To The Island

I'm really excited about the song judging by the snippet from the Fangradio Christmas show. The album will definitely be worth the wait.

Exciting news! Hope the album drops soon!

Thanks for letting us know! I haven’t heard the snippet 🤔 Looking forward to going in as naively as possible...

To The Island (Official Music Video) goes Live prior to the FANGRADIO Single Release Special  at 10 pm GMT ...  crowdedhouse.com “To The Island” video premieres 8am AEDT 18 Feb / 9pm GMT 17 Feb / 1pm PST 17 Feb ... right here

Does Neil sing “**** just got real” at one point in there? Ha.

It’s a fun song, like Whatever You Want I assume it will grow on me. The video is pretty neat though I could have done without Liam in the lift.

After one listen, I like it better than Whatever You Want. Gives me more hope for the album.

Nick looking quite dapper.

Color me unimpressed again just like the 1st single. Too much Pajama Club like for me... again. Part of it is the drums. Seems very vanilla !

Overall I like it! The kind of compressed drum sound reminds of the first two albums - I don't really like the drum sound on either of those albums. Think both of the new tracks will be good live!

Eh, maybe it'll grow on me a bit like Whatever You Want, but I don't know. I'd be interested to see the songwriting credits on this album. This one sounds like a Liam song, which is what I was afraid of. I didn't want this to be just the next Neil Finn project, featuring his sons and some old friends, but that's kinda what it seems like so far.

Crowded House is a flexible framework; their albums vary quite a lot in style and atmosphere, but there's still a common core running through it all.

So it's not that I expect it to be totally of a piece with what's come before. But I did hope those common threads would continue...Neil being (pretty much) the main songwriting attraction, with strong and direct melodies, unabashedly poppy hooks, assertive vocals and peppy arrangements, melodic Nick Seymour bass lines, etc.

Not what I'm hearing so far, personally. Bit of a letdown.

This is more of what I was expecting. A little bit weird but a through line underneath it all of pop sensibilities. A big step up compared to 'Whatever You Want'.

Enjoyed the film clip as well. I take it Mitchell and Nick were filmed separate to the Finns and inserted in to the nightclub scene?

On first listening I wasn't thrilled. Verse led me down a Pajama club alley, the chorus nearly hooked me but not quite and the structure felt too broken up for me to get into.

I've listened multiple times since and I am really enjoying this song immensely. I do sense Liam's fingerprints on this but I also feel like it picks up  threads from TOE/Intriguer era Crowded House.

It's joyous and hopeful and speaks to the times we live in. 

I manage my expectations pretty rigorously this days 🤔 especially after Whatever You Want, which I didn't find very engaging at all.

I've already played To the Island many more times than the WYW. I'm finding it a far more captivating song emotionally. I'm enjoying its catchy swing.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was Liam's chorus and Neil added the verses?

It's the kind of song that would have been an outtake in the noughties, which does allow for more quirkiness I think.

Well, Crowded House is many things. A band that's been through several iterations, as well as being a superannuation fund, a future source of income for Neil's boys in an uncertain world.

This song does speak to our times, though a multimillion dollar house in a nice part of LA is an island most can only dream of.

I still have the video clip and the fangradio to look forward to 🎶

What's so familiar about Mitchell's part at the ending?  Song of the Lonely Mountain!

Does Liam own shoes ?

Not bad at all... much better than the 1st single... kinda didn't hold much hope for the whole album as most reunion records aren't too great...

But maybe it will be good...

I've listened to it 3 times and can't recall any of the melodies in my mind's ear.

I can't work out if that's a good thing or not! I.e. instantly forgettable or gonna be a real grower...

...What I will add is that they were really great on Fang Radio  yesterday/today - vibes and interplay was wonderful and the acoustic set they played was pretty great (in my opinion)

The song's swingy, leg-kicking vibe reminded me of ""Why Does It Always Rain on Me? by Travis.

Reminded me of a Peppy "free as a bird" type ditty

I like the song more after each listen.  I think the sounds the guys are making seem better than Intriguer.  More upbeat, which is what I hoped for.  It actually sounds like a combo between Pajama Club and Crowded House, which is great for me because I want another Pajama Club album. 

