Customer Reviews

I'll Be Lightning

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not saying that Liam Finn got anywhere on his father's coattails, but if he did, thank God. This album is a dream come true for me, as a die-hard Split Enz/Neil Finn fan, and it came completely unexpected. Liam is an updated mirror reflection of his father - crafty songwriter, truly gifted singer and multi-instrumentalist. I've only had a short time with I'll Be Lightning, but the stand out tracks are Wide Awake On the Voyage Home (channeling Mazzy Star), Shadow of Your Man, Better to Be, Second Chance and my fav, Gather to the Chapel (which is a mournful yet uplifting song about a friend's death). I hate to admit that this album eclipses the very strong new release by Crowded House, Time on Earth, but it must be said. I had the privilege to see this young man perform in 1999 on Neil's Try Whistling This tour, at the tender age of 16. I should have known by his seamless ability to keep up with the vets on stage that a profound career was inevitable. Amazing solo debut - all instrumentation and vocals created solely by Liam.

Wow. I guess sometimes being the progeny of a famous musician does pay off. The Finns though always struck me as a deeply musical family, the type of folks who would be playing music whether or not it brought them riches and fame. Some people are just born into it and Liam makes a case for this phenomenon with his ease and facility with the craft of making music. He played all the instruments and atop that wrote some truly fine songs that are heartfelt and touching as well as catchy.

In terms of sound, I think the Rolling Stone graphic (Elliot Smith - Despair + A Laprechaun = Liam Finn) captures it about right. It's quiet and contemplative music but not at all depressing, plus it has a certain playfulness about it that can only come from someone who loves what he does. It's a homey, authentic and rootsy record with bits of electronic instrumentation thrown in for good measure. It reminds me of Paul McCartney's first solo effort (also one man playing the instruments and having fun doing it, revealing a unique and quirky charm). Not exactly an original concept but one perfectly executed here.

I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for young Mr. Finn, and I am predicting great things.

Months before its release I was already excited about this album. I'd seen Liam open for Crowded House in Portland and was so incredibly impressed. Since it was released in NZ months before the US, I'd been listening to "Better To Be" and "Gather to the Chapel" on Youtube over and over again. Being a diehard Crowded House/Neil Finn fan since I was a child, I really hate to admit that I love Liam Finn's album more than Crowded House's latest, "Time On Earth." I just cringed saying that because I have always be such a loyal CH fan. "I'll Be Lightning" is amazing and I expect this album to do very well in the US if enough people can get the word around. I can already tell you this will be my #1 album for the year. Beautifully written, melodic, harmonic, indie pop/rock with a wonderful energy. Even the song "Gather to the Chapel" about a heavy subject matter like death is so lovely and melodic, it leaves you with a sense of peace - which is exactly the effect I think he was going for. Liam has really learned the art of songwriting and songcrafting from the best in the world - his Dad, Neil Finn. This album far surpasses the music Liam was making with his first band, Betchadupa. I think his songwriting and musicianship has finally been able to flourish as a solo artist. If you listen to artists like Elliott Smith, The Shins, Crowded House, The Beatles, be sure to check this album out.

Liam Finn's solo disc "I'll Be Lightning" is a great set from this young musician whose style is not far afield from his famous father Neil and Uncle Tim Finn. Finn fronted a band Betchadupa that had several CDs such as Move Over & Sleepy News. This CD is going to make those discs collector's items in fast form. His songs become stronger with repeated listenings. On "Second Chance" his busy arrangement alone makes you take notice including what sounds like tubas floating in the mix. "Gather to the Chapel" is my current favorite with its sweet midtempo melody, gorgeous harmonies and what sounds like a crazy violin that keeps interjecting itself almost like it's out of control and short circuiting, "Your photo over the alter, old friends dressed in black, first time that I've seen you in ages." "Lead Balloon" may be a rocker or a bit of whimsy, "A free man is a happier man." "Night is just the day giving in," Liam sings on the nearly all-vocal track "Lullaby." It's so different that it's riveting. Liam actually brings to mind Paul McCartney on "Energy Spent" with its sweet melody and soaring harmony, "I'm not broken, just a little energy spent & it's a long way from here." "Remember when you made another friend and I knew what he was up to, but I know that I can trust you; Eventually I ached with jealousy and I don't know what came over me," is deeply personal, astonishingly moving, on the brilliant "Remember When." The title track is meticulously detailed with a little laugh and glowing harmonies. "Turn away from me, I can't stay to see you look at me in that way," Liam sings on the moody closer "Shadow of Your Man" with a lovely melody and a stately piano. Liam Finn's disc is incredibly good, not to be missed by any that like to marry melody, intelligent lyrics, lovely harmonies and detailed and varied musical instrumentation. It will take your breath away! Bravo!

Liam Finn has inherited his father and uncle's musical genius. My teenaged daughters have been listening to this CD ever since I bought it on its release date in January. It has some wonderful songs, including the heartrending "Gather to the Chapel," which is a tribute to the late Paul Hester, Crowded House's original drummer. My daughters prefer some of the more uptempo numbers like "Second Chance" and "Wise Man." There's not a bad one on the whole CD, though.

