Audio CD review:
Paul Kelly & the Messengers - Gossip

Paul Kelly & the Messengers - Gossip

Band: Paul Kelly & the Messengers Title: Gossip Rating: Release Date: 28 July, 2003 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Last Train To Heaven 2: Leaps And Bounds 3: Before The Old Man Died 4: Down On My Speedway 5: White Train 6: Randwick Bells 7: Before Too Long 8: Adelaide 9: I Won't Be Torn Apart 10: Going About My Fathers Business 11: Somebody's Forgetting Somebody (Somebody's Letting Somebody Down) 12: The Ballroom 13: Tighten Up 14: I've Come For Your Daughter 15: So Blue 16: The Execution 17: Incident On South Dowling Street 18: Maralinga (Rainy Land) 19: Darling It Hurts 20: Look So Fine, Feel So Low 21: Stories Of Me 22: Don't Harm The Messenger 23: Gossip 24: After The Show

Customer Review Classic Australian This is definitely one of my favourite Paul Kelly albums and the first one I listened to (and bought) way back in '87. I can't believe this hasn't been reviewed by an Australian fan yet. Beautiful, spare, raw and the songwriting is just so incredibly evocative - Paul just makes it look so simple because he is so incredibly good at telling the stories of these peoples lives (his own?) - and our lives. Here's a couple of examples: In one hand Out the other Baby I don't even know why you bother Darling it hurts to see you down Darlinghurst tonight (from 'Darling it Hurts' about a guy who finds out his (ex?)girlfriend is stuck on the prostitution/drug addiction merry-go-round) You can hear the sadness and frustration pouring out in this song I was down at Baker's Hall I heard somebody talking That's the last thing I recall Then my mind went walking I woke up with a heavy head On a hard bed trying to believe These stories of me (from 'Stories of Me' marks a man's decline into alcoholism after his partner leaves him) Sad and rather depressing but so true as well and the music is subdued and moody perfectly fitting the lyrics. Maralinga is a haunting song that provides a sort of testimonial from the aboriginie's who suffered the effects of nuclear testing by the British in the '50's. And there are plenty of other great songs on this double album. I truly believe Paul Kelly is one of the best singer/songwriters around - anywhere - and I recommend either Gossip or Under the Sun as a great way of introducing yourself to his work. . You can see a complete list of all Paul Kelly & the Messengers discography, or go back to the Paul Kelly & the Messengers tabs