The first proper
Split Enz album features the band at its eccentric best.
Mental Notes is completely noncommercial art rock filled with ambitious arrangements and slightly disturbing themes courtesy of the
Phil Judd and
Tim Finn songwriting partnership.
Finn's bittersweet crooning perfectly complements
Judd's madman persona on tracks like "Stranger Than Fiction." Although the album would be repackaged, renamed, and re-recorded in years to come, the band would never again produce anything like it. ~ Chris Woodstra