"Most American music fans aren't familiar with Neil Finn. But among fans of intelligent, plush, post-Beatles pop, Finn is a legend. And, in a few places, like Los Angeles, London, Australia and his native New Zealand, mere mention of a Finn show can sell out a house.

"So, it's not too surprising then that when Finn put the call out for a backing band to help him out with some shows in New Zealand last year, some big names showed up: Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, the Smiths' Johnny Marr, Radiohead's Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien, Lisa Germano and brother Tim Finn - with whom Neil shared frontline duties in Split Enz in the '70s and '80s and (briefly) in Crowded House. (On a recent American tour, Shawn Colvin and Sheryl Crow showed up.)

"Recorded over the course of a five-night Auckland run at the St. James Theater, '7 Worlds Collide' not only provides a neat summary of Finn's career - it also opens the door for some intriguing collaborations. The verson of the Smiths' 'There's a Light' - arguably the best anthem of romantic, teen-age despair - rivals the original while the usually brooding Vedder sounds like he's having the time of his life on the manic 'I See Red.'

"In May, Finn's most recent studio album - 'One Nil' ( to be called 'One All' in America) - is being issued."