I had considered some sort of even more long-winded and pretentious title for the article, including making some reference to his undoubted musical genius, but luckily opted against that route. Neil Finn has fully been a part of my life since 1988, when I first fell in love with the second Crowded House album, Temple of Low Men. I had heard one or two tracks on the radio and then seen a bit of an interview with them on some long forgotten Channel 4 show or other. I was hooked

Now, I tend to avoid doing Top 10 lists of anything musical, as orders of preference constantly change with moods, time and the like. But as 2025 concludes and 2026 hopefully dawns with some fresh hope and optimism, now seemed like a good time to pull together something a little more meaningful for my first playlist of the year. There were some great things going on in 2025; lots that I am proud of, both personally, and with my family and friends - but, perhaps sounding a tad

We salute Neil Mullane Finn, one of the pop world's great songwriters, who turns 65 today. He was born in Te Awamutu, on the north island...