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THIS REVIEW IS NO LONGER RELEVANT. THERE IS A US VERSION NOW.
So, ahem, where is the US release of this obviously fine album? I haven't yet decided to fork over 20 + American to hear one of the world's greatest songwriters' new collection because I have to assume that there's an American record distributor who wants to sell me, at an American price, the latest work from the auteur behind Crowded House and the fellow whose Try Whistling This was such a huge success. So if any U.S. record companies are reading this...shame on you for being so slow. Get with it. Get this record into Tower, Virgin, Wherehouse, Walmart, etc. Get this guy onto Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, SNL. Quit messing with the disposable, embarassing teen pop; invest in a record that will sell year after year. Remember why you got into this business in the first place!
...but after a year or so of spinning this in my player, I just can't get into it like I have Neil's other work. After listening for so long, I can't help but think these are good songs severely stunted by misguided production. In so many places on the CD, there are beautiful turns of phrase or melody where some change in instrumentation or tempo or pause or whatever would be perfect to accompany them, but all of these songs are locked in tempo, with no room to breathe and no change in mood or style--supposedly there are real drummers keeping time, too, but you'd think it was drum machine the way it comes off. It's all pleasant enough-sounding music, I guess, but very vanilla in my opinion. I have no problem with the raw material; Neil Finn is a terrific songwriter. But the presentation really bothers me. If I had to contrast, I would say some of the tracks would have been more successful in a "Finn Brothers" (1996) format, intimate and stripped-down. Here it's sing and play to the metronome beat. I paid import price to pounce on this CD when I saw it. It's kind of disappointing. I know, make my own record...That said, even so-so Neil is better than a lot that's out there. He deserves more attention, but newbies won't fall in love with Neil Finn through this disc. Crowded House spoiled me, perhaps...Anyone out there in cyberspace even halfway agree with me? :)
After four Crowded House albums producing a large songbook of classic songwriting, Neil Finn parted with his band to pursue a solo career. Since Crowded House, Finn has taken an even more personal and sensitive approach to his colourful songwriting. The first solo album "Try Whistling This" was a darker and more sombre alternative to Crowded House and "One Nil" (re-released in America as "One All") is without any exaggeration, probably one of the finest albums of the last 20 years or so. I do not make such a statement without a number of reasons, and I'm certainly not measuring this albums sheer greatness by commercial success. Craft, craft and craft, this album from the first moments to the close is an intensive marrying of lyrics, chords, melodies and unique instrumentations creating a complex and beautiful canvas of musical imagery. Neil's chord patterns are just as inventive as his attention grabbing metaphors. This album is filled with classic opening lines such as "Let's go climb up on the roof, in the twighlight" (Secret God), "There's a light overhead, overhead" (Turn and Run) "I've never been to heaven but it feels alright, and I woke up this morning with a permanant smile" (Don't Ask Why) or "Wherever you are, it's 3 am and I'm awake, imagine the light upon your blue transparent face", transparent indeed is a fine description of this album. The songs are 3 dimensional and like most of Neil's music they pull the heartstrings with their warmth of expression and evocative imagery without ever being sentimental. And that's a big plus, it means Neil can write a love song or two to his wife like "Turn and Run", or "Wherever you are" without a cheesy, soppy result! This album has a very natural and organic feel; it's an uncanny pleasure hearing each song emerge. Through a simplistic chord progression and melody the music is filled with such colour, variety and a haunting energy, this is simply the work of a master songwriter who paints pictures with his voice and mould shapes with his chords. When I say this is one of the finest albums around, I do acknowledge this albums sheer subtlety. It's not a spectacular concept production like Floyds "The Wall" or Queens "A Night at the Opera." But it doesn't need be - at all. Neil Finn matches Lennon and McCartney's finest songwriting days, and Finn at his finest (I dare say) defeats their post Beatles solo work. If not, Neil makes Noel Gallagher look like a teenager trying to write a song, he even makes the great Radiohead look like they are trying a bit too much to be progressive. Neil Finn doesn't need to try; his musical language speaks all for itself. I hope he will continue a steady stream of wonderful solo albums. This is his best work yet.
I believe that's how one reviewer once described Crowded House, and if anything, Neil sounds a bit more Crowded House-y on this solo project than he did on Try Whistling This, if only for the presence of Mitchell Froom on some tracks. I vastly prefer this original over the remixed, reordered One All US release for many reasons, not the least of which is that is flows better. One Nil is an album about fidelity and maintaining a relationship, and while Don't Ask Why is a bit of an oddball in that theme, I've always liked it. Much more central to the theme, if indeed one takes this as a concept album, is Elastic Heart, which has some lovely brass work (think Together Alone) and lyrics that speak to the concepts of forgiveness, compromise, and reapprochment - it's not a date song, it's a marriage song, and it's one that means a lot to me. The whole album is highly recommended.
the best, September 12, 2002
Reviewer: A music fan I've had this disc for a while, but it only recently made its way into my car CD player. That's when I really listen. And oh, boy, did I listen.One late night after a party I just got zapped by 'Secret God', mesmerized by the dissonant harmonies that repeated over and over. And it's not even my favorite track - that would probably be 'Driving Me Mad'. But they're all great. Not a single skipper, as they say.Finn is a great songwriter - I can't think of any better.
All I can say is that this is a must for any one who enjoys a great singer songwriter...but to categorize Neil Finn as just that, would understatement his talents. He is more than that. Finn is a tremendously gifted writer of the last twenty years and these new songs show that he is worthy a place in the upper echelons of rock with the likes of Paul McCartney, another musician who crafts songs that are catchy, romantic, and atmospheric. Neil Finn works with top notch musicians, and they bring out the best in these songs on this album. I also recommend his live SEVEN WORLDS COLLIDE DVD AND CD--BUY IT!
Not a review, a commentary, October 8, 2001
I want to love this..., October 24, 2002
