Customer Reviews

Imaginary Kingdom

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After a long absence Tim Finn is back in his new album, which are few and far between. Imaginary Kingdom is solo musical brilliance brimming with balance between thoughtfulness, hopefulness, and Finn's own imaginations. Its a shame that this album doesn't seem to get much of the recognition it deserves. Seldom found in any music stores and rarely reviewed. But then again Tim Finn always does seem to linger in the background off stage somewhere, where it would seem he is most comfortable. I was lucky enough to encounter this album after hearing his song "Winter Light" located in the end credits of "The Chronicles of Narnia" last year. Some of you may be familiar with it if you purchased the soundtrack. I liked what I heard and so checked out his music here on Amazon (what a handy little place) and soon became familiar with most of his work. This by far seems to be his best. It comes across as being well planned and conceived in that dilligent sort of fashion that only a compulsive solo artist can posses. You remember that air of beginnings and icy new adventure that "The Chronicles of Narnia" left you with? Well this is more of the same thing. It reminds me of that 'light that lingers in a quiet room' that Finn sings about in "Winter Light".

The first song sets a note of determinedness with "Couldn't Be Done" followed by melodical "Still the Song" alas, too short, like many of George Harrison's own works. "Astounding Moon" is thought provoking as it looks up at the nighttime sky in wonder. These first three tracks really play as the heart and soul of this album until you get down to what the second half has to offer. "Salt to the Sea" is a melancholic kind of story where Tim Finn stops off to contemplate life, and a journey, until you get to hopeful "Horizon". Other keys to this CD are "Resting Your Hand Lightly", "Show Yourself" and of course "Winter Light", all of which carry musical harmony.

So there it is, just another overlooked album from 2006 that at least deserves a listen. And if you like it enough check out Finn's other CDs[...]. Tim Finn might not be a very prolific singer, but he is definitely not short of any brilliance as you will soon find out.

Enjoy.

The last album of his that I thought was worthy of the Finn moniker was 1993's "Before and After". Since then I feel he has been aimless in his writing and performance. "Imaginary Kingdom" is in my opinion his absolute best. It is classic TF to the 10th power.

I have been a "Finnatic" since 1982 and I would put this album up against any of his brother's (Neil) work. I'm looking forward to Neil's upcoming release as it (if it is as good), the recent "Everyone Is Here" and this CD would be the ultimate hat trick!!

Buy "Imaginary Kingdom" and see what music is all about.

Even being a long time Crowded House and Neil Finn fan, I never delved into Tim's music beyond the Finn Brothers albums. I saw Tim in concert when he joined Crowded House for the Woodface tour many years ago, but even then I just didn't connect with his music that much...until now. Just by chance, recently I stumbled onto Tim's website and watched the video for "Couldn't Be Done" off of Imaginary Kingdom-- and later heard it being played on the Sirius channel, Margaritaville. I went ahead and ordered the album after taking a liking to this song. And I have since been blown away by how good this album is! It has first place in my current rotation which includes Crowded House's new album and Colin Hay's as well. (BTW, I just saw Colin in Kettering and Crowded House in Chicago -- both awesome as anyone who has seen either live knows first hand). But I digress, because this album is a true "hidden gem" as was made clear by another reviewer. It amazes me that it seems to be flying well off of the radar screens of critics and the mass media, and staying off of terrestrial airwaves as far as I can tell. I know Tim is a shining star in his native land, but here in the United States he is largely unnoticed. That is a shame, especially with the new album which is phenomenal. I won't analyze each song, but they are all well-crafted and meticulous care has been taken in all details of arrangement and recording. Wow. Well done and I look forward to digging into Tim's archives for many months and probably years to come. Take a chance on picking this one up and I guarantee you WILL NOT be disappointed. ***Quick Update*** My wife and I saw Tim perform at a church in Louisville in February and it was magnificent. The setting was amazing and almost surreal. He is warm-hearted, funny, and a true gentleman. Great show and great B-day present for myself. Can't wait for a new album -- I have been enjoying all of his past music for months now.

