OT: Crowded House is back together

[SometimesNothing]

Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and Mark Hart have reformed Crowded House and will tour the world this year and there's a new album coming out as well!

(Now for some Squidsy content)
Those of us who have Squids Tron 1 have samples from Neil Finn's Chamberlin!

And if you watch the documentaries on the Crowdies new Farewell To The World DVD, you'll see Neil showing off his Optigan and catch a glimpse of some other cool stuff in his studio.

Bring on Tron 2!

[mistertoast]

What's the other Finn up to then?

[bduffy]

Cool! This is so weird, because I've been listening to them again lately. Hope they come to Vancouver, I'll have to go.

[mistertoast]

This sort of ruins "Farewell to the World."

[marsattax]

Their greatest hits album is one of my favorite discs. It's great news they are putting out new material and touring.

[bduffy]

Man, that first eponymous album is so good. I remember when I saw the video for "World Where You Live" late one 1986 night on MuchMusic; I ran out and bought the album and then waited a year for it to catch on (and boy, did it ever!). Saw them tour in '87 too, great live act.

[SometimesNothing]

What's the other Finn up to then?

Tim's got a new record out called "Imaginary Kingdom" - out now in the UK, supposed to be coming out in the US this spring.

[Squids]

Mark said they had almost a whole album that was never released so I wonder if they rekindled that or started new.

I sold Neil his Optigan too btw so that used to be mine.

[Caleb]

I love Crowded House and Neil Finn.

I didn't completely click with Neil's solo - "Try Whistling This" although I still think "Sinner" is exquisite.

Nice to see a bit of a rebirth of Crowded House. I hope something good comes of it.

Regards
Caleb

[SometimesNothing]

Mark said they had almost a whole album that was never released so I wonder if they rekindled that or started new.

I sold Neil his Optigan too btw so that used to be mine.

Based on what I've read, it seems things went like this:
1. Neil, Nick got together to record commentary for the FTTW DVD (with Mark in L.A. via iChat AV). Neil mentions a box set coming in 07.
2. Neil decides to have Nick play on his new solo album.
3. DVD release and news of the box set and of Nick playing with Neil begin speculation about a Crowdies reunion, some of which comes from Neil who said he's "open" to the idea and really misses being in a band.
4. Crowded House officially reforms, Neil solo album becomes a Crowded House album.

Nobody seems to know if Mark plays on the album or not. Neil and Nick worked with Ethan Johns over at RealWorld in Bath, UK and then Neil brought the record to L.A. to finish it up. I would hope they'd have Mark involved on the album.

One track of the "lost album", "Help Is Coming" was released on the album Afterglow. Maybe we'll get some more of them in the box set.

You can hear Squid' former Optigan on "Not The Girl You Think You Are" (from CH's Recurring Dream album), "She Comes Scattered" and "Tokyo" (extra tracks from Neil's Try Whistling This record, released as b-sides).