I just had the pleasure of witnessing this unbelieveable phenom - well maybe not so unbelieveable....BUT as an opening act (for Ed Vedder - Santa Cruz, CA 4/5/08) you do expect some good tunes as a warm up for the crowd BUT never, have I ever seen someone with so much chili pepper in their gut as Mr Liam Finn. The way his musical explorations exploded onto stage that night - stole my heart!
I think it started for me when his voraciousness tore a hole through his snare - & the man continued on like a true gentleman playing anything BUT music for gentleman! What a champ.....
AND - and....the music IS like LIGHTING. Enjoy.

Liam Finn is son of Neil Finn of Australian/US/New Zealand group Crowded House ("Don't dream it's over", "Weather with you") and "I'll be lightning" is his solo debut.

The 24 year old has earned the title of wunderkind for writing almost everything himself, and playing almost all of the instruments (3 other people, including dad contribute here and there). I have to admit, I'd never heard of Liam until I read a glowing review of his CD in Q magazine which I feel (after having listened) to be spot on.

The album has a gentle Lo-fi sound and the songs are simple, melodic, with sixties sounding harmonies (similar to Dad's band, Simon & Garfunkel, or the Beach Boys).

Every song is a standout really, but I'll attempt to select a few of my favourites. The stunning lilting "Second chance", The sombre "gather to the chapel", the bouncy "Lead balloon", the spare acoustic "Fire in your belly" (with hymnal harmonies), the ghostly sounding a capella "Lullaby", the bouncy "Energy spirit" (great drumming breaks), and the falsetto sung "Music moves my feet".

Others include the strummed "Remember when", the upbeat edgy "This place is killing me", the brilliant Beatles-channelling ballad "I'll be lightning", "Wide awake on the voyage home", and the closing piano ballad "Shadow of your man".

I know I selected almost every song on the album but I couldn't select any less. This is definitely one of the best albums released this year, highly reccommended!!

Like many others here, I had heard Liam live before I picked up this album. He was nothing short of a phenomenon in concert. His talent as a solo musician is staggering.

You don't need that experience to hear the quality of his studio work. His songwriting is as sharp as a knife -- and surprisingly diverse. "Fire in Your Belly," an almost surreal ballad with spare lyrics, and "Lead Balloon" are two of the best tracks on the album in spite of being poles apart musically.

This album has the lovely, up-close feeling of sitting in someone's garage and listening to Liam play with a couple of friends. It's a little unpolished in spots, but the overall sound actually benefits from it. One of the best new musicians I've heard in a long time.

I highly recommend this CD. I've had it for about a month and have listened to it repeatedly. I liked it immediately and it has continued to grow even more on me with each listen. Liam Finn is only 24 so aside from enjoying this solo debut I am also enjoying the promise of what is to come in the future. Liam is the son of Crowded House's Neil Finn. I actually saw him live once or twice when he was a teenager playing in his dad's solo band. I have a CD from his own former band Betchadupa, which he recorded when he was only 18. That album is also impressive and shows great potential, but this solo album is even better. He is currently on tour opening for Crowded House. I saw them last month and was only able to catch a couple of Liam's songs at the start of the show but I was impressed and knew right away that I would be ordering this album. His voice sounds a lot like his dad's and his music is in a similar style, but there is something that sets it apart. Crowded House also released a new album this year and while I like it very much, I am actually enjoying the Liam Finn album quite a bit more. There is something fresher and more exciting about it. And I am a huge Neil Finn / Crowded House fan so that is saying a lot. My favorite tracks are "Better to Be", "Music Moves My Feet" (very Beatle-esque!), "This Place is Killing Me", and "Wide Awake on the Voyage Home" (gorgeous!). I can't wait to hear more from Liam and I also look forward to catching him on his own tour one of these days.

Way back in 1987, my now ex-brother-in-law let me borrow a Split Enz tape called Conflicting Emotions... From that point on I was hooked,... from Enz, to Crowded House, Tim Finn's solo music, Neil Finn's solo music, Tim and Neil together-- you name it. However, I had not bothered to listen to any Betchadupa music (Liam Finn's group) and I am now rethinking this! I remember seeing him as a young boy at the "Woodface" concert, and then having him play with his dad at the "Try Whistling This" concert. However, at that time he seemed a rather shy adolescent and he really stayed in the background. Most recently I went to the Crowded House "Time on Earth" concert and got a chance to see Liam perform on his own. Wow-- what a treat! I was blown away by his talent and he was quite the humorous entertainer to boot. Having been so impressed, I knew I wanted to get his solo CD "I'll Be Lightning." I was not disappointed. If you like Neil and Tim's music, you will like this too. I think Liam's voice sounds a bit more like Tim's than his dad's, but he has his own style and I love the drums and beats. There is no doubt he inherited his father's and uncle's musical talents! For anyone who collects/listens to Neil or Tim Finn's music, this is an excellent addition to the ever-growing fabulous Finn family assortment of CDs.