Try Whistling This, Neil Finn (Parlophone)

THE dissolution of Crowded House has not noticeably diminished main man Neil Finn's songwriting skills, but he has immersed himself in much darker waters on this moody disc. Going solo has allowed him to be more adventurous with textures, and there are even experiments with loops and samples, most clearly heard on the trip hop-like Sinner. So beguiling are his melodies, he only really risks losing the listener on Twisty Bass and Loose Tongue, placed, perhaps strategically, right in the middle of the album. If you admired Finn's craftsmanship, but found Crowded House a little too sweet for your tastes, Try Whistling This may be what you're looking for. -AM