  | Finn - Finn
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| If You Like Something Sparse and Fresh, You'll Like This | ||||||
| If you are considering buying this album in hopes of it being identical in form to previous joint album appearances by Neil and Tim, you may be a bit surprised. As pointed out other reviews, this album lacks the density (and personnel) of their more recent release, "Everyone Is Here", and is naturally not a repreat of Crowded House's "Woodface". This, however, shouldn't dissuade the more dedicated followers of the Finn family's music from buying this album, because it is a brilliant work in it's own right.
There is a more organic groove inspired by their native New Zealand roots, and more reminiscent in this approach to Neil's final album with Crowded House, "Together Alone", and despite the various influences and diverging careers that went into this album, there is a greater degree of cohesion than might otherwise be expected. The first song of the album ("Only Talking Sense") really sets you up nicely for the mood to come, and strikes me as one of the better tracks. This album has been in my regular rotation since the time it came out (purchased in Hong Kong in 1996), so as a long-time Crowded House/Split Enz fan, you can see that I found a place in my heart for it. | ||||||
| Brothers in song | ||||||
| Although it lacks the immediately accessbility of, say, Crowded House's "Woodface" or Split Endz "Time and Tide", "Finn" provides a melodic snapshot of Tim & Neil Finn in a melodic mood with spare arrangements. The two play all the instruments themselves. I caught them on this tour (missed the current one unfortunately), and the two played all the instruments live as well more than making up for the lack of other musicians by their sheer talent and energy.
"Only Talking Sense", "Eyes of the World" both sound like Neil Finn pieces augmented by Tim (and "Mood Swinging Man" and the odd "Bullets in My Hairdo" vice versa). The collaboration recalls the great songs they both wrong for the popular "Woodface". It's a really fine album although I personally like the second album they made together "Everyone is Here" a bit better. The full band sound on that album helps fill out the material and allows it to live up to its full potential. Nevertheless, this is a terrific album with a handful of songs that stand as the best either one of them has written. | ||||||
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