Customer Reviews

Wanted Man

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

 

 

I hope that Paul's CDs will start to shake up the US market.... His music is so unpredictable and so interesting. He gives us such wonderful rhythm and blues....I cannot imagine a world without his music. I would call him the "Bob Dylan" of Australia because his voice does resemble Bob on many ballads and he is also an incredible storyteller. Maybe there is a little Harry Chapin in there too. Every song on every CD he has given us has redeeming qualities...he is always allowing us something to think about and doing it with such wit and tenderness. The instrumentals are terrific and grab you away from whatever you happen to be doing at that moment...sitting still and listening is out of the question. The tunes hit the soul too hard to be ignored... If you haven't heard of this Australian delight, it's time to drink from Downunder. You'll never regret this Cd......Thanks, Paul...don't ever stop.....

A year ago I would have given this 4 stars, but this disc by the Aussie artist just seemed to get better with age. I realized how good this really is with time. Paul Kelly is one of the best artist out there, yet he remains criminally underappreciated when it comes to American exposure. This disc has it all; smart pop/ rock, great melodies,great lyrics, blues, and some downright rockin foot stompin' rock & roll. A top notch effort.

That's all you will need to get hoked on this album. Paul Kelly has been described as the Austrailian Bob Dylan, but I'm sure over there, much like it is here, that is a dangerous thing. If anything, he's a cross between a subdued Paul Westerberg and a reflective John Hiatt. Kelly has a pretty great ability to weave a tale together and blend it into an infectius melody. His lyrics, while not always complex, have a way of leaving it up to the listener to explain away, but not before he has dragged one of your emotions into the picture. If there is doubt about purchasing this CD, find a way to listen to "Love Never Runs On Time", and then tell me you don't want it.

As usual, another fabulous album from one of Australia's great songwriter/artists. Each song a story in itself. Highly recommended. If you aren't into Paul Kelly, make this your intro to many great albums.

The first reviewer has it right: with this, or any Paul Kelly album, you must listen to it three times. On the first you will not be too impressed. On the second you will hear something clever. By the end of the third you will forever be haunted by the songs.
"Summer Rain," "Just Like Animals" "Love Never Runs on Time" and "Lately" are typical PK love songs: pleasant, intelligent, and with just a little bit of a twist to keep it interesting. "You're Still Picking the Same Sore" is yet another PK classic regarding the disintegration of a relationship (a topic that is PK's forte -other examples from other albums include "Same Old Walk" "I Can't Believe We Were Married" "Winter Coat" "Stories of Me" and "Taught By Experts").

Overall, this is a great album to get to know PK by, although some of the imports are actually stronger (in particular, "Comedy," recorded with the Messengers).

I recently mentioned to a friend from New Zealand that I considered Paul Kelly to be "the Australian John Hiatt". His reply was that I had it wrong: "John Hiatt is the American Paul Kelly". Kelly is a tremendously gifted songwriter who shares with Hiatt and Bruce Springsteen a rare talent: the ability to write lyrics that speak eloquently to the concerns of his audience as they grow from young adulthood to middle age. Kelly addresses some commonplace concerns (falling in love, having children, plain old lust) with uncommon maturity. His singing voice and arrangements are always appealing, and he has amassed a sizably body of high-quality work. "Wanted Man" is one of his best albums, with standout tracks like "Song From The Sixteenth Floor", "She's Rare", "Just Like Animals", and "Nukkanya". If you are already a fan, you should definitely add this title to your collection. If you are not yet a Paul Kelly fan, this album would be a good place to start. You're in for a treat.