Try Whistling This

Neil Finn

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 16, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 16, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000007QDC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,016 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Neil Finn's solo debut carries much the same style and tone of his work with Crowded House--the intimate vocal delivery, the undeniably intelligent pop approach. What Try Whistling This lacks is a couple of cuts to break up the tastefulness that washes over everything; there's no noise like "Locked Out," no full-on heartbreak like "Better Be Home Soon." That's no reason for fans of the singer/songwriter not to buy this, but it's hard to see how it'll win many new listeners over to this occasional genius's side. --Rickey Wright

Entertainment Weekly

...house-like adventures in sad rapture, like "Astro" fly highest…

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We may be alone in the cosmos but at least we have Neil Finn, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

My first hearing of this album was singualarly unremarkable; having being told it was a fantastic album I sat down with the loaned CD and patiently heard it out. With this superficial trip through the disc I thought it was pleasant but not particualy noteworthy. However, whilst working in the observatory that evening I was continualy haunted by the fading memories of subtle key changes and almost subliminal melodies; when trying to recount them I found it impossible to recreate their delicate construct with my clumsy voice. I was hooked; at first by only one track (Truth); but one by one the other tracks revealed themselves to me; each with it's own quintisential flavour, subtly different in each case, but ultimately not unlike the other tracks, providing an album wide ambience without compromising the integrity and identity of the individual tracks.

However, despite my continual listening I would still find elements within songs that had previously gone unnoticed. The rich layering of audio textures from the production generates a depth that takes time to fathom, and is probably partially responsible for my not "getting" the album straight away; but it is this illusive depth that saves the album from the ignominious fate of so many other albums, namely becoming saturated, or overplayed. It is one of the few albums I can repeat straight after I've just listened it (depsite probable protestations from Chris (Noisy)).

As if this wasn't enought to endear the album to me the lyrics cross over into sheer poetry on occasions. I wish I could comment on all the tracks but I could churn out compendious tomes on the subject. However, well worth listening to are:

Last one standing: What every album needs, a strong defining first track. Again it mirrors the recurring theme of variety within tracks that defines the album.

King Tide: Stunning bass that sounds fantastic on a good stereo.

Try Whistling This: A delicate and haunting track which really is very difficult to whistle! Marked primarily for me by the beautiful lyrical bridge: "And my words are ringing in your ear, Drawing your attention now to all the things that you ignore, If I can't be with you I would rather have a different face" and so on. It seems like the whole song is in preperation for those six lines.

She Will Have Her Way: The most accessible and upbeat of the tracks which you'll find yourself humnming on the bus.

Sinner: Smooth and elegent, I love it

Loose Tongue: For a long time this track eluded me unitl the "Your skin is changing it's hue" bit stuck firmly in my subconcious and refused to let go. Now it is one of my favourites, and one of the only bits I can whistle...

Truth: Remarkably insightful lyrics and a lovely offbeat catch that made it the first track I noticed.

Faster Than Light: Perhaps my favourite, combining so many wonderful little "quirks" in the rythym guitar, and lyrics such as "Do you hear what I'm thinking, is it how you imagined" and "I know where the sun goes, I have seen the world turning". This really is a wonderful work of art.

There is no way I can convey the many emotions and images this album invokes because I am bounded by words alone; no matter how eloquent the poet, they cannot describe the music. Give this album a chance and it will reward you with a lifetime of listening delight and pleasure. Very few albums have had such an effect on me. Usually there are one or two questionable tracks on any album, but Try Whistling this has joined that small elite club of "Every tracks a winner". When I first played one of the tracks on the student radio station I recieved phone calls from several people who after one hearing were intrigued and wanted more. Naturally I couldn't let them down. Trust me on this. This is one of the best Albums you can own!

Neil Finn you are a Genius of the highest order. If I was wearing a hat, I'd take it off to you!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finn Pops Off, February 1, 2003

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Neil Finn's "Try Whistling This" is great pop magic, showing that he did not slow down after Crowded House. "Last One Standing" almost bubbles with energy. "Souvenir" has gorgeous background vocals in addition to a haunting melody. "It's a dark empty room," Neil starts as the keyboards pulsate on the wispy "King Tide" while bass and guitar build. "I'm the best that you know," Neil sings as a lover asking to be taken back on the soft title track. "She Will Have Her Way" has a beautiful melody and is a classic Finn track, undoubtedly on its way to a greatest hits package. "Conscience plays on me now, Safe until my luck runs out, Coocoos call, pendulum swings, Thought you knew everything," Neil sings as we seem to drop in on the inner thoughts of the "Sinner." "The hangman's in the noose, the prisoner is loose," the lyric goes on the unsettling "Twisty Bass." "Loose Tongue" snarls with electric guitars popping in & out like shock treatments. "Truth" is a pretty melody, "Truth is worth more than pride." "Astro" is a celestial midtempo rocker, "One day they will discover you." Neil sounds a lot like "Mind Games" era John Lennon on "Dream Date," "I wish you were here to give me advice." "Faster Than Light" is a chiming charmer. The CD concludes with "Addicted," with prominent piano on one of Finn's glorious melodies. Neil Finn is one of our master musicians, and sounds wonderful on this excellent set. Enjoy!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't wait as long as I did., June 29, 2000

By	Wendi Dunlap (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I waited far too long to buy this album. Once I finally bought it, I jumped right to the singles, "Sinner" and "She Will Have Her Way." The latter is the most obvious pop single on the record; it's relatively straightforward and eminently hummable. (Think "Something So Strong" or "It's Only Natural" from earlier Finn efforts with Crowded House.) "Sinner" is more oblique and takes a couple of listens to grab you. The same could be said for the rest of the album, but grab you it does -- and hard.

The song that's haunting me at this moment is the sensual, cinematic "Try Whistling This," a song with the richness and heat of a hot summer's evening. I love listening to it, but at the same time I find it so intense that after it plays, I really can't listen to anything else but silence for a while. (Perhaps the major miscue of the album was following "Try Whistling This" with the relatively lightweight "She Will Have Her Way," which suffers by comparison.)

If you've been a Finn/Crowded House fan, you'll find this album to be a logical progression of Neil's talent. It's not exactly Crowded House, but it's clearly in the same family. It does take some listening to before you're hooked, but it's well worth it.