The Finn family has a history of playing together, so it's not a surprise that
Neil
teamed up with his son
Liam
for a collaborative album. What may be surprising about
Lightsleeper
is how the father lets the son take the lead.
's signature melodic flair isn't absent, but it is obscured underneath layers of shambling guitars, supple strings, echoing keyboards, and rhythms that are used as texture as much as groove. All of these elements can be heard on some latter-day
records but are certainly signatures of
Liam Finn
, who spent much of 2014's
The Nihilist
exploring this territory. In comparison,
is warmer and sweeter, a reflection of both collaboration and a family vibe, and while the coziness is comforting, it's also a shade hazy. Despite a handful of sharply executed songs, such as the de facto
Prince
tribute "Where's My Room" and the similarly funky "Ghosts,"
never quite coalesces. Instead, it drifts, floating from point to point, thought to thought, offering some memorable sounds along the way but never quite coming into focus. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine