quote:

Originally posted by Finngirl:
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I hope that song went through some major evolution... I'm sure it's annoying to some of you, that some of us are critical of certain new songs. But I can't stand by this one, at least not the version I heard or anything vaguely resembling it. Of course, I want the album to be great as much as anyone, and will try to withhold further judgment until I can hear it.

Yes!!

Was so hoping for that song no. 10 to make it through! Hopefully it's as good as I imagine a studio version will be based on the live versions tinkering around. Always had a very "Now We're Getting Somewhere" vibe to me.

I won't mind so much now if Turn It Around is the last track 'cos at least I will still have Twice if You're Lucky and this latest song to turn up loud and belt out at the top of my lungs in the car.

My $16.99 is on Elephants for the final track. I shall really POUT if it's left off!

quote:

Originally posted by slowpogo:
I like the song a lot, but I *hate* the "blame it on the drugs" at the end. The rest of the lyrics are elusive and abstract in Neil's typical way, so that line at the end is like "Wha...?" It leaves me scrambling to reconcile that line with the rest of the much less concrete lyrics, and I don't get it. Also, a direct mention of drugs in a CH song seems wrong somehow, a strain against their image (though I know Neil, at least has done his share).

Sometimes it also sounds like he's singing "blame it on the dogs." Maybe he's trying to do one of those sly commingling of lyrics he sometimes does...like in Astro, sometimes it's "slow cloud movin' 'cross the sky," but one time he really seems to be singing "slow cow mooin' 'cross the sky."

I made a point of asking Neil "What are you singing there? "Blame it on the drugs?" and he absolutely refused to say (this was back in May 2008) He said nothing was written in stone yet and then to my astonishment started telling a story about being selected for additional security at his home airport once (he didn't say when) because they had sniffer dogs that seemed interested in him. My startled comment to him was "Seriously???" and he said yes. He seemed rather annoyed at the memory.

So, I think he's actually singing *both* blame it on the dogs...AND .... blame it on the drugs.

and yes, i shall pout too if Elephants doesn't make it on, but it was so lovely, I can't BELIEVE they'd leave it off. But..who knows.

quote:

Originally posted by Martine:
and yes, i shall pout too if Elephants doesn't make it on, but it was so lovely, I can't BELIEVE they'd leave it off. But..who knows.

At least we know they've recorded it, so it should find it's way out to us one way or another.

I've said it in another thread, but it looks this is going to be Crowded House's most guitar-driven album to date. Whether or not one likes the youtube clip of Inside Out, the song as performed in that incarnation is yet another drums'n'wires number (like Amsterdam, Either Side of the World, Falling Dove, Isolation, The Intriguer, and Twice If You're Lucky). The youtube clips for these songs boast lots of electric, some acoustic, both 6-string and 12-string, and a brace of lapsteel. No trace in any of them of the Hammond organ or other keyboards that we hear everywhere on Time on Earth and the early Crowded House records.

And can I also add -- it's very brave of Neil and the band at this stage of their career to do an album loaded with so many covers: Saturday Sun (Nick Drake), Amsterdam (Jacques Brel), Isolation (John Lennon), and now Inside Out (Diana Ross).

He did call the album 'exotic' on more than one occasion so there must be something going on in the songs beyond your basic 'guitar rock'.

Wow. Didn't see that one coming. It looks like the album is going to omit a number of songs I really like (four, unless some of the album tracks are old songs renamed).

quote:

Originally posted by Watney Sideburns:
I've said it in another thread, but it looks this is going to be Crowded House's most guitar-driven album to date. Whether or not one likes the youtube clip of Inside Out, the song as performed in that incarnation is yet another drums'n'wires number (like Amsterdam, Either Side of the World, Falling Dove, Isolation, The Intriguer, and Twice If You're Lucky). The youtube clips for these songs boast lots of electric, some acoustic, both 6-string and 12-string, and a brace of lapsteel. No trace in any of them of the Hammond organ or other keyboards that we hear everywhere on Time on Earth and the early Crowded House records.

