The Finn Brothers
Everyone Is Here
Nettwerk America
 
Review by Charlie Fox
 

November 15, 2004

Yeah baby!  This is it!  My first ever pop/rock music review! 

 
You know what this means?  I'm an insider.  I'm plugged in!  My words will have the power to make or break artists and bands.  We're talking the difference between selling a few thousand albums, or selling a few million.  That's power on a near Clear Channel-esque level!
 
This is so cool.  I'm just waitin' for the invites to industry parties to come rolling in.  Guest lists, no waiting in line, stretch Humvees, sycophants, hookers, & blow! ("blow" of course being a euphuism for cocaine, not anything the hookers do, although it certainly could)
 
Any day now drunken, pissed off rock stars and record producers will be accosting me in night clubs or going on Howard Stern and TRL to openly threaten to kick my ass for savaging their stuff.
 
My life rocks.
 
... course, this means I've peaked at 31.  Nothing that some decent therapy can't solve.
 
Hmmm, there was supposed to be a review at some point, wasn't there.
 
So once again our favorite singing/songwriting Kiwi siblings have come together to put out an album, that being Neil & Tim Finn.
 
Yeah, admittedly they're pretty much the complete antithesis of my new found power-partier, rock n' roll lifestyle; no entourages, bring their families on tour with them, no drama (well, there was that one time at First Avenue that Tim asked people not use flash photography), and Neil's even been known to bring fans on stage to play with him. 
 
But dang it, I dig these guys!
 
To call Everyone Is Here the "second" Finn Brothers album is a bit misleading, as the two of them have been recording together in one form or another since the early 80's, beginning with Split Enz.  The first Finn Brothers album was just that, THE Finn Brothers.  They played every instrument on the album themselves, making for an original sounding album (which of course meant it received NO airplay on major American radio).
 
This time 'round they've elected to record with a full band which, while not as risky, makes for a much more melodic & complete album.  That probably has a lot to do with Neil exerting a greater influence (as well as the presence of Mitchell Froom, longtime Crowded House/Neil Finn producer) on the album.
 
While both brothers are exceptionally creative and distinct songwriters, Tim's work has always tended to be a bit directionless, and that came through on the first Finn Brothers album.  It's pretty apparent that when the time came for the second album from the brothers, Neil took the reins and told Tim something to the effect of "This is the way it's gonna' be and you'll like it, or this becomes another solo album."  ... except he said it with a cool New Zealand accent. 
 
Everyone Is Here continues to showcase Neil's (and Tim I 'spose) aptitude for Beatles-esque storytelling, harmonies, and song structures (and those silly Gallagher brothers thought they were the ones carrying on for the Fab 4... they've done a better job getting banned for life from international airlines).  By and large it hits, with a couple of misses.
 
This is a record by a couple of guys who are taking stock of life and family (Won't Give In, Nothing Wrong With You, Luckiest Man Alive, A Life Between Us) and have a clear view of where they've been and where they are.  Neil & Tim sound like a couple of rock stars who have reached middle age and are pretty cool with it. 
 
Edible Flowers is probably the albums "What the F??" moment.  The duet worked on Neil's Seven World's Collide live album as an acoustic piece, but here it's just an over wrought, melodramatic piece that comes out of nowhere, that's only saved by Neil's soaring vocals on the chorus.
 
The album's finale, Gentle Hum, continues Neil's welcome tradition of ending his albums with lullabies.  It's those last few reassuring words before the light goes out and you close your eyes.
 
Thus far Won't Give In, the album's only single domestically, has gotten some air play in major market radio, but the album deserves more.  It has a lot to offer to smart music fans. 
 
In the meantime, does anyone have any idea why John Fogerty is the last person thanked in the album notes?  Fogerty and Finn(s), now THAT would be cool.
 
Peace Out Y'all!