Opening up with the blazing harmonica of "Dumb Things,"
Under the Sun finds
Paul Kelly singing both acoustically bright story songs and character-based tales with unlimited substance.
Kelly's knack for including history, nostalgia, and life's little lessons in between his guitar playing has made him one of the best storytellers in music. Unfortunately, his storytelling prowess has yet to be appreciated beyond the coastlines of Australia. With
Under the Sun,
Kelly sings beautifully arranged, warm, and witty yarns, some about the love that slipped away and some about the love that never was. On "Forty Miles to Saturday Night,"
Kelly sings about the long drive to the nearest pub, anticipating the wild nightlife while explaining the downside of living in a small Aussie town. Memories of a free-spirited youth is the theme of "Under the Sun," and a Casey at the Bat comparison can be made to "Bradman," except in this tale the sport is cricket. While a repetitive chorus is quite rare in most of his songs, it's never missed, since the themes of his ditties keep the listener interested without a memorable middle. With styles likened to
Elvis Costello and
Steve Forbert,
Paul Kelly shows off his greatest asset throughout the 16 songs on this album, each one uniquely different from the next.