Crowded House Farewell To The World CD

Crowded House called it a day on November 24, 1996, with a farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House attended by well over 100,000 people, making it one of the largest concerts in Australian history. The double-disc set Farewell to the World was released a decade later to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the event, and while the performance lacks the loose energy and off-the-cuff banter that made Crowded House's concerts memorable, it has aged well, and not just because Neil Finn's songs sound every bit as fresh and sharp as they did upon their initial release. That much can be discerned from a listen to any of the group's albums, or their excellent hits compilation, Recurring Dream, but what Farewell to the World reveals is what a tight, professional live band Crowded House could be if the occasion called for it -- and certainly, this farewell show was an occasion that called for it. This was a large-scale, historic performance, and it sounds like it: the band plays all the hits and standards, with none of the left-field detours that could characterize their live shows (and are well documented on the many fan club-only live releases over the years), and they play with focused precision that may not be as exciting as some of their other live shows, but it certainly is easy to enjoy, whether it was in person at the Sydney Opera House in 1996 or hearing it on record years later. This may not be a major release, but for fans it is a welcome one: a souvenir of a fine farewell show, and a nice reminder of the strengths of Crowded House as a live band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

2006 legitimate issue of the most sought after concert recording by the New Zealand foursome. Previously available for a very short time only on videocassette, this was the band's final performance as the Sydney Opera House. While a bittersweet occasion, it was one of the most impassioned performances ever delivered by the group. All the i's were dotted and the t's crossed, featuring final renditions of all their hits, capped off with an impassioned, "Don't Dream It's Over". While Neil, Nick and Paul would later perform at a few charity concert appearances, this was the group's final formal sendoff, making it all the more poignant for fans in the wake of Paul Hester's subsequent passing. One more time, relish the joy that was one of the great phenomenons in modern pop music history.

Audio Mixer: Tchad Blake.

Liner Note Author: David Hepworth.

Recording information: Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Uncut (p.97) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "In retrospect, Crowded House's adventures in idiosyncratic, super-tuneful pop have acquired and almost Beatles-like mystique."