[.ca] Other Enz: Split Enz & Beyond

small point:
One small point, Split Enz (note the nz in Enz) is a New Zealand band. No Australians were ever part of the band. Music is wonderful, always original. The early music needs a little concentration but is well worth the effort.

Strictly for fans only:
This collection of one hit wonders, curios and bits and pieces is strictly for fans of Split Enz. Personally, I'm a huge fan and have followed the Enz since I was 7 (20 years ago) but even I have to admit that a fair amount of this stuff is unlistenable or below par. It is certainly not a CD that I'd want to hear often. Still, there is some worthwhile material, e.g. Tim Finn's solo stuff, the Crowded House tracks. CD2 is definitely better than the first.

Split Enz Alumni Reunion:
This is a collection of Split Enz tracks and some songs by former Split Enz members who went solo (Tim Finn, Mal Green) or went on to form other bands (Crowded House, Swingers, Schnell Fenster and the mighty Citizen Band). This CD set has some classic songs; some unavailable for years (check out the Swingers 'Certain Sound'; it's a classic).

Mostly if you're a Split Enz fan:
This is a good collection of odds 'n sods from the Split Enz family tree, including Crowded House (duh!), The Finn Brothers (together and apart), percussionist Noel Crombie (a great version of C & W grand-old-man Jack Clement's "My Voice Keeps Changing on Me") and others. Split Enz never quite caught on in the U.S., though they sure did elsewhere, and if you were a fan of theirs in their heyday, you'll probably want to give this a listen. Me, I always liked Crowded House and the together/alone Neil and Tim Finn projects a little more than the Enz and those selections here are what I find myself replaying (especially the gorgeous "Mary Of The South Seas" from the Finns and Crowded House' rousing cover of Hunters And Collectors "Throw Your Arms Around Me"). And, as always with these sorts of things, there are some tracks here that should've stayed in single-dom and not given CD release. That said, THE OTHER ENZ is a good completists' collection and has some rewards for casual listeners as well.

Just Brilliant:
Nice compilation of tracks. Most enjoyable and would recommend it to everyone.

• Shark Attack \oLive\c - Split Enz
• What's the Matter with You \oLive\c - Split Enz
• Follow Me - Mal Green
• My Voice Keeps Changing on Me - Noel Crombie
• Slow Motion TV - Tim Finn, Phil Manzanera
• Ladder Song - Citizen Band
• Instrumental
• Certain Sound - Swingers
• All over Town - Swingers
• Counting the Beat - Swingers
• Rendezvous (With a Girl Like You) - Phil Judd
• Dictionary of Love - Phil Judd
• Forgiveness - Phil Judd
• They Won't Let My Girlfriend Talk to Me - Tim Finn
• Home for My Heart - Tim Finn
• Long Hard Road - Tim Finn, Phil Judd
• Precious Time - Tim Finn, Phil Judd
• Tai Chi - Tim Finn, Phil Judd
• Fingers Crossed - Wendy Matthews, Noel's Cowards
• Just Like You - Wendy Matthews, Noel's Cowards
• Cold Shoulder - Wendy Matthews, Noel's Cowards
• Parihaka - Tim Finn, Herbs
• Whisper - Schnell Fenster
• Ok Alright a Huh Oh Yeah - Schnell Fenster
• New Kind of Blue - The Makers
• Horizon - The Makers
• Desert Chord/With You I'm Alive - Tim Finn
• Charlie \oLive\c - Tim Finn, Phil Manzanera
• Six Months in a Leaky Boat \oLive\c - Tim Finn
• Persuasion - Tim Finn, Richard Thompson
• Mr. Tambourine Man
• Eight Miles High
• She's Not There - Crowded House
• Throw Your Arms Around Me - Crowded House
• One Step Ahead \oLive\c - Crowded House
• History Never Repeats \oLive\c - Crowded House
• Weather With You - Finn Brothers
• Mary of the South Seas - Finn Brothers
• Dots on the Shells - Neil Finn, Yothu Yindi
• Sacre Bleu - Eddie Rayner
• My Time Is Now - Largest Living Things