Customer Reviews

So Much Water So Close to Home

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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!

This was the first album I'd ever heard from Paul Kelly and it blew my mind! I mean, this guy is so unique. Literate, catchy, haunting songs with killer wild-west guitar parts and real story lines. Not many like him. Check out the new LP 'Ways and Means' for 2 CD's of solid bliss.

This album is dope. In fact, all the Paul Kelly albums are dope. If you like Dylan, image that with a little Paul Simon mixed in.

I bought my first Paul Kelly album in 1988 after reading a review in Rolling Stone and I have been hooked on him ever since. He is a storyteller, musician, and painter all at once...creating images in your mind and engaging listeners with his seemingly ordinary but incredibly compelling tales.

I own most of Paul Kelly's albums, and I can say without a doubt that this is by far his best work. My favorite song ever is "Careless." And, see if you can figure out what really happens in the title track, "So Much Water." This song will leave you guessing...

What a talented musician! I don't understand why he is not more appreciated here in the US.