One Nil

If, as the title suggests, NEIL FINN has managed to win some kind of sporting event, maybe a football match, this album is anything but a celebration of the success.

Whilst it's not as angry as 1998's 'Try Whistling This', it's not an out-and-out celebration. It's mainly a collection of songs in praise of his wife, Sharon, as the first single, 'Wherever You Are', written in praise of monogamy, proves.

The deep cello strings of the opening track 'The Climber' sets the tone. The lyric: You and me have always gotten through is a sweet song about the pain of leaving her, even for a short time. The melody is, as ever with a songwriter of Neil Finn's class, excellent.

Neil Finn's success as a musician has always lain in the consistent ability to write beautiful songs and on One-Nil he doesn't disappoint. Even on the track 'Secret God', where he enlists the help of one-time members of Prince's Revolution, Wendy and Lisa, the song remains the focal point. An upflifting folk ballad with a bizarre grunge guitar solo.

Finn opened his current tour with the likes of Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and Johnny Marr. The reason so many big names in music are keen to play with him is clear - he's one of the finest songwriters of his generation. 'One-Nil' doesn't prove it outright, but Neil Finn treading water is better than most others at their very best. 8/10
Jon Horsley

Did You Know?
- Neil Finn was born as Neil Mullane in the bizarrely named town Te Awamutu in New Zealand.
- He joined his brother Tim's band Split Enz at the age of 19 as lead guitarist, despite having never played an electric guitar before.
- Initial names for Crowded House included 'The Largest Living Things' and The Mullanes.

If you like this try these:
TIM FINN: 'Tim Finn' (Capitol)
NEIL FINN: 'Try Whistling This' (Parlophone)
CROWDED HOUSE: 'Recurring Dream (The Best Of Crowded House)' (Capitol)