SEE YA 'ROUND

For starters, I was quite surprised to find Split Enz in Progarchives, but I must admit their early efforts can squeeze their way into the wide and diffuse limits established for "prog" on this website.

Secondly, I was intrigued by the low rating the album has garnered, so I have just listened to it and checking the rating system, I must agree this is NOT a record that is necessary in a prog rock collection, that's why I also give it 2 stars.

Ah, but alas, the record is quite good, but not from a prog point of view. It's a good proto-Crowded House album, the initial songs are catchy, "I Walk Away" is actually also included in Crowded House's debut album. "One mouth is fed" also sounds like some other song in the debut, and so on.

I am a big CH fan, so I can say I've actually really enjoyed Split Enz's "See Ya 'Round", some good songs with great melodies, obviously not as strong as the CH debut, but very good in general. "The Lost Cat" is quite eccentric/quirky, a bit like like the older Split Enz; beyond that track on to the end the songs aren't that good, very weak songs "Adz", "This is massive" and "Ninnie Knees Up", though "Kia Kaha" is acceptable and better than the 3 former songs. So 8 out of 11 songs, that's not too bad :-).

Neil Finn is currently, in my opinion (and many agree), one of best composers alive, this record starts him off as the leader of a group and is interesting as the starting point for his solo/CH career, but has little, or no reason, to be included in Progarchives.