There’s an aphorism that says “with death comes experience.” I always believed that was just metaphysical bullshit put forth to convince people to look over the horizon for life beyond the veil. I was wrong. Now, with more sad experience, I understand that it’s not about individuals, but the death you confront throughout your life. Crowded House has confronted that experience and put out … not their best, but their most mature and beautiful work, Time on Earth. Except for a few misguided choices in production and a couple of songs that should have been held over for a future release, they prove how potent pop music can be, and how gracefully a group’s sound can age.

  Nick Drake is a musical puzzle who, if you exclude Robert Johnson, is unparalleled in his ability to evoke a sadness that can be both inviting and mystifying. Far beyond his obvious musical talents as a guitarist, singer and songwriter, his very life has moved beyond the obvious to take on the myth and/or classical tragedy of a tortured genius unrecognized during his lifetime (think Van Gogh). Family Tree, a release of his demos, home recordings and family tapes, is another piece of the puzzle. It fits easily, filling in large portions of the missing picture. I want to be clear from the start: Family Tree initially seems to be a collection primarily for Nick Drake aficionados or obsessive completists. Many of the cuts are very lo-fi, and the home recorder hiss on “They’re Leaving Me Behind” or the creak ...