Neil Finn - Try Whistling This

Label: Parlophone
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 1998
Recommended by: Chrissy Walker

I first listened to Neil Finn when Chrissy made me a mix CD, those were a thing and this was probably at the tail end of the phenomenon, where she included "Dream Date". The issue with the new streaming services is that they really impede sharing in a way that feels personal.

This might be an old man moment, but there is something about making something for a person and handing them the disc and tell them to listen to it. Now you can send a youtube video, share a playlist, or some other version of an e-mail. It isn't quite the same, but times change and the younger generation probably feels it is personal. The generation or two before mine would say that burning a cd didn't take much time, because they would have to shuffle through all the tapes and listen to the whole song while it was recording onto a mixtape. So, I am just an old man saying that kids have it too easy these days.

Try Whistling This is a pretty fantastic album. I believe it is the fourth artist from New Zealand I have listened to, so that's big news for them. Especially since this album cover won the New Zealand Album cover of the year in 1998, it was drawn by his boy Elroy. (Jane is not his wife.)

Neil Finn is a pretty fantastic musician who plays about 12 different instruments on the album. He also does it in a way that doesn't make you hate him, take lessons Sting. However, this album may need a lute. 

The lesson hear, keep making cd's for people. And get off my lawn.

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Label: Virgin
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 1993
Recommended by: Ryne Heinrich

The Smashing Pumpkins for a long while have been the rock band of Chicago. It's kind of annoying. Not because I believe they release sub-par music, but mostly because I think their success has led to too much Billy Corgan in my life.

He is a very good song writer, singer, and musician, but not a very entertaining personality. Even with that, "Today" is one of the greatest songs of the 90's. The fact that this album also contains a song that rocks as hard as "Cherub Rock" shows the great variety and range that Billy Corgan features. 

That just means he gets interviewed more though.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder

Label: Columbia
Year: 1991
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recommending Person: Paul Conant

I was first made aware of Ned's Atomic Dustbin by the amazing soundtrack on the NCAA Football 06. Maybe the best soundtrack in video game history, right up there with MVP Baseball 05, FIFA 98 Road to the World Cup, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

While "Kill Your Television" is the biggest hit on the album it is not the only enjoyable song on God Fodder. The entire record is full of punk rock goodness I think best exemplified by "Throwing Things". While Trip Shakespeare was over taking by the grunge dominance of 1991, Ned's Atomic Dustbin was huge in the UK and was able to have a fantastic career. 

Fun record, Fun Fact: Carl Winslow is quoted from Die Hard "Why don't you wake up and smell what you've been shoveling!"