Quite hooky this song. And I really like the sentiment of going back to your own cocoon in the midst of a complex world.

I'm afraid I liked it as much as the first single, which isn't very much. It just struck me that the singles have the same kind of dull drumming groove going back to Instinct on Recurring Dream. I've obviously always loved Neil's work, and there are many versions of his music, but I guess it's the mid-paced ballads for me. Those ambiguous emotions, wonderful melodic hooks. A bit of falsetto. The Solo at the Seymour Centre release of a few months ago hit the spot for me.

Who Me- hit it on the head. No drum substance and I’m missing the guitars that I like to drive songs. Also , I swear I hear Sharon on backing vocals. Neil can do better. This is lackluster. It’s PJ Club 2️⃣

I'm a drummer, and I've long held that drummers are slighted as musicians. "Can't play a real instrument?  Here- play percussion".  Yet I know that's not true!!!

As for El, he's a musician pegged to be the drummer. The "Paul H" slot, as so many fans wistfully recall. Paul was an amazing musician, and I always figured he had to be; to meet the exceptional standards Neil had for his band in the day. I played in a blues band once, I didn't care for it and rolled my eyes, and got voted out of the band. For the betterment of the band!

Liam is also a drummer. Maybe they could play musical chairs?  I'm rambling now. I want to love this. And it looks as if Neil's happy!  That makes me smile.

Listening to the acoustic Fangradio version of To The Island now - there’s a really good song under there.

Just like so many other Frenz who've already shared their thoughts, I feel like To The Island is a much stronger song. The production is impeccable, the melody gets better and better with each listen (classic Crowded House).

In my opinion, it has more of an Instinct/Sun Came Out/Dizzy Heights vibe to it than Pajama Club (which is not top of my list of favorite Finn incarnations).

I LOVE the artwork, and even the Video seems like a contender for all-time top 3 Crowded House.

I understand this isn't the folk-pop-beatlesque-songwriting that we first fell in love with in 86' and then continued to love thru 2010. I also think we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that it's 2021, and things wouldn't be as exciting, if Neil and Co. pulled a Cat Stevens (on offence to the brilliant Yusuf).

Personally, I'm getting more and more excited about the newest lineup and hope the rest of the album is this strong and upbeat!

I love the singing on the track, great vocal arrangement and harmonies.

Also, if Sharon does sing on the track, is there really a problem with that, as someone hinted? Hasn't sharon sung on previous CH albums?

I like the video - it’s quirky and humorous, particularly when Neil is refused access to The Island.

I’m assuming Nick and Mitchell were edited in to the video post-production (probably filming from separate locations due the ongoing global situation).

More importantly, I like the song. It sounds like a Liam / Neil co-write, and though I didn’t get into Lightsleeper, I’m optimistic about what this incarnation of the band can achieve.

@BRANDO BRANDT posted:

Just like so many other Frenz who've already shared their thoughts, I feel like To The Island is a much stronger song. The production is impeccable, the melody gets better and better with each listen (classic Crowded House).

In my opinion, it has more of an Instinct/Sun Came Out/Dizzy Heights vibe to it than Pajama Club (which is not top of my list of favorite Finn incarnations).

I LOVE the artwork, and even the Video seems like a contender for all-time top 3 Crowded House.

I understand this isn't the folk-pop-beatlesque-songwriting that we first fell in love with in 86' and then continued to love thru 2010. I also think we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that it's 2021, and things wouldn't be as exciting, if Neil and Co. pulled a Cat Stevens (on offence to the brilliant Yusuf).

Personally, I'm getting more and more excited about the newest lineup and hope the rest of the album is this strong and upbeat!

I'm with you about Cat Stevens (thumbs up!)

I agree with everything said. Thanks

Finally got to the fangradio and really enjoyed it. I never dance, but To the Island had even me dancing round the kitchen a bit

‘Twas a lovely start to Time Immemorial and it’s sad that they brutalised it with bad karaoke in the chorus

I could imagine To the Island going pretty crazy live. Look forward to that

Still not a fan of Whatever You Want, but trying.

