Neil Finn
Try Whistling This
[Work]
Rating: 8.7
I'll never forget the day I loaned my entire Crowded House discography
(except for the eponymous tape I'd received as an 11th- birthday gift) to my
roommate's friend. Little did I realize I'd never see them again: Mere days
later, her car was broken into and my CDs were stolen. My babies had fallen into
the clutches of someone who would never love and appreciate them as I did.
And to make matters worse, they were never replaced. Less than a year later,
as I began rebuilding my collection with Recurring Dream: The Very Best of
Crowded House, the band disbanded. I was crestfallen.
But don't pull out your violins just yet: Neil Finn, ever the inventive
tunesmith, now invites you to Try Whistling This on his solo debut. It's a
step ahead for him: innovative enough to indicate artistic progress, but not
so radically different from his previous work that his fans will miss the
qualities that attracted them to him in the first place. Finn now blends
more samples and electronic elements into songs that feature more
traditional methods of instrumentation. "Sinner" is a funky piece of many
layers and textures, and "Last One Standing" moves along with a merry
buoyancy not unlike that of "Weather With You." "Addicted," a quiet
stillness punctuated by a tinkly piano, is mellow and soft without
resembling elevator music. It's masterful and moving in ways only Finn
can dream up. And since a Crowded House reunion doesn't appear to be
in the works, Try Whistling This is the next best thing.
-Susan Moll