Then the logical next choice would HAVE to be Elephants, with it's pretty and delicate keyboards. Not a stomping, romping monster of a song despite it's title, more like a zephyr.(thanks Mr. you-know-who-you-are)

So if Neil and the boys are channeling their inner Spock, Elephants will bring up the rear!

YAY. I hope....

im now truly worried and stunned at the prospect that Turn It Around might not feature on the album ...
speechless in anticipation of being wrong.
hopefully !

Could Turn it Around have morphed into Inside Out? Would be oh so sweet if everyone get's their choice!

Mental note to Neil... Elephants.... never...forget...

quote:

Originally posted by silent stream:
im now truly worried and stunned at the prospect that Turn It Around might not feature on the album ...
speechless in anticipation of being wrong.
hopefully !

Me too, it had that epic, kind of mellow freak-out quality that Neil does at least once every two albums even if it took a change of producer to finally do those types of songs some justice.

quote:

Originally posted by Watney Sideburns:
I've said it in another thread, but it looks this is going to be Crowded House's most guitar-driven album to date. Whether or not one likes the youtube clip of Inside Out, the song as performed in that incarnation is yet another drums'n'wires number (like Amsterdam, Either Side of the World, Falling Dove, Isolation, The Intriguer, and Twice If You're Lucky). The youtube clips for these songs boast lots of electric, some acoustic, both 6-string and 12-string, and a brace of lapsteel. No trace in any of them of the Hammond organ or other keyboards that we hear everywhere on Time on Earth and the early Crowded House records.

No complaints from me

quote:

Originally posted by Joel:

quote:

Originally posted by Watney Sideburns:
I've said it in another thread, but it looks this is going to be Crowded House's most guitar-driven album to date. Whether or not one likes the youtube clip of Inside Out, the song as performed in that incarnation is yet another drums'n'wires number (like Amsterdam, Either Side of the World, Falling Dove, Isolation, The Intriguer, and Twice If You're Lucky). The youtube clips for these songs boast lots of electric, some acoustic, both 6-string and 12-string, and a brace of lapsteel. No trace in any of them of the Hammond organ or other keyboards that we hear everywhere on Time on Earth and the early Crowded House records.

No complaints from me

Depends how they are used. It can go from the dullest to the most interesting instrument depending on who is using it and how it is used.

That strum-strum-chug-chug sound is as dull as dishwater. Me wants pluck and jangle.

Well, the guitar driven sound from CH that keeps me obsessed includes (but not limited to and in no particular order):

- Mean to me
- Locked out
- Whispers and moans
- Something so strong
- Black and white boy
- In my command
- Help is coming
- I am in love
- Sacred cow
- Stare me out
- Twice if you're lucky
- Inside out
- Skin Feeling
- Sister Madly
- Silent House
- Everything is good for you

For now that's all I can think off. But I like the guitar sound of CH that has a rocky edge to it rather than the pop sounding guitars you'd hear in songs such as DDIO, Don't stop now, Even a child and Tall trees.

What do I mean by "rocky edge"? For me, I suppose the inclusion of solos plus giving the guitars a slightly grittier and crunchier sound. Think of the difference between The Beatles' Eight Days a week and Revolution or Back in the USSR.

I was thinking about Elephants the other day and it dawned on me that many years ago Neil gave me a few bits and pieces for the archives. I think one was his tour itinerary for the Enz 1982 World tour....

It was one of those items that I loved because he'd scribbled rough lyrics and pieces of songs for the first time on the back of some pages..

and I remember there were some lines around Elephants...... something like this

"In Washington
there are five windows (the word 'open' scribbled out)
in a concrete block
elephant (the word 'stampede' scribbled out)
You'd think wild animals could roam
in streets that hiss & howl
the horror of it all".

other lyrics, the very basic germs of 'Inspiration' etc... maybe they were just lines or thoughts...who knows...anyway obviously Elephants have floated around in his mind for quite a awhile!!! *GRIN*

Gryph

I can't let you guys hang out any longer so you are getting the 11th and final song title early
it is indeed "Elephants".......

That's it folks

Gryph