To The Island struck me intially at PJ club too, but on few more listens I think I was wrong.

It's a much stronger song, I like it. It would fit in perfectly on LightSleeper, which would make more sense that PJ Club.

Will be really interesting to hear where the whole thing takes us!

@Black&WhiteBoy posted:

I like the video - it’s quirky and humorous, particularly when Neil is refused access to The Island.

I’m assuming Nick and Mitchell were edited in to the video post-production (probably filming from separate locations due the ongoing global situation).

More importantly, I like the song. It sounds like a Liam / Neil co-write, and though I didn’t get into Lightsleeper, I’m optimistic about what this incarnation of the band can achieve.

Tis amusing, and incidentally it reminds me of the Paul Simon song Wristband, in which Simon is refused re-entry to his own gig because he doesn’t have a wristband.

https://youtu.be/9lJHVpH5v8Q

Whatever You Want makes me think of the Fraggle Rock character Convincing John, who will indeed persuade you of...whatever you want.

https://youtu.be/IJucHqvbqUA

The Song is growing on me . Just heard the acoustic version on Neil’s show , and it’s helping me enjoy it more .The harmonies are superb on the radio .  I feel the production on the studio cut is too “ Pajama Club “ ...

Overall I think it’s a good album track - can’t understand why it was considered as a single . Whatever you want is a song I much prefer - really love it , and it’s a “ single “ all day long .

The one thing I really notice about this version of Crowded House is how tight and musically talented they are....and it comes across in the song. However, it really comes across in the recent versions of the old songs that I watched on YouTube last night. Incredible, emotional versions that I think sound the best ever. I normally have high standards but they truly sound amazing...and I think he sons have brought that into the band...together with the emotional keyboard playing.

@stuartjb posted:

Overall I think it’s a good album track - can’t understand why it was considered as a single . Whatever you want is a song I much prefer - really love it , and it’s a “ single “ all day long .

I remember when Don’t Stop Now was released ahead of Time On Earth...like it or not, it had “single” written all over it and it sounded like Crowded House. I don’t really like Intriguer but it also had its share of obvious singles like Twice If You’re Lucky, Amsterdam etc.

That’s what worries me about this album so far...I kind of hear it with Whatever You Want, but this latest one is an album track if I’ve ever heard one. Is the album that starved of catchy singles?

@slowpogo posted:

That’s what worries me about this album so far... this latest one is an album track if I’ve ever heard one. Is the album that starved of catchy singles?

this...

I really like the song, mainly because I find it interesting on a number of levels. I’m not sure if it’s a great single, but DDiO was the 4th single of the debut album and SSS the 5th. And Weather With You was the 4th off Woodface. So there could still be some real gems to come. I do like this significantly more than Saturday Sun (and Either Side of the World) though.

I think I can hear some Phil Judd influences throughout it, which took me by surprise. I can easily imagine Phil singing the verses with Neil coming in on the chorus. This is exactly what I imagine a song would sound like if Neil and Phil got together to write.

Interesting that it references the Island of Real too. This was a music venue in the late 70s in Auckland. It was way before my time so I don't know much about it. It closed in 1980. I have heard in referenced in regard to gigs from some of the NZ punk bands. Neil’s name most likely would have been on the door list! The Suburban Reptiles definitely played there, and Neil had close links there through Buster Stiggs.

I think a lot of how we hear the different Crowded House albums is probably down to each of us individually, how old we were and what was going on then. Some of the older records and songs have had decades to infuse into all of us. For me, these new songs can't compare simply because they haven't had the time to grow with us.

I understand much of what people have said about the new songs, I couldn't hear any Pajama Club in Whatever You Want (although I can hear split enz!) but could hear it more in To The Island. I like the more upbeat, bigger sound of both tunes; despite being released as Crowded House, they don't easily compare to the back catalogue, I think cos so many of the songs have been with us for along time.

I look forward to hearing the whole record through and its not so far away now!