lilting themes and dramatic vocals. The whole of "Intriguer" leaves the listener wanting more!
On the Deluxe version, the second disc has live recordings of most of "Intriguer" which are beautifully realized songs and some other goodies. Well worth the investment.
CH/NF fans understand the remarkable body of work that he has created. "Intriguer" bolsters Neil Finn's legacy as one of the best song writers and singers of our generation adn Crowded House as at the top of the pop music talent.
"Intriguer is another great album in the CH collection. The songs will endure and grow better with age. Try to catch the current tour for the chance to see a great live band. Do not miss them or Intriguer.
Definitely a keeper August 11, 2010
music lover (Norman, OK USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
First of all, I should say that I have a personal bias. I am a Crowdie from way back and love virtually (I say virtually because they do have a few throwaways(Kill eye and Chocolate Cake)everything either Crowded House or Neil Finn has created. Neil is an absolute genius as a songwriter; often dark, often sunny, and always eloquent. Neil likes to paint pictures with words. A good example of that on this album is "Amsterdam" Makes me feel like I am walking those streets and canals with him. Neil does not say what's easy and trite. He is a creative wordsmith who does not stick to banalities but who challenges the listener to delve a little deeper. In "Elephants" he suggests that we are like elephants at the waterhole "and the alligator waits his turn" Sounds a bit strange until you listen to the song and then it makes perfect sense. Anyone but Neil would have said something like 'Someone will be out to get you" "Let's admit the world doesn't care about us" and the refrain "Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss" Pure poetry. "Twice if you're lucky" is a great song but one that had to grow on me. It's probably one of the simpler, most accessible songs on this album for most people, especially those of us of a certain age. Neil's wife, Sharon, provides harmony vocals on two tracks "Archer's Arrows" and the amazing "Isolation" "Isolation" reminds me a bit of "Hole in the River" It starts as a ballad and ends up a psychedelic rocker and it is probably my favorite track on the album. Multi-instrumentalists Mark Hart and Neil go to town with the guitar at the end in a mind-blowing way on this track. The guitar reminds me a bit of "Fingers of Love" while remaining different from that track. "Saturday Sun" is a pop piece with a killer bass track by Nick Seymour. "Even if" sounds so much like McCartney you could be forgiven for thinking thast's who you were listening to, and I mean that as a compliment. The way it is constructed is a piece of genius. Again, the lyrics are amazing. "In the darkness from the stage; the sting in my tail" "Either Side of the World" and "Falling Dove" are nice tracks that are immediately accessible. "Falling Dove" is also McCartneyish. I was lucky enough to get to see CH twice in the last couple of months. Before the album came out in May in Glasgow, Scotland and just last week in Dallas. If you ever get the chance to see them live, do yourself a favor and go. You will just be amazed at the level of their musical ability. I have seen all the greats including Queen, Muse, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney and many more and CH are in that league. Their musicianship is extraordinary. Their albums are great, but live they just blow it out of the water. Intriguer takes a few listens to fully appreciate. Like the layers of an onion, each listen reveals a little more to the point that you find yourself nodding or saying to yourself "Ah-hah" If you have only listened once or twice and are not sure about it, find youself some time to be alone with it and really listen. Savor it like a fine wine. To this day, I am still discovering little gems in "Together Alone" and "Woodface" although I must have listened to each hundreds of times.
Takes Time August 6, 2010
Chris Corcoran
At first listen I was a bit underwhelmed. I think with most great bands or artists we often listen to new material with their past triumphs too much in mind. We compare to earlier great works like Woodface, or say, "It's not as good as "Together Alone". I think groups should grow, change, be different. I know I'm not the same person I was 10 or 20 years ago, and this album reflects a group changing. Some have said, "It's boring!" I'm older and don't want the banging dumb music I may have enjoyed as a youth. The music on Intriguer is mature and thoughtful. I personally like Either Side of the World( the live video from Auckland on the bonus disc is great and it features a dancing couple in the background,cool) and Twice If your lucky.
