I'd just moved to California in 1984 and was checking out the local record stores and just out of sheer fate picked a Split Enz LP out of a bargain bin - and though I've since come the realization that Waiita is not among Spit Enz best, it contained a song that absolutely floored me. It was one of the few Neil tunes on the album called "Iris" that sounded like something Paul McCartney might have written at the height of his powers. Since then I've kept a pretty close eye on the brothers Finn.

Just as a historical perspective - as you listen to this newest collection of fine Finn tunes - as hard as it is to beleive these two have been making records for 30 years - goodness, can they really be that old? Throughout their varied careers the two brothers have enjoyed a fair amount of success (certainly Neil scored better with Crowded House) and both have given us many stellar moments both as songwriters and performers. I suppose most Finn Fans would point to Woodface as the crowning glory of the two. This is a record that has Tims's fingerprints all over it, both as a writer and vocalist - and was really touted as the long-awaited reunion between the two. Unfortunately it didn't quite pan out that way, but their writing collaboration during this period yielded alot of their finest work - some of it eventually winding up on Together Alone.

In fact I saw Crowded House at full house at the Pantages just after the release of Wood face, fully expecting to see both brothers share the stage. When this did not turn out to be the case I was disappointed, for about 10 minutes until Neil seized the audience with his brilliant guitar work and rich vocals and made us forget all about the fact that he had a brother. Still one of the best shows I've ever seen. But on to Everyone is Here.

If we can agree then that Woodface is the best record produced by either and that (despite it's "elevator music" ubiquitousness) "Don't Dream it's Over" still remains either brother's best song followed closely by "Into Temptation" from Temple of Low Men, then we're ready to discuss this new offering from these gifted siblings from New Zealand.

I'd been reading quite alot of good advanced press about Everyone is Here, (perhaps a bit too much) because I have to say that I was initially somewhat underwhelmed by it. It was solid, but a bit too safe and certainly not on par with the less consistent, but far more edgy fare of their eponymous '95 Finn Brother's release. That record had an element of danger and recklessness to it - as well as two of Neil's finest ballads, "Be Home Soon," and "Last Day of June"

Ordinarily this line of work necessitates that I must size up the quality of a record with a limited amount of spins, but as it turned out I was able to listen to Everyone is Here for several days before I was required to opine, and I'm lucky for that, because it's a much better record than I might have given it credit for, without the benefit of a few additional days. The most sparkling gem here is track nine "Edible Flowers" that finds the brothers trading vocal duties from verse to chorus and the chorus packs one of Neil's trademark uber-hooks and with Tim's harmony to elevate it even further, this song alone is worth the 15 duckets - particularly for long-time fans.

The opener "Won't Give In" is solid as is "Anything Can Happen" and there really isn't a weak track on the album. There is an overriding theme of family unity that weaves these tracks together in a bit of a conceptual way, and one of the more inspired tunes "Disembodied Voices" finds the brothers reaching back to their days as young lads sharing a bedroom. It would, I suppose, make an interesting documentary tracing the various twists and turns and (I'm guessing) numerous fallings-out, that these two very gifted siblings have been through on their way back to this seemingly harmonious state of affairs. The album at the very least proves that they've still got good work in them and holds out promise to their multi-generational fan-base that this isn't the Finnale.