So Much Water So Close to Home

Paul Kelly | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A & M Records
• ASIN: B000008H99
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,158 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

So Much Water.' was originally released in August 1989. The title comes from a short story of the same name by author Raymond Carver. Carver had died in August 1988. Kelly would go on to co-write the score for the 2006 Australian film Jindabyne, which was also based on the same story. The entire album was recorded in the U.S. with producer Scott Litt, best known for his work with R.E.M. The album peaked at #10 on the ARIA album charts and boasted the singles, "Sweet Guy", "Careless" and "Most Wanted Man in the World". An album which focuses on and is true to Paul Kelly's intriguing knack of fiction telling - while at the same time employing more romance and poetry; 'So Much Water So Close To Home' - over 20 years later is a classic of it's genre. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quintessential Kelly--Ned's minstrel son, November 4, 1998

By A Customer

Do you have to be Australian to get Paul Kelly? I hope not, but wonder..... Paul Kelly's music is like the taste of red dust, the smell of the first torrential thunderstorm after a drought, teenagers snogging on a bull ant's nest, driving for thousands of k's on a totally straight, flat road, picking bindiis out of your feet... All part of growing up in Oz.

This was Kelly's first album after the classic "Under the Sun", and the first obviously aimed at a non-Australian audience. It has a far more folksy, country feel than his earlier albums, which at the time I didn't like much. Over the years though, what I have come to appreciate is just how quintessentially Australian the sound is, even if the lyrics don't show it. In this album is everything that was happening in Aus music in the late 80's. There's touches of zydecho (remember that?), melodic bass lines, simple chord structures, just enough production to ensure a clean sound without turning it to plastic, OTT electric piano with vibrato going full boar, and pure Oz folk, most obvious on "South of Germany" complete with sleazy slide guitar. "Pigeon" sounds like Yothu Yindi in the pre-Treaty remix days.

No wonder the Americans didn't get it. He's become more international since then, but in 1989 he just didn't make sense out of context. Paul Kelly's a national treasure, up there with Andrew Denton, Flacco, souvlaki, DAAS, AFL, Bradman and Gough. He's come a long way since this album, but it's still one of my faves.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still sounds fresh, July 10, 2004

By 

Paul Kendall "Paul" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Much Water So Close to Home (Audio CD)

I recently replaced my long lost tape with this CD version.

I can't say how great the tracks sound today, even after 15 years. I recall long drives listening over and over to Paul work his magic. "You Can't Take It With You" and "Careless" are sublime.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Paul Kelly Albumn Ever!!!, August 15, 2002

By 

Scott H (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Much Water So Close to Home (Audio CD)

I am an American who first fell in love with Kelly through his songs that found their way to the airwaves of American radio (Darling it Hurts, and Dumb Things).. I first stumbled across this albumn in a used tape store in the early 90's and snatched it up. The haunting sound of this albumn and its perfectly penned lyrics move me to this day. No artist alive can put lyrics to paper then to song with the expresion and sincerity of Paul Kelly. I am a forever fan of his work and style. Thanks Paul, for all you put in and all I get out of your music! I too feel like a loner as an American who loves Paul Kelly. We should all get together and sing Kelly songs :-) Maybe in Texas!