Gold Collection, The - Split Enz > Reviews > Before their house was crowded..

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	great songs that stand the test of time
Disadvantages:	a few duds !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

-----Background to the band ----------
Split Enz are probably best known for their early 80's hits - particularly "I Got You" and "History never Repeats", the former is often found on 80s complations and many don't realise that Split Enz was founded by Tim Finn (later of Crowded House).

In the early days the band members were know for wearing wild, colorful costumes and sported a variety of odd hairdos, however, it was when Tim's brother Neil Finn penned his seductive "I Got You," that the band finally broke through in the mainstream - the single and album hit number one in Australia and New Zealand, eventually selling 200,000 albums in Australia which led to an international deal with A&M Records.

Neil and Paul Hester (the drummer from Split Enz) went on to form the internationally successful Crowded House and then Tim and Neil Finn reunited for a Finn Brothers album in 1995 and again in 2004. Sadly, the death of Paul Hester in 2005 has led to the Finn Brothers taking a bit of a break from music.

------Album Details ----------
Released by EMI Records in 1999

Track listing (with my scores):
1 Late Last Night (5/10)
2 Another Great Divide (7/10)
3 My Mistake (6/10)
4 Stranger Than Fiction (8/10)
5 Walking Down A Road (7/10)
6. Crosswords (6/10)
7 History Never Repeats (10/10)
8 Matinee Idyll (6/10)
9 Lovey Dovey (6/10)
10 Time For A Change (7/10)
11. Charlie (7/10)
12 Bold As Brass (6/10)
13 I See Red (9/10 )
14 I Got You (10/10)

** I must point out that although this is the way the tracks appear on the album cover when you listen to the album tracks 6 and 7 are the wrong way round and History Never Repeats is actually track 6. this seems to be the case with all the CDs and not just mine**

----My opinion----------
I am a big Crowded House fan which is what led me to this album as I heard a few of these tracks played live when i went to see Tim and Neil Finn in concert recently and certainly it's worth giving this album a go if you're a fan of the Finn Brothers but I'm sure it won't be to everyone's taste.

How can I describe the music? Many of these tracks have a beatles-esque sound to them with some influences from the Kinks and in my mind even great bands such as Pink Floyd (especially Stranger than Fiction- mainly instumental with some odd ramblings and later in the song some singing and even bird twitterings).

The album has a very strong synth basis to it and as this collection is effectively a 'best of' Split Enz, the genesis of the band can be charted through the album from their earlier stranger songs through the their more commercially popular 80's singles such as "I Got You".

I must admit you have to be in the right mood to listen to this album all the way through - just as you would with a Pink Floyd album but often I'll just put on my three favourites - History never Repeats, I see Red and I Got You on repeat and will be dancing round the room like a madwoman.

The album is very mixed in terms of content, most of the tracks are pre-80s songs with the exclusion of "History never Repeats" and "I Got You". There is a mix of some slower songs, some odd songs and some really good pop tunes that will get you singing along. You can listen to samples of the songs on Amazon.

Finally, I would say if you're not already a fan then perhaps one of their other compilations might introduce you to the band more gently but this album has a fine mix of progressive /alternative / eclectic songs that are certainly unusual.