It's so easy to be cynical about this recent rash of reunions. So what makes Crowded House's case different? Well for starters, Kiwi songwriter Neil Finn never stopped making quietly vital solo albums in the time since the breakup; in fact, this was originally slated to be his third until the presence of CH bassist Nick Seymour shifted his focus. Or maybe it's just that the unassuming Finn is one of the most consistent, unsung writers in pop. Like all CH albums, Time On Earth is an exceptional study in lasting, bittersweet beauty. Such simple pleasures shouldn't be questioned, only embraced.