Rating: 9
Best Track: “Lead Balloon”
Worst Track: “Wise Man”
Liam Finn was previously known only as the son of Neil Finn of Crowded House and frontman of New Zealand band, and frequent Crowded House opener, Betchadupa. You mean you haven’t heard of them?
Well, get acquainted with I’ll Be Lightning, Finn’s exceptional solo debut. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist manages to put together a gorgeous collection of songs with rich harmonies and a sensibly retro-rock feel.
Straight through, I’ll Be Lightning may run the risk of sounding too uniform to unfamiliar ears, but most music fans will see the album as something impossible to tear away from. Each song, from the upbeat “Better to Be” to “Shadow of Your Man,” a piano ballad reminiscent of Elton John, is virtually flawless.
Despite his tragically large beard and unkempt appearance, Finn’s light and folky vocal style and effortlessly layered harmonies sound more hippie than hobo. Songs like the surf rock “Second Chance” and the acoustic early ‘70s folk of “Energy Spent” and “Fire In Your Belly” take listeners back to a simpler time and almost uplift the soul.
I Am Lightning is hard not to fall in love with. Liam Finn makes beautiful rock music that is accessible, but doesn’t lose its musicality or meaning. His debut is remarkably promising of a great career to come.
-Amanda Renko
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