Roger's Year in Music 2014: The Nihilist, by Liam Finn.

In order to work my way through my musical year, I'm starting early.

Liam Finn is Neil's son and Tim's nephew, and he carries on the crazily talented family musical tradition (Split Enz, Crowded House) in ways that sometimes remind the listener of father and uncle, while at other times entirely sidestepping them. His third full-length release finds Liam "using the studio as an instrument" and "channeling Prince," as one reviewer phrased it. That's sounds about right, although figurative bells and whistles wouldn't amount to much without solid songs, and The Nihilist has them. As with Neil Finn's best, the songs are subversive, deceptive ... and catchy as hell.