Customer Reviews

Live At The Continental And The Esplanade

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Run, don't walk, and buy this CD. This is Paul at his best---funny (Dumb Things), tongue-in-cheek (God's Hotel) and socially conscious (Maralinga). Pouring Petrol on a Burning Man has a groove you won't soon forget. "Under the Sun" is my favorite Paul Kelly album, and many of its songs are reworked here to great success. Actually the best live CD I own.

This CD has some truly brilliant tracks. My favorites are When I first met your ma & To her door. The stories they tell and so well written they will make you laugh and cry. The music will bring a lump to your throat.

Paul Kelly is a great singer/songwriter who has been known and respected in Australia since the early 80's. His music ranges from folk/country through blues to recent foray's into techno music. This is a great album to listen to if you're feeling down, and I recommend a walk in the park afterward to complete the sensation!

Paul Kelly is undoubtedly the most negligently overlooked Australian artist there is. One can argue with the song selection on his recent greatest hits compilation, but the songs chosen for this live effort all hit the mark. Alternatively acoustic and then some great guitar based interpretations of well chosen, sensational studio songs - this warrants repeated listenings. It is the Kelly album that I nominate when anybody asks where to start on this artist. Standout tracks are Dumb Things and When I First Met Your Ma. As a group of songs, this is also the best live album I own period, the closest being early Neil Young.

This is Paul Kelly at his very best. It captures the spirit of his live performances, at the peak of his career, and features extraordinary performances of 'Just Like Animals', 'Pouring Petrol On A Burning Man' and the heartbreaking 'Maralinga'.

It probably helps to have heard the originals of some of the songs on this album such as 'To Her Door', as he varies them a bit in these live versions, but if you're already a P.K. fan then this is - absolutely - his best album. We have over 4,000 CDs at home, and this is easily our most-played CD.

Paul Kelly has put out many fantastic recordings but this live CD has an appeal all it's own. Many of the older songs feature new arrangements and surprises. The intimate audience adds flavor to this performance and begs the question...."Why is Paul Kelly unknown?!?!"