Monday, April 1, 2019

The 1984 Listening Post - Split Enz - See Ya 'Round

Split Enz - See Ya 'Round

#321
November 1984 (Housekeeping)
Split Enz
See Ya 'Round
3.75 out of

Highlights:
Breakin' My Back
I Walk Away
Years Go By
The Lost Cat
Ninee Knees Up


Tim Finn sucks.

Sorry. Every Split Enz review needs to start with that. So we can all be on the same page.
Tim Finn is bad. He's everything that has ever been bad in "New Wave" music.
Ok.
Whew.

This is the last Split Enz album, since they "split" after this. You know why it's actually not bad?

No Tim Finn songs.

This is pre-Crowded House Crowded House.
I like this as much or more than any previous Split Enz album.

You know why?

No.
Tim.
Finn.

That can be the only explanation.

On the second side we get songs written by the other members of the band. Starting with Eddie Rayner's "The Lost Cat", a haunting meditation instrumental (Excellent), Nigel Griggs' "Adz", better synth-pop than anything Tim has ever done (and it's still mediocre), Paul Hester's goofy, "This is Massive" and Noel Crombie's silly "Ninnie Knees Up", with a Neil Finn trinket " Kia Kaha" in between and even those pieces aren't bad enough to call to mind the worst of Split Enz's past. In fact, their inclusion elevates the album simply for existing and being fun.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm9smEh4bd5hRmHSMYUXZET5PFk1j56Kjv=WoBE4kBuGRg&list=PLm9smEh4bd5hRmHSMYUXZET5PFk1j56Kj&index=11

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