Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning... (house, indie, pop, album)

Flip McLovin · 02-10-2008, 12:48 PM

Liam is the son of Split Enz and Crowded House member Neil Finn. I got the chance to see him play as a backup musician on Crowded House's last tour. His new album is very nice and I highly recommend it.

Here's a mini-review I found intriquing...

Indie wunderkind Liam Finn has burst onto the musical landscape with the force and presence of an artist twice his age. The 23-year-old New Zealander plays nearly every instrument on his first solo release I'll Be Lightning, a responsibility he doesn't relinquish when performing live. During his raucous yet intimate performances Liam utilizes effects pedals to create, sample and loop bass, guitar, drums, vocals and even Theremin. Liam's sound ranges from foggy and intimate to fuzzed-out garage but melodies are always the order of the day. On I'll Be Lightning, Liam has translated the shambolic energy of his live show onto vintage 2-inch tape, yielding a studio album of frightening power and endless hooks.

Seltzer · 02-10-2008, 06:13 PM

Hmmm, I haven't actually heard any material by this guy. He was the Big Day Out and someone told me that his performance was a bit underwhelming, but that's only one person's opinion. I'll have to give him a listen at some point.

Flip McLovin · 02-10-2008, 07:06 PM

Give it a try. Liam may be more of a studio album/wizard guy but I like this album. But then again, I worship his father.

jackhammer · 02-12-2008, 12:43 PM

I may have to check this out. I really like Crowded House. They make good solid pop music and they are very good musicians.

Flip McLovin · 02-13-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I may have to check this out. I really like Crowded House. They make good solid pop music and they are very good musicians.

I left a little luv in yer inbox!

~~anon~~ · 02-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Liam Finn is amazing. I saw him with Crowded House at the Glass House in CA. really cool guy

hip hop bunny hop · 11-02-2011, 04:41 PM

Often times when a girl, especially an attractive girl, tells me that so and so is really good and describes the music as "indie" I... just write it off. I've no love for needless quirkiness, and generally the notion of an acoustic in anything other than country makes me a bit queezy.

However, this guy - despite having a really, really high pitch voice - actually has produced music that goes beyond reliance on saccharine vocal melodies. Yeah, he employs a needless diversity of instruments, but the beats, melodies, and harmonies are solid.

I recommend him.

02-10-2008, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Flip McLovin Music Snob Deluxe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 69	Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning... Liam is the son of Split Enz and Crowded House member Neil Finn. I got the chance to see him play as a backup musician on Crowded House's last tour. His new album is very nice and I highly recommend it. Here's a mini-review I found intriquing... Indie wunderkind Liam Finn has burst onto the musical landscape with the force and presence of an artist twice his age. The 23-year-old New Zealander plays nearly every instrument on his first solo release I'll Be Lightning, a responsibility he doesn't relinquish when performing live. During his raucous yet intimate performances Liam utilizes effects pedals to create, sample and loop bass, guitar, drums, vocals and even Theremin. Liam's sound ranges from foggy and intimate to fuzzed-out garage but melodies are always the order of the day. On I'll Be Lightning, Liam has translated the shambolic energy of his live show onto vintage 2-inch tape, yielding a studio album of frightening power and endless hooks. __________________ Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult...

02-10-2008, 06:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	Hmmm, I haven't actually heard any material by this guy. He was the Big Day Out and someone told me that his performance was a bit underwhelming, but that's only one person's opinion. I'll have to give him a listen at some point. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

02-10-2008, 07:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flip McLovin Music Snob Deluxe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 69	Give it a try. Liam may be more of a studio album/wizard guy but I like this album. But then again, I worship his father. __________________ Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult...

02-12-2008, 12:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I may have to check this out. I really like Crowded House. They make good solid pop music and they are very good musicians. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-02-2011, 04:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	Often times when a girl, especially an attractive girl, tells me that so and so is really good and describes the music as "indie" I... just write it off. I've no love for needless quirkiness, and generally the notion of an acoustic in anything other than country makes me a bit queezy. However, this guy - despite having a really, really high pitch voice - actually has produced music that goes beyond reliance on saccharine vocal melodies. Yeah, he employs a needless diversity of instruments, but the beats, melodies, and harmonies are solid. I recommend him. __________________ Have mercy on the poor.

02-14-2008, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
~~anon~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Liam Finn is amazing. I saw him with Crowded House at the Glass House in CA. really cool guy