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