Reviews & Previews S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T CROWDED HOUSE: Something So Strong amount of time and money spent to By Chris Bourke break a band like Crowded House Pan Macmillan Australia in the U.S. would probably never be 376 pages; $18 expended in today's more short- ONCE REMOVED sighted pop marketplace. By Neil Finn Unfortunately, the good times for Photography by Mark Smith Crowded House would be brief. Sanctuary Publishing Be 192 pages; $30 Despite the hit ballad "Better Home Soon," the group's sopho- After the split of New Zealand more album, "Temple Of Low SAVAGE GARDEN Affirmation (3:25) MARC ANTHONY My Baby You (3:38) BABY BUMPS I Got This Feeling (timing not new wave sensation Split Enz, sing- Men," would not duplicate the gold - PRODUCER: Walter Afanasieff PRODUCERS: Walter Afanasieff, Dan Shea listed) er/guitarist Neil Finn regrouped certified stateside success of the WRITERS: D. Hayes, D. Jones WRITERS: M. Anthony, W. Afanasieff PRODUCER: Sean Casey with the trio Crowded House, band's debut disc. By the third PUBLISHERS; Rough Cut Music/WB.Music, ASCAP PUBLISHERS: Sony/ATV Tunes,WallyWorld Music, WRITERS: M. Jackson, S. Casey Columbia Records (CD promo) ASCAP PUBLISHER: Warner /Chappell whose artful pop gained interna- offering, the musically rich but Savage Garden's "Affirmation" is Columbia 12692 (CD promo) REMIXER: Sean Casey tional renown in the mid -'80s. First commercially disappointing "Wood- among the most spirited uptempo, Fans of Marc Anthony's current self- Radikal Records 99021 (CD promo) published in 1997, "Something So face," Tim Finn had joined the pure pop songs of the past 10 years. titled album will be overjoyed to know Utilizing the full instrumental track Strong" recounts the tale of group, splitting songwriting chores Its joyous melody is absolutely indeli- that "My Baby You " -by far the most from Michael Jackson's classic 1979 in Neil. The reunion was short- ble in the brain; the lyric is deep, passionate song on the set and a time- smash "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Crowded House such an engag- with clever, positive, and universal; and the less love song-has been tagged as the Enough," this terrifically clever dance ing manner that you don't even lived, though, and Tim was soon performance from Darren Hayes and next release to radio. Significant air- track adds a full-on new vocal, com- have to know the band's music to back to his solo work. After releas- Daniel Jones -and production from play in a number of major markets plete with fresh verses and a chorus as enjoy the read. Author Chris ing a fourth album and the depar- Walter Afanasieff-is an expression of began weeks ago (it's No. 4 in airplay catchy as the original, essentially turn- Bourke has positioned the Crowd- ture of Hester, the act quietly dis- sheer inspiration. Couple that with the at WKTU New York), demonstrating ing it into a brand -new song. Yes, it's a ed House story as part history /part banded in 1996, bidding farewell to summer sun and you've got the per- this ballad's great promise even before sample, something that this industry fect seasonal song to roll right into the the label push began. And what an has certainly seen enough of in the fall. The appeal here is so great, in amazing composition. Written by An- past decade, but seldom is the re- fact, that this latest single from the thony with co-producer Walter Man - working of a familiar melody accom- album of the same name should cross asieff, the melody itself sweeps and plished with such a clever hand and all borders: Top 40 is a no-brainer, cascades through the air, with a lyric with such festive results. Vocals- while adult top 40, rhythmic top 40, that is just drenched with adoration that's singing, not a rap -come from and AC are likely to be all over this and romance: 'As I look into your the highly capable Lisa Millett, with one like grass stains on white pants. eyes/I see all the reasons why/My production, lyric, and instrumental Kids will dig the frenetic melody, life's worth a thousand skies/My baby arrangement from Sean Casey, aka adults will embrace the endearing you/Are the reason I could fly /And Baby Bumps, a onetime teenage acid - lyric, and radio will love the attention 'cause of you/I don't have to wonder house raver now turned DJ and musi- it garners. Thematically, Hayes tosses why/There's no more just getting cian. He's already gained notoriety out mantra