It’s early days but I’m really enjoying Neil Finn’s new record Out of Silence, as I did his last, very different, album Dizzy Heights. It was recorded in various sessions put out live on Facebook (the films are all online) but the record stands up on its own beyond the notion of that particular experiment . It’s darker and more sombre than much of his best known output, both in lyrics and in the largely piano and orchestral arrangements. Maybe that’s a function of age – he’s 60 next year – maybe just the subject matter he has taken on, including the Bataclan murders in Terrorise Me. But it’s beautiful in a largely minor key, understated way.
I’ve dipped in and out of Crowded House and Finn brothers’ solo material. But the more I listen the more I think that there are very few songwriters since the 60s who can match his unerring ear and ability to write wonderful melodies. The comparison with Paul McCartney has been made so many times it’s become a cliche, but you can see why. He shares with McCartney and a few others like Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Carole King, an apparently effortless ability to write perfect pop songs which for at least a moment just make the world seem a better, more uplifting place.
Let’s celebrate the man. Your favourite Finn songs and performances? And if you dissent – as I know some do – let’s hear from you too.
And this is Recluse, from Dizzy Heights – one of my absolute favourite songs from the last few years
Great idea for a thread. One of my favourite writers. Just placemarking here; will be back later when I’ve had a think. (New album is very good.)
From Afterglow. Help is coming.
https://youtu.be/eqlB7umlu6Y
Far too many to list…but if push comes to shove, my absolute favourite is Silent House co-write with the Dixie Chicks
This would probably be a 4 page post if I just went for the the ones I think are fantastic tracks….
Wow that’s interesting. I didn’t know Neil Finn co-wrote. I love that track too.
According to my Windows Media library, aside from the obvious ones like his wife, his brother, the Housies and the Enz folks, he also has album track co-writes with Wendy Melvoin, Johnny Marr, Jim Moginie (which might mean more to you if you are into Strayan music), Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake. There were probably more if you went to a more reliable and comprehensive source of information…
Was spurred into buying the new album yesterday, after hearing a wonderful song from it, Chameleon Days on, of all things Gary Davies’ Radio 2 show yesterday who was standing in for Steve Wright. Gary enthused a lot about the track and went up in my estimation greatly. Below is also Golden Child by Neil Finn group Pajama Club, which am very fond of.
‘Wherever You Are’- lovely, yearning song.
https://g.co/kgs/zLf5H4
that’s gorgeous. Haven’t heard this or the album its from, so definitely one to follow up
Apart from the usual gems, I love this album track
Tim Finn was co-author of this:
Isn’t this brilliant? And it’s from the new LP
Both this and, as Carolina says, Chameleon Days are terrific. But then so is most of the album. Played it again today and it gets better every time. ‘Alone’ which features brother Tim is beautiful
Chocolate Cake came up on shuffle tonight. He’s someone whose music I admire more than actually enjoy, but I’m on his side.
A few of my favourites, warning one contains a dodgy tache!
That Finn brothers one is a cracker.
This is from a soundtrack for a New Zealand movie called Rain.
Amazing stuff.
And I love this. Walking on the Spot.
He’s sheer class.Seen him many times and never disappoints, always willing to experiment, mix things up.
Glad to see the Finns getting some attention here on the AW. I hear you cannot go into a supermarket Down Under without hearing their music. I would not complain.
This is a real chestnut but it is a lovely song.
If only.
Finn Fans should know about the tribute albums to their music done by fellow Aussie artists.
She will have her way – featuring female artists
He will have his way – with male artists
Both are on Spotify!
“Fellow Aussie artists” ?!
Wars have been started for less, KFD!
Just don’t mention Phar Lap or Pavlova deserts either…
They can have Russell Crowe back anytime, though.
In the UK imagination, Oz/NZ are next door to each other. Which is fair enough, there’s only 4K miles in it.
A mere 1300-1400 miles actually, roughly London-Seville.
It’s too bloody far to swim, that’s all I know.
Too far to fly for mine
Oops! Sincerest apologies! It was late and I was under the affluence of
Inkohol.
Having loved the Conchords, that was a particularly unforgiveable gaffe.
On the subject of covers, are there any other covers of songs from the rather fat Finn Songbook?
While you think about that, here is an oldie from Tim Finn with a vid that was filmed in Aus.. sorry New Zealand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtW9rosjJlI
It’s remakable how well Neil Finn’s voice has held up over the years. He’s almost 60 but his voice is still in wonderful nick. Check out this live performance from about 18 months ago.
Or his vocals on this cover version of Bowie’s ‘Moonage Daydream’ from Crowded House’s most recent UK tour.
I’m looking forward to listening to the songs on this list, so I’ve made a playlist.
Any more Finn faves I should add? Suggestions please!
There are many fine covers of Don’t Dream It’s Over. Here it is in Italian, sung by Antonello Venditti.
Great work KFD – some interesting sounding covers there; look forward to listening to this playlist
What about Split Enz songs? The only one I really know is Six months in a leaky boat. And that’s because the Wiggles did a cover which I have heard 100 times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAzIzmfzN_Q
What about this one KFD?
Always been imoressed by 6 months in a leaky boat – the audacity of the intro – must have had the record label pulling their hair out.
Love it. Unavailable on Spotify for some no doubt obscure contractual reason.
My favourite Split Enz song is ‘Message to My Girl’ – one of Neil Finn’s finest songs. Here’s a great live version from their 2009 reunion tour of Australia.
Is the correct answer.
Not heard that before but it immediately made me think of Squeeze.
