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Neil Finn
Try Whistling This
(WORK)
For those familiar with Neil Finn's work with Split Enz and Crowded House, it will come as no surprise that his first solo venture is filled with tunes that walk the fine line between passion and obsession. Mr. Finn has a knack for painting tales of woeful introspection with vibrant colors, evoking depths of emotion with a turn of a phrase. On Try Whistling This, his rich imagination continues to conjure the inside scoop from the outsider's view, producing thoughtful pop that is both pointed and poignant. Heartbeat percussion throbs gently through the ballads "Sinner" and "Faster Than Light," while strong, muscular guitar riffs butt heads with luscious string quartets in the infectious "Souvenir." A tropical lilt brings the swaying "Dream Date" to its feet, while the sad but hopeful lyrics undercut its breezy delivery. Gracefully resolute and gently menacing, Try Whistling This is a banquet of wonderfully crafted melodies, both soothing and provocative. Produced by Tchad Blake, there is a haunting ambiance to the disc, with a nice amount of edge that makes each of the thirteen tracks stand out without drowning the songs in quirky shenanigans. Full of simmering tension and sharp dynamics, Neil Finn has given voice to silences that are solemn, with a restrained roar that is distinct.
John Noyd
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