By Todd Lavoie
Sweet sufferin’ divine, I’m smitten! Liam Finn‘s just-released debut, I’ll Be Lightning (Yep Roc), is quite the fully formed, sure-footed opening howdydoo – nothing but pure shiver-me-timbers falsetto flutters and endearing pop-thrills melodies, frequently offered with disarming vulnerability. It’s an honest-to-goodness gem – the musical equivalent of a late-night get-together with an old friend. It’s warm and comfy and familiar, yet still pulsing with the potential to surprise. Most impressive of all, Finn practically orchestrated the whole thing himself: guitars, drums, keyboards, you name it. And apparently our man knows how to work the same go-at-it-alone magic onstage – see for yourselves Friday, March 7, when the veritable one-man-band headlines the Bottom of the Hill.
Diehard Kiwi-pop fans will be quick to point out that I’ll Be Lightning isn’t Finn’s first charge out of the gates: prior to going solo, the 24-year-old son of Crowded House crooner Neil Finn was the lead vocalist of Betchadupa, a New Zealand band specializing in oddball pop. Good luck finding any of their stuff over here in the States, though, and if you do, expect a hefty import-price sticker slapped on the front of that baby. And if we’re going to indulge in any further hair-splitting, I might as well mention that Finn’s solo spin has been available in Australia and New Zealand since August of last year. For most of us, though, it’s a fair bet to say the guy’s only just now sliding within the reach of our radar. Hell, last night I even caught one of his videos on MTV while flipping channels – and I didn’t even think they still played music on MTV anymore!
First off, I’ll address the inevitable question sure to be a-popping in the minds of many: yes, Liam does indeed share a few vocal similarities with his dad, the honeyed tenor gliding atop such timeless swooners as Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” “Better Be Home Soon,” and “Private Universe,” as well as Split Enz classics such as “I Got You.” Finn the Younger is hardly a dead-ringer for Finn the Elder: Liam appears more willing to show off his rougher edges than Neil ever was, but it doesn’t exactly require much straining to pick up on the likeness, either.