As the son of one of pop's most reliable songwriters--Neil Finn of Crowded House fame--young Liam Finn has the pedigree of a young foal sired by a Triple Crown winner. His debut doesn't break with his father's primary tenet, that being the clause "melody comes first". I'll Be Lightning is full of memorable tune after memorable tune, with his voice echoing Neil's often in the more tender moments. But more than mere throwback, his music is also a clear product of listening to later Beck and Elliott Smith albums. Not quite a Rufus Wainwright-style revelation, but a very solid pop album indeed.