Paul Kelly - Stolen Apples
(2007)

Review by Sean Lynch

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There are two camps of people in the world. People who love Paul Kelly and everything that he even lends his name to, and those who think he is one of the most annoying voices in the music industry.

Thankfully, this reviewer is a fan - otherwise "Stolen Apples" would have been torture.

It's been a few years since the last 'Official' Paul Kelly album, but that doesn't mean the ever ageing Kelly has been slacking off. In fact, it's the opposite. In the time it took Silverchair to get over their own notion of self importance, Kelly released several albums under the guise of soundtracks, Stardust 5 (a side project from his band, The Boon Companions) and a Blues & Roots album entitled "Foggy Highway".

"Stolen Apples" shows no sign of wear or tear, it's as solid an album as anything that Kelly has released, which is truly remarkable when you consider the number of tunes he's popped out over the years

Feelings of Grief is somewhat of a curve ball to start the album, with the opening seconds sounding like the score to Gladiator before breaking into the sort of classic building mood music which Kelly does so well.

God Told Me To moves in yet another direction, with guitar licks that wouldn't sound out of place on the latest Editors or Snow Patrol album, making it one of the best tracks on the album.

From here it's a mixture of every aspect of the Kelly repertoire. Theres dashes of classic live Boon Companions (which is one of the most cohesive and enjoyable live Kelly Bands in his career) in Sweetest Thing and Stolen Apples, as well as the superb The Ballad of Queenie and Rover. Meanwhile You're 39 You're Beautiful and You're Mine offers glimpses of the sort of Kelly we fell in love with in the early 90's (with the added bonus of the sweet backing vocals of Dan Kelly).

There's also a large amount of the "Foggy Highway" influence on there with a variety of Blues/Country tunes including Keep on Driving and The Foggy Fields of France.

We can't forget the Stardust 5 influences either (an album which was somewhat darker and more cheeky than the usual Kelly & Co fare), with Right Outta My Head supplying a surprisingly dirty and sexy side of Kelly we don't often get to see.

So, while "Stolen Apples" may not be Kelly's most easily flowing of albums - or on par with the likes of "Ways & Means" (largely due to the jumping to and fro of genres), it certainly is one of his most progressive.

Another superb addition to one of Australia's finest - and most consistent - musical legends.

ALBUM RATING: 3 out of 5

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