Imaginary Kingdom was recorded in Nashville but it has the celtic, mystical, spiritual and pop gems that invariably emanate from Tim Finn's creative songwriting skills. Tim Finn is based in New Zealand and his unique and graceful vocals sound very British. I have only played this CD once and every song was refreshing, memorable and well-crafted. Tim Finn's vocals have never been better and he greatly benefited from the two CD's he recorded with his brother Neil as the Finn Brothers. There is great instrumentation throughout this recording including strings. I have and enjoy all of Tim Finn's CD's but this is only one that I immediately liked after just one play. Tim Finn is a Buddhist vegetarian that still masters mellow rock songwriting and singing. Imaginary Kingdom is vintage Tim Finn. The songs are eclectic and in many instances profound.

I'd just come out of a fairly constant 3 week rotation of The Killers 'Sam's Town' in the car... I do a lot of driving. So it came as a bit of a gear shift to load up 'Imaginary Kingdom'.

I always have a soft spot for Tim Finn. Split Enz toured my university campus(La Trobe Bundoora Melbourne)in my first year there and I have never forgotten the experience. I've enjoyed a number of Tim's solo outings over the years particulalry the now impossibly hard to get 'Big Canoe' (great songs). So it was a delight to discover something new.

My first impressions were of mild disappointment. I guess the music felt a little 'old school', a little predictable, a little lacking in energy...but then by the third listen it began to unpack more in my head. I heard more, enjoyed more and found the inevitable 3am dancing music in my head as the clear sign of good work.

It's now into it's second week in the car. I'm not over it yet. I'm finding my way into the subtlety I missed the first couple of times through and I'm glad I made the investment.

John

I have enjoyed Tim Finn's work for over 20 yrs either with Split Enz or with his Brother, Neil, as the Finn Brothers. Imaginary Kingdom has beautiful music and even a few inspirational lyrics. I have found it to be thought provoking and captures complicated emotions very well. Many of the songs offer a positive attitude for what might otherwise be difficult times. I enjoyed this CD very much and have recommended it to several people already.

Tim Finn's "Imaginary Kingdom" is a bright pop record. The opener "Couldn't Be Done" is a catchy Kinks-like tune with a breezy McCartney-like bridge. The second track "Still the Song" pumps joyfully, "On a Sunday afternoon, the middle of town might as well be the moon." "Salt to the Sea" is a requiem for a departed soul with Finn's voice high-pitched, almost breaking, "Our tears will merge with the flowing water carrying salt to the sea." "Horizon" is a restless love song with a haunting melody, "Something pure. It's hard to find when you're so far from sure." "Show Yourself" rolls with sweet swells of melody washing in like waves, "I need you to inspire me; I can't get it from anyone else." "So Precious" bounces with a driving guitar riff, "It's raining snakes from the sky; It's blowing ghosts through the trees." "Imaginary Kingdom" is a great set from one of Australia's best singer-songwriters. Enjoy!

There is something so classic about Tim Finn's sound. While he dabbles in new terrain time and again, he never strays to far from the sound that is exclusively all his own. A mix of the familiar and the far from ordinary, Imaginary Kingdom is a gorgeous effort. Like the reviewer before me, it took sometime to find the diamond in the rough. But after a few steady listens, there is no doubt this 2006 release has Finn back in perfect form. Love the sounds, the melodies. Can't wait to see him back on the road and back in the states. His live performance is even better than the disc. That is why the man is a legend.

Tim Finn holds a special place for me. He is the man behind one of my absolute favorite bands, Split Enz. Allthough his solo work often were marred in my ears by sounding too much like the 80's, even for the time. But there were some really some great songs over the years, like Fraction Too Much Friction and Underwater Mountain.

His last two albums were really good, with an edge I haven't heard from Tim since the Split Enz days. After those came a Finn Brothers album verging on the divine if that's an apropriate word. And now, Tim, being inspired and more prolific than his brother it seems, is here again with Imaginary Kingdom.

I would have given this album 5 stars, if not for 2 songs that I just can't feign interest in. Apart from that, this is just such a great pop album. There's this feeling of it being a married couple, who have been around for a while, and now have fallen in love all over, and walk hand in hand on the beach and can't get enough of eachother. Then there's the pacific wibe on some of the tracks, like catnip for a Norwegian stuck in a dark and cold November Oslo.

I wish he could have brought Split Enz with him to Scandinavia for a continuation of the re-union tour, but this album goes a long way to soothe the pain!

Tim is a very talented and passionate artist who makes great music ... Him and his brother and Crowded House have been favorites of mine since the 80's and I am still moved by their music ... Hey , I have most of their recordings and still enjoy them ... That's saying a lot ...

Keep the magic alive and i will listen with pleasure ...