Blowing Up Pop Music July 20, 2010
Kevin Caffrey (Fredericksburg, VA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
After 30 odd years of work with Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers, solo and assorted collaborations, I think _Intriguer_ is Neil Finn truly taking his pop singer/songwriter craftsmanship to the next level. I say this because the songs on this album may be the most melodic and tuneful of Crowded House's career. These tunes performed simply on an acoustic guitar would be totally engrossing, yet the production/arrangement/performances are so advanced, original, and challenging that it's almost as if Finn & co. are saying to the listeners, "It wouldn't be right to just give you these great songs in a straight-forward manner..." It *will* take a couple of listeners for these songs to sink in, but once they do, you are in for a real treat.
The first four songs on _Intriguer_ are absolutely perfect. The bouncy, squirmy opener "Saturday Sun" leads into the achingly beautiful "Archer's Arrows." Although always integrated within their work throughout their career, I noticed particularly on this album that a lot of attention was paid to background vocal arrangements. Multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart really shines throughout, making many songs sound like they could pass for something from the Finn brothers. "Amsterdam" may be the most potent song on the album - great lyrics, perfect chorus ("the darkest days of a free man/lying in the streets of Amsterdam/I nearly fell underneath a tram/but I picked myself up"), and some tasteful yet dirty guitar work from Finn. The dissonant ending of "Isolation" is jarring, but leads into another piece of pop perfection "Twice If You're Lucky." "Inside Out" is a fun little song, sounding like something that may have come from The Travelling Wilburys (Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD)). In comparison to CH's last album (the excellent Time on Earth), _Intriguer_ seems like much more of a group effort. In addition to Hart, drummer Matt Sherrod and bassist Nick Seymour lay out a solid foundation to every song, with enough interesting twists and turns here and there to make you know you are listening to two very talented, understated musicians. Like any great rhythm section, their playing perfectly serves each song. Be sure to spend the few extra $$$ on the Deluxe Edition w/ the DVD (Intriguer (Deluxe Edition CD+DVD). It includes the band performing almost the entire album live, two live concert performances (the lovely new track "Either Side of the World" and the classic "Don't Dream It's Over"), and the video for first single "Saturday Sun."
As I think every time I hear something new from Neil Finn & Crowded House - it's amazing that artists this far into their career are making such great music and making it seem so effortless and natural. Nothing is sadder than watching once great artists put out new work and it is just not happening and it seems like everyone involved is trying way too hard. At an economic 40 minutes, _Intriguer_ takes a few listens before you may see it for the masterpiece that it is. Their last album was much more immediate--nothing on here may be as instantly memorable as "Don't Stop Now," "Say That Again," or "Pour Le Monde,"---but I think that may just be this album's point. Crowded House can give you great pop songs---that is certainly not an issue for them--but I think with this album they wanted to give the listener something melodic enough to stick in our heads, but dense enough to make us keep coming back and hear something new. A challenging feat for any artist, yet they have pulled it off once again, apparently without even breaking a sweat.
Reflective, moody, mellow & introspective July 17, 2010
The Trooper (Spokane,WA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Though I openly admit my long-standing predisposition to music that is dispatched from the heavier & darker reaches of the rhythmic continuum, I have invariably remained open-minded concerning other styles & genres of music. Crowded House, for example, is a band that I have favored almost since the beginning and in my opinion, they have only become better with age. 'Intriguer' stands in contrast to the previous slice of pop rock excellence, 'Time on Earth' in that the latest is mellower, deceptively complex, and thought-provoking. As always, the melodies will seep into your deeper states of consciousness and the lyrics, once again, are as maturely & smartly written as anything that you are likely to hear. This one requires repeated "listens" for sure and with each successive exposure to this particular group of songs, one will most assuredly come to appreciate the artistic depth Crowded House has to offer. Don't expect to hear "Something So Strong" or any other 80s radio-friendly pop...expect to hear a genuine artist, an accomplished band, and a seriousness associated with the music that is downright impressive...and well, intriguing. This is the precise place where infectious melody meets seasoned maturity.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 18
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