after life mantra, like, "I by/You're the reason I feel so alive." with a string of rave club hits in the believe that beauty magazines pro- Then, of course, there's Anthony's early '90s, but here, he's ready to mote low self-esteem/I believe in love vocal, which radiates with near-trem- break bad into the mainstream with when I'm completely by myself alone/I bling emotion, peaking with a note this pure disco anthem, neatly execut- believe in karma, what you give is that will send shivers up and down ed and ready for major club action via what you get returned/I believe you your spine. Mr. Mare's performance of a handful of varying mixes. Top 40, Neil Finn can't appreciate real love till you've this song on his recent HBO concert there's a great radio edit here too, and Once Removed been burned/I believe that God does special was a defining moment for this it's ripe for the picking. Listeners inn b, ' il- Ghu,.. Photogt pin lv M,,,k Smith not endorse TV evangelists." Hayes' one -of -a -kind premier talent; now, this young and old will go mad for this. It's rapid -fire delivery is a mind -full, and great song has the opportunity to unabashed fun. Contact Radikal with such an ingratiating melody, this reach an even broader audience, and Records at 212-532 -2345. is sure to lodge itself tight into Ameri- that's a blessing. Top 40, rhythmic top commentary on the machinations their fans by playing a free show at ca's collective consciousness in record 40, AC, have a field day. Bravo, indeed. of the '80s music business. the Sydney Opera House. Nearly time. The track, trimmed for radio for your bobbing pleasure. Poe almost raps 250,000 people into the from a lofty 4:56 to a tidy 3:25, has al- through the verses with rapid-fire delivery. In the early '70s, Tim Finn crammed singer/bassist Max Collins, guitarist Jon formed Split Enz, with the star Opera House's surrounding areas ready hit pay dirt in Europe, debuting Siebels, and drummer Tony Fagenson are For the new album, she took advantage of in the 10. front man eventually enlisting little to witness Crowded House's final U.K. top With a live perfor- on their way to the big time; "Promise" advanced recording equipment for the ulti- mance of the track scheduled for the abounds. mate freedom in the studio, heavily utiliz- brother Neil as the band's guitarist. hour. upcoming Summer Olympics in Aus- ing Pro Tools and the like to the equip- The younger Finn got off to a shaky After the release of a Finn tralia- Savage's homeland-it's about DUMDUMS Everything (no timing listed) ment's fullest extent. It's a testament to start, but he gradually evolved into Brothers record, Neil went solo, to become a worldwide treasure. Wow. PRODUCER: Steve Power her songwriting and overall vision that a superlative songwriter, penning which is how he works today. "Once Simply irresistible. WRITERS: J. Doyle, S. Clarke, S. Wilkinson "Walk The Walk," despite her technical PUBLISHER: not listed savvy, remains a cohesive, musical, and several of the group's biggest hits, Removed" is a collection of photos MCA (CD promo) catchy tune. Look for this to rock at mod- including "I Got You" and "One taken on the 1998 world tour in (Continued,from preceding page) A top 20 hit in the U.K., "Everything" is em and active rock stations into the fall. Step Ahead." Split Enz wasn't able support of his Work /Sony album the leadoff U.S. single for Dumdums' to parlay massive success Down "Try Whistling This," with Neil's (yup, named after the lollipops) debut set, ROCK TRACKS "It Goes Without Saying." The rockin' Under or even a couple of early recollections and reflections pro- I. EVE 6 Promise (2:56) tune is a good choice to introduce the trio JENNIFER PAIGE Beautiful (4:09) MTV hits into long- lasting gains viding the text. The portrait that PRODUCER: Don Gilmore to the U.S. Lead singer Josh Doyle sounds PRODUCER: Rob Cavallo worldwide, so the veteran band emerges from the book is one of a WRITERS: M. Collins, Eve 6 like a hyper version of Third Eye Blind's WRITER: not listed parted ways, setting the stage for family man trying to keep his PUBLISHERS: Fake and Jaded Music/Less Than Zero Stephan Jenkins, half-rapping the verses PUBLISHER: not listed Neil's second act. bearings in a hectic and often dis- Music/Southfield Road Music, BMI and shifting into harmonizing mode on the Centropolis Records/Hollywood 11307 (CD promo) RCA 60305 (CD promo) In drummer Paul Hester and orienting business.