Various: She Will Have Her Way: The Songs of Tim & Neil Finn

Herald rating: * * *

The remote value of tribute albums is to show what a diverse bunch of artists have been influenced by the legend in question. No such problem here - this 16-track salute to the brothers Finn is an all-women Australasian affair dominated by solo singer-songwriters, many unknown here.

And boy, don't they take this artistic respect stuff seriously? The main impression is of sweet-voiced earnestness turning the technicolour originals a shade of grey. That's when it's not losing the plot with Renee Geyer's overbaked Into Temptation, Sophie Koh's pub-rock Charlie or the electro-arty Four Seasons in One Day by New Buffalo. Our own three contributors attempt to help kick things along. Goldenhorse shine on Tim Finn obscurity I'll Never Know, Stellar take Persuasion back to the fashionably synthetic 80s, and Brooke Fraser tilts in grand style on Crowded House's Distant Sun.

Other highlights: Missy Higgins' lovely Stuff and Nonsense and Kasey Chambers countrified Better Be Home Soon. There's a second disc of the originals for times when you can't face Sarah Blasko finding undiscovered levels of tragedy in Don't Dream It's Over or Natalie Imbruglia warbling Pineapple Head.

Label: EMI