NOTHING BUT A DREAM by Australian rocker Paul Kelly includes the songs "If I Could Start Today Again," "Pretty Place," and "I Wasted Time."
The Australian reissue comes with a bonus disc entitled THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, featuring more Kelly originals.
This longtime Australian singer/songwriter has often been hailed as his continent's equivalent to Bruce Springsteen in his relevance and consistency. And while some of the songs reek of too much polish and production effects, such as "Midnight Rain," the subsequent "I Close My Eyes and Think of You" more than adequately compensates for such mistakes. On this album, the songs speak of a certain longing and asking for redemption, but are dominantly roots pop arrangements. "Change Your Mind" resembles Mark Knopfler's subtlety over a sparse, ambient background. When the backbeats take over, though, and strangle a song such as "Just About to Break," it leaves a lot, if anything, to be desired. "Love Is the Law" goes into David Bowie synth-heavy pop territory, but it also doesn't bode well. Thankfully, "If I Could Start Today Again" and "The Pretty Place" steer the album back into a welcomed and comfortable setting. It sounds as if Kelly has more than perfected his craft listening to "Smoke Under the Bridge" and "Would You Be My Friend," both of which could pass for last-minute cuts from The Ghost of Tom Joad. An added bonus is the four additional tracks from a previously released EP, with the funky duet of "Roll on Summer" being the high point of the lot. ~ Jason MacNeil
Aussie exclusive reissue of the singer/songwriter's 2001 album includes a bonus disc, 'The Gift That Keeps On Giving' with five bonus tracks, the title track, 'Cradle Of Love', 'You Broke A Beautiful Thing', 'Jump To Love' & 'Throwing Good After Bad'. Slipcase. 2002.
Recorded at Sing Song South, The Shed, Yikesville, Melbourne, Australia; Balfour Street Studios, London, England between December 2000 & April 2001.
Personnel: Paul Kelly (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Bic Runga (vocals); Mick Harvey (electric guitar, organ); Spencer Jones (electric guitar, background vocals); Shane O'Mara (electric guitar); Gerry Hale (fiddle); Bruce Haymes (organ, keyboards, background vocals); Steve Hadley (bass, background vocals); Carl Stanbridge (bass); David Ruffy (drums, percussion); Peter Luscombe (drums); James Sanger (programming); Billie Godfrey, Michael Barclay, Renee Geyer, Linda Bull, Vika Bull (background vocals).
Producers include: Paul Kelly, Mark Wallis, Mick Harvey, James Sanger.
- If I Could Start Today Again
- Change Your Mind
- Midnight Rain
- I Close My Eyes & Think of You
- Somewhere in the City
- Just About to Break
- Love Is the Law
- Pretty Place
- I Wasted Time
- Would You Be My Friend?
- Smoke Under the Bridge
Bonus Disc
- Gift That Keeps on Giving
- Cradle of Love
- You Broke a Beautiful Thing
- Jump to Love
- Throwing Good Love After Bad
