Fantasy

Intriguer, New Zealand-based quartet Crowded House’s second album since reforming in 2007 after an 11-year hiatus, launches out of the gate with the vocoder-heavy opening track “Saturday Sun.” Lead vocalist and songwriter Neil Finn delivers one catchy vocal hook after another while layers of strings, mandolins and synthesizers whirl around in the background. Yet, the rest of the album’s nine tracks stray far from the power-pop formula that has defined the band’s sound and led it to worldwide success over the last 25 years. Just like his idols John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Finn is usually able to write upbeat songs about depressing topics, but Intriguer tracks “Isolation,” “Elephants” and “Even If” are too mopey for their own good. Finn and his bandmates insert heavy doses of studio experimentation on this LP, which helps propel “Saturday Sun” to greatness but hinders the more moody, slow-paced tunes that fill Intriguer.