Afterglow

1	I Am in Love 4:38
2	Sacred Cow 3:37
3	You Can Touch 3:46
4	Help Is Coming 4:49
5	I Love You Dawn 2:34
6	Dr. Livingstone 3:57
7	My Telly's Gone Bung 3:13
8	Private Universe 4:08
9	Lester 2:18
10	Anyone Can Tell 3:36
11	Recurring Dream 3:24
12	Left Hand 2:57
13	Time Immemorial 4:07

Barnes & Noble

Emerging from the ashes of New Zealand's Split Enz, Crowded House surpassed their predecessor's success with a brand of smart guitar pop reminiscent of the Beatles, the Kinks, and Squeeze. AFTERGLOW compiles 13 refurbished and/or remastered tracks, including rare B-sides and seven previously unreleased songs originally recorded for 1991's WOODFACE. The set's highlights include drummer Paul Hester's zany TV-obsessed "My Telly's Gone Bung" and the ethereal breeziness of "Sacred Cow." Elsewhere, some of the finest moments come from the pen of talented bandleader Neil Finn, who takes inspiration from his wife on the melodically rich "I Love You Dawn" and his dog on the poignant demo of "Lester." Fans will also revel in hearing some of Crowded House's earliest recordings, such as the chiming "Recurring Dream" and rollicking, wah-wah guitar-soaked "Left Hand," both written before the band even had a recording contract. Providing the perfect bookend is the ethereal "Help Is Coming," which was recorded for an unfinished fifth album and underscores the group's brilliant pop architecture. Dave Gil de Rubio

All Music Guide

Like any band, Crowded House had some unfinished business after their split. Namely, they had a number of very good songs that never appeared on an official album. These weren't rejects, per se -- they were tunes that didn't have a home, so they popped up on B-sides, soundtracks and live shows, where Crowded House regularly aired unreleased and rare songs. These often became fan favorites yet they weren't readily available until the appearance of the rarities, B-sides, and "orphans" collection, Afterglow. Not every non-LP song made the cut, but everything here is quite strong and the album gels very well, sounding a bit like a lost album, even if the tracks were recorded between 1985 and 1994. Is it an essential collection? Well, for hardcore fans -- the kind that know that with the existence of Afterglow they can now piece together the running order of the original Woodface -- it certainly is. But it's not just for them, since casual fans will find several gems here. Perhaps Paul Hester's endearingly silly "My Telly's Gone Bung" will rub them the wrong way, but such gems as the pre-Crowded House tune "Recurring Dream" and the gorgeous "I Love You Dawn" rank among the group's finest, proving that Neil Finn became an exceptional songsmith during the time he led Crowded House. They, along with several other tunes, mean Afterglow isn't just appealing for Crowded House diehards, but for anyone with a taste for fine, well-crafted pop. Stephen Thomas Erlewine