Neil & Liam Finn Lightsleeper

The notion of family is key to this debut album from Crowded House/Split Enz singer Neil Finn and his son Liam: Neil’s wife Sharon plays bass on two tracks and his younger son Elroy plays drums on seven. (More of a friend from work, Mick Fleetwood from Neil's new gig in Fleetwood Mac guests as well.) The songs are steeped in intimate memories. “We Know What It Means” is a remembrance of the times Liam accompanied his father on Crowded House tours as a child, while “Hold Her Close” reflects on the birth of Liam’s son (and presumable future bandmate), Buddy. Together the Finns produce sonically adventurous pop full of left turns and lo-fi nuances bubbling in the background that keep this from being more than a sentimental spin through vacation slideshows.