CD reviews: Crowded House – Intriguer

Kiwi music legend, done a lot for the local scene and all that. But does anyone else find the music Neil Finn has made with Crowded House crushingly dull? It’s never outright bad; there’s always craft and melody, it’s just … nondescript. Bland.

Here’s an example: in preparation for this review, I played Intriguer end to end four times. That’s 160 minutes of listening, with journalist’s note pad to hand. You probably want to know what it sounds like. Haven’t a clue. There’s nothing there; no points of interest to catch the ear. Sound washes over you but never takes hold. After nearly three hours the only notes I’d written were these: Drum sound on ‘Even If’ good – sounds like Ringo. Hope that helps. RB

SOUND: 2.5

MUSIC: 2.5