This is a great version of that song
Yep. Fantastic song.
Way too many to mention, but of his lesser known songs, I’d recommend the album One Nil, which was a successful collaboration with Wendy & Lisa. I would like to have heard much more of that kind of thing. It really showed off his eclectic nature to great effect. Also includes the aforementioned Turn and Run, with Sheryl Crow harmonising.
Well worth checking out, again for the broad sweep of styles, is The Sun Came Out, a double album of collaborations with various pals (Jeff Tweedy, various Radioheads).
I had the pleasure of chatting with Neil at The Word magazine’s legendary Thames cruise, where the Pajama Club played second on the bill to the much-derided CW Stoneking. Here we are https://i.imgur.com/MchbqZS.jpg
Respect!! I am seriously impressed. You even managed to colour coordinate your shirts in different shades of blue! I had no idea about all those collaborators.
I just checked. That double album ( a charity release for Oxfam) is on Spotify. Look for the artist “7 worlds collide” if, like me, you want to give it a listen.
Amused to see Rhys Darby there. Surprised he didn’t try to squeeze The Conchords in!!
Here is a taste of the album from K T Tunshall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfImD1psPFM
He did an earlier collaboration which also featured members of Radiohead and Johnny Marr, as well as Eddie Vedder. Resulted in a very good live album. One of the highlights was this cover of There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. I think this may have been the first time Johnny Marr played the song since the breakup of the Smiths.
My very first concert when I emigrated to NZ in 2001. What a night. Eddie Vedder was a revelation.
All righty, I’ve already said ‘too many to list’, so I’ll go ahead and list my personal faves, sparing you a YT bomb…
Message To My Girl
Mean To Me
World Where You Live
Now We’re Getting Somewhere
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Something So Strong
Hole In The River
I Feel Possessed
Into Temptation
Mansion In The Slums
When You Come
Never Be The Same
Silent House
Locked Out
Distant Sun
It’s Only Natural
Fall At Your Feet
Weather With You
Four Seasons In One Day
Won’t Give In
Anything Can Happen
Last To Know
Anytime
Last One Standing
Souvenir
She Will Have Her Way
Sinner
And I just did the math(s) – on his own he’s personally responsible for the largest number of individual songs that I adore, beating out the entire oeuvres of AC/DC, The Beatles, Del Amitri and Chris Whitley. Not bad going really.
Brilliant, Harold. I will add those to the playlist.
I may completely off track here but it strikes me that the Finns have been more successful than many of their contemporaries from NZ and Oz.
There are several talented bands I can think of, notably The Triffids and the Go Betweens, who followes a similar career trajectory. They went over to Europe, achieved great popularity among a small group of loyal fans but never really reached the commercial success that they were worthy of.
But Neil Finn is still going strong and his songs can be heard in any supermarket from Alice Springs to Adelaide, from Dunedin to Upper Hutt. What is the secret of his success? From the list above, it’s clear he collaborates with some very talented people and takes his songwriting seriously. I’ve seen Crowded House once (with DuCool). A fine show. The support act was Richard Thompson who joined them for the final number and was clearly having a great time.
An unlikely combination in my book but a successful one.
Here is a surprise….
And here is article about Neil F’s favourite albums.
http://thequietus.com/articles/14392-neil-finn-favourite-albums
It mentions that this song was directly inspired by Ian McEwan’s Saturday.
A few songs here that we have not mentioned …
https://rollingstoneaus.com/playlists/post/10-most-underrated-crowded-house-songs/5131
Because he was in Split Enz and in Crowded House when I discovered them , I presumed that Tim Finn had been a long-term member of the latter. Wrong! He lasted one album and half a tour.
But he has worked with many different artists including none other than pianist Sir Les Patterson!
It’s a tangent, but have a listen to Before And After by Tum Funn. I am pretty sure you will like it.
Tim and Neil sing harmonies on the track In Love With It All on this album
I love tangents! Keep them coming!
IU knew about Split Enz before I heard about Crowded House. Wacky haircuts, bizarre costumes, peculiar songs: my impression of them was that they were like a Kiwi predecessor to the Leningrad Cowboys.
What I didn’t realise was that they also had some very fine songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7CJCq8mrU
But they were also very wacky. In a good way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I9Nmkx4-iM
A little band history prior to some songs on the Whistle Test. The first features Neil and I can hear the seeds of Crowded House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ9_cJ4VNsk
Nae dissent fae me. Top man is Nil Fun.
A few more Neil Finnish gems that you may not have heard of…..
http://doublej.net.au/news/features/is-this-neil-finns-most-underrated-work
Brother Tim did a rather successful live album with Bic Runga and Dave Dobbyn, who I suspect are a lot better known in NZ than they are on the AW.
There was a line in this review of the gig that NF did to launch Dizzy Heights that amused me.
“The usual Auckland deal – buy a ticket for one Finn, get at least another one free – applied, with brother Tim adding his voice and playing to a brothers-only three-song bracket which started out with a joyous Angel’s Heap.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11328908
Are The Finns a sort of Kiwi First Aid Kit?
As a big fan of The Flight of the Conchords, I was fascinated to just discover that it started off as a show in the Edinburgh Fringe and then became a BBC radio programme set in London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_Conchords_(radio_series)
What’s more, there is an episode called Neil Finn saves the day and “The Paul McCartney” of North Island” features rather heavily.
Fascinating!
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/flight-of-the-conchords-tv-show-hbo-bbc-10-year-anniversary-a7796786.html