7 Worlds Collide (Live At The St. James)

7 Worlds Collide culls the best live renditions from a series of all-star concerts staged by Neil Finn in Auckland in April 2001. This special lineup includes ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien and drummer Phil Selway, Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and 4AD songstress Lisa Germano on keys and violin (the last two have become part of Finn's regular touring band). Oh yes, and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder (a devout fan of Split Enz) even joins in on the fun. Selections include Finn's then-current material (from One Nil), of course, and these come off well. But the real treats here are those renditions that could only result from such a unique gathering of musicians, such as hearing Neil Finn and Marr cover the Smiths' "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," and Vedder's heartfelt rendition of an Enz tune, "Stuff and Nonsense" (off Frenzy), followed by Vedder and Tim Finn together on an aggressive "I See Red." Listeners also get to hear the Finn brothers perform "Angel's Heap," a song off of their joint recording (Finn), a few Crowded House tunes, and an original each by Marr, Germano, and Vedder. In all, the collaborations and the resulting alternate versions are exciting to hear, especially for people who are already fans of the songs. ~ Joslyn Layne