Split Enz

Split Enz's combination of New Wave synths and a love of all great classic pop songs put them in a small league with the similar-minded Squeeze. The group's choppy, guitar-led pop songs still sound strong, thanks to their organic production. "I Got You" and "History Never Repeats" are still great; "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" is flat-out brilliant.

From Down Under, where Vanda-Young are Goffin-King if not Lennon-McCartney, pretenders who made Squeeze, their pop compatriots across the Tasman Sea, seem like heavyweights on spritz and detail alone. Tunes and metaphors are brought skillfully to completion like an A student's notebook exercise--you'll remember every song. But you'll never know why you bothered. (Grade - B-)