A live album released concurrently with a DVD video of the same concert, SEVEN WORLDS COLLIDE documents a one-time-only set bringing Neil Finn together with friends and acolytes including brother Tim, son Liam, and fans Lisa Germano, Johnny Marr, and Eddie Vedder. The latter turns in a surprisingly credible version of the Split Enz classic "Stuff and Nonsense." All the participants get their turns in the spotlight, with Germano's "Paper Doll" and her haunted duet "Turn and Run" among the highest points.
As always, Neil and Tim sound best when singing together, and the siblings take the majority of the vocals, both on their own songs and on unexpected choices like the Smiths' "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," capturing the deadpan humor of the original. Other highlights include a lovely version of the Finn brothers' collaboration "Angels Heap" and a Vedder-led rip through the manic "I See Red" that's the only rocker of the night. At times, the star of the show blends a little too unobtrusively into the background, but overall, SEVEN WORLDS is that rarity, a live album that's often as interesting as the original studio recordings.
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