Tim Finn

In addition to founding New Zealand's Split Enz and doing a short stint with brother Neil in Crowded House, singer-songwriter Tim Finn has achieved success with his own passionately melodic Baroque Pop; and though his penchant for layering pristine layers on top of one another is impressive, even more so is his infusion of barely off-kilter string quartets. Awkward yet delicate, these soft walls of mournful arrangements refreshingly collide into the melody rather than predictably following it. Without such original direction, lush strings can sometimes be an elegant but overly indulgent inclusion best saved for the Queen and Her royal court. Thankfully, Finn spares you the inquisition and tempers his melodic elegance with the sound of creative ambition.