Music Notes: Finn Brothers, Everyone Is Here

October 18th, 2006

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Music The Finn Brothers consist of Neil and Tim Finn, two brothers from New Zealand. They were the key members of the art-rock Split Enz in the 70s. After the break up of the Enz, Neil went on to form Crowded House, which Tim temporarily joined for the album Woodface. Tim then spun off to do his own solo stuff, scoring a mild hit with How’m I Gonna Sleep. Crowded House eventually dissolved after the pretty eclectic album Together Alone. Neil’s solo work has been fairly inventive and interesting, but definitely straying away from the Crowded House sound to explore a more home-brewed-electronica vibe. This Finn Brothers album is about as close to Crowded House as is probably possible these days.

And as Crowded House existed in the realm of smart, vocals and guitar pop, Everyone Is Here largely delivers. There are four or five really strong tracks, namely the opening salvo of Everyone I Know Is Here, Nothing Wrong With You, and Anything Can Happen.

Some of the middle tracks are a bit odd but still have moments to offer, such as Edible Flowers. The verse is a somber descent, a bit like XTC’s Boarded Up, lending a dark shadow to the common yet sorrowful phrase “Everybody wants the same thing, to see another birthday.” The middle, presumably written by Neil is by contrast exuberant, hopeful, and soaring. These two differing halves form a really interesting whole and bear out the promise of the two musical minds working together as the Finn Brothers.

Other neat tunes are Luckiest Man Alive, which has everything going for it except for an awkward Italian Plastic-like key change and coda. Also interesting is the David Bowie-esque All God’s Children. Most similar to Neil’s solo work is Gentle Hum, with its nearly atonal stack of piano chords over a quiet ticking, and a chorus resembling a Christmas carol.

The other tracks aren’t as memorable, but seeing how I’ve already felt the need to mention seven songs by name, that’s a definite thumbs-up.