CROWDED HOUSE: "After Glow"

Crowded House broke up? Almost three years ago?! Well, my brother-in-law's not gonna be happy about that. As for me, I obviously didn't notice and I wish I could say I cared. Because this posthumous collection of outtakes and b-sides (and besides) is perfectly typical of an ol' Crowded House album - right down to its eliciting of mysteriously glowing reviews. Yes, Neil Finn was an elegant singer-songwriter. No, he wasn't a Paul McCartney for his day (that would've been Bob Mould, or Grant Hart, or Mojo Nixon). Yes, the songs have a gorgeous guit-pop sheen. No, they don't have sharp hooks and they don't stay with you. But somehow, Crowded House are still around. 6/10