I had the pleasure of meeting all of Crowded House last Wed in Atlanta. Nick came out last and one the things I asked was if they've picked a producer for the new album. He's signing my ticket and looks up as if I reminded him that..... "Uh, I was supposed to.....Ah! I was suppossed to send out some Emails! We're trying to get Youth... no Flood!" He mentions something about being in a business with Flood's wife. "You see, it's not about music anymore", Then he says rather ominously, "you know he makes a lot of money from U2". Flood's a good choice. He's worked on the Killers last one, tons of U2, Depeche Mode, NIN, Pumpkins.

Great pic Matt.

Wow, how edgy and punk of CH would that be! I thought as you wrote Youth - that wouldn't be a idea...but Mark Ellis would be very interesting!

Flood would be cool...he's done some great, classic albums. He also seems to specialize in taking bands in newer, more experimental directions, breaking them out of their pigeonhole.

I wonder if the next album will be more like Together Alone, a departure in some ways, more adventurously produced? That's what I hope, anyway.

OY that gets my mind going...what a great tidbit of possibility. Love that Nick: "Youth...no, Flood!"

Interesting. Do you think it will be just Flood. Flood does co-produce a lot of stuff as well. I would associate Flood with a lot harder sounding 'rawk' bands such as The Killers, Depeche Mode, U2 etc, all bands I love by the way - but I would never put CH in with these bands. I would say CH have a warmer more human sound - distictly different. I think using Flood would be a challenge for both producer and band and could be very interesting!

Flood is a 'band' producer though isn't he? - so choosing Flood is very much saying the next CH album will be a band album - thats what I think anyway!

Have to say I'd love to hear a Youth produced album cos whatever everyone says TA is still the best produced CH album even if Youth didn't do much! How about a Youth and Flood album.

Just because i am ahuge fan of most of his work and because he seemed to really get something out of CH recently i would hope the Steve Lillywhite would be in the frame.

Or maybe self produce. Or Nick could produce.

Oh i dont know but reckon they ought to get Steve.

Stoat

Oh I'm really not a Steve Lillywhite fan. Not all. Although the Lillywhite songs on TOE are the most commercial, I far prefer the Ethan Johns produced stuff.

Brian Eno would be interesting but he's like royalty isn't he? Flood will certainly be interesting but I'm not sure the cold cliical sound that most of his production has would fit well with CH.

Flood sounds like a good choice, but would really like to see them work with Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, McCartney).

Godrich ??

Now you're talking

Stoat

Just to maintain my growing reputation as a leading irritant on this forum, I'd like to suggest Mitchell Froom. (I also think he's a fine producer, and a man who clearly understands Neil Finn's musical preferences, but that's secondary.)

I think Rick Rubin would be another interesting choice at some point. Look what he did w/ Johnny Cash and "Hurt" as just one example, but his range is incredible:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rubin

One Eno to go please...or perhaps Mr. Fripp. What he did with The Roches first album was pretty outstanding.

quote:

Mitchell Froom

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh No No No. He's just too too safe. I thought the last production job he did with the Finn Bros was just what he always does.good solid stuff byt safe.

CH need to venture 'outside of the box', which is why Flood would be interesting, Brian Eno would be perfect and why Youth was so good, whatever he didn't do. Rick Rubin 'goes to the essence of the songs' doesn't he. Well Neil does that pretty well himself really.

Nigel Godrich would be good. He was a sound engineer on Neils TWT if you look closer enough at the sleeve credits so they've had some connnection before. But I think Niegel's a bit to safe, foget Radiohead, listen to his production on Paul McCartnerys one before last album - very safe - just honing the songs. Neil's songs don't need honing.

To really jazz it up how about Fat Boy Slimm? Now that really would be interesting!!

Back to Rick Rubin, my impression is that he's about putting a different spin on an artist's sound, yet still staying true to who they are. Like a stripped-down NIN song, which under different circumstances you'd never associate w/ Johnny Cash, yet when you put it together, it absolutely worked. Under the same idea, he's talked about infusing a bit of a rock edge while producing the Dixie last (Grammy award winning)album, reflecting what they'd gone through the previous year. Different approach and spin, and still sounds like them. Given that both acts really weren't on anyone's radar for various reasons at the time, and given the acclaim and success of both records, that's why I'd be interested to see what he would do with a Crowded House project.

And just for fun, a round of "Six Degrees of Separation" (more like two, in this case)...when I was reading this thread and Rick Rubin came to mind, I wasn't even thinking about how Neil is connected to that Dixie Chicks album through his songwriting credit on Silent House

mmm still not convinced by Rick Rubin, although I do love what he does with the Chillies and with Jonny Cash. I don't think CH need re-inventing a la Jonny Cash or reinvigorating like the Chilli's. Didnt think much of his recent single with U2. He's also reaching God like status like Brian Eno and I'm not sure CH will be able to catch him anyway, although being a Dixie Dick may help Neil. Flood is a better option.

Duly noted. And I agree that they don't necessarily need reinventing, per se. Still think it could work, though.

On another note, with Matt in the band, there may be new connections to explore, given whoever his connections are.

Maybe now would be the time for Neil to make it up to Toni Visconti.

I liked his version of Everyone Is Here.

Would be a very good producer for Neil as he likes to inject a lot of his own style onto things.

Just a thought

Still thinking that Mr Nicholas Seymour could do a good job. He knows the writer well enough.
It would also be a great way for him to feel more involved than he may have been in the past.

Nick producing, Matt doing the cover art, Mark writing the songs and Neil, well Neil doing as he is damn well told.

Only a joke.

Stoat

quote:

Originally posted by The Stoat:
Maybe now would be the time for Neil to make it up to Toni Visconti.

I liked his version of Everyone Is Here.

Only a joke.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Thankfully, I have a feeling Visconti won't be producing any more Finn material. As horrific as the rest of those sessions were, I'm just happy he didn't find a way to screw up "Tell Me C'mon" and "Sunset Swim."

I like the idea of Nigel Goodrich, but in his role as Radiohead and Beck producer.
Maybe Danger Mouse would be a good choice, like the Good the bad and the queen a lot.