Search - Paul Kelly & the Stormwater Boys :: Foggy Highway

Stormwater's Risin'

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 09/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Kelly, is a Legend.

The time is now for America to embrace Australia's premiere Singer/Songwriter: Paul Kelly. For over twenty years, making excellent Records and performing hundreds of concerts all over the World, he is still almost unknown in the USA.



This CD from 2005, is Paul's second recording of Bluegrass Music, and it is a: "Goodin". Paul & The Stormwater Boys tackle 12 wonderful tunes on this CD, and excepting Paul's distinctive vocals, it sounds like 1934 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This is real music, acoustic guitars, fiddle, mandolin, double bass and banjo. The sound of this music is of: lonesome highways and wind in the treetops, with a few snow-fed streams mixed in. It is great acoustic music fueled by modern lyrics that tell some great stories.



From the opener: "Stumbling Block" through to "Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air" this is the most refreshing CD that has come out in years. Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Old Time Gospel and bit of The Blues are all found in this amazing music. Paul's vocals are mixed right up front with the harmonies right there next to him. With the chants of: "Rally Round The Drum", that is a story of a tent boxer who fought volunteers from the audience for a $5.00 payday to the story of a lad in his parents car who overhears his father and mama having a serious conversation up in the front seat in: "They Thought I Was Asleep", the tales that Paul tells are very engrossing.



"Ghost Town" is about the hauntings of everyday life, the music is near the style of The Blues as it must have sounded about 150 years ago, this is Magical Stuff. "Passed Over" is in the Country/Gospel form, by way of Bill Monroe. You really don't hear music played in this fashion anymore, these songs are performed with just strings and voices, they are modern and ancient all at the same time.



The title track: "Foggy Highway" is very different from it's original version of several years back. On this disc, Foggy Highway is transformed with banjo and fiddles from Sydney Australia to a back road in Eastern Tennessee, and this is a ride that is not to be missed. The music of: "Cities Of Texas" is as stark as the place it describes, with just the wind and an endless highway, this song puts you into the middle of the tale. This IS road music, Paul knows what he is doing here, and it's very nice indeed.



The closing song: "Meet Me In The Middle Of the Air" is like a Prayer, uplifting Gospel Music at it's best. In the old Church style of using just voices Paul sings to his maker here, very pretty and very moving.



The first edition of this CD includes a Bonus Disc with 4 extra tracks on it. "Little Boy Don't Lose Your Balls" is as exactly as it sounds, lively and fun. "Rank Stranger" is Old Time Country in Waltz Time, get out your dancin' shoes fer this! "Erina Valley Breakout" is an breakneck-speed instrumental romp on all the strings that the boys could find. "Surely God is a Lover" is another great Paul Kelly original with smart lyrics and a catchy chorus. The Bonus CD is a nice touch, it adds to the package that is presented here.



As I have never found a Paul Kelly CD that was nothing short of excellent, this one is right there for me, amongst his greatest Records.

I never have figured out why this great artist who is a National Treasure in his native land is still so little known here in America. But that is O.K. if he keeps releasing work as good as this, I'll be one of the: "Happy Few" here in California, that enjoy his music.

This is a great CD from a great singer/musician and songwriter: Paul Kelly.

4.5 Stars !!!



"

Another brilliant paul kelly l.p.

LANARK | FL | 07/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful new album from Australia's premier songwriter.Mixing Paul Kelly standards with new songs and a Louvin Brothers cover,Kelly and the Stormwater Boys turn in an exquisite and intimate album.Well recorded and atmospheric this is another winner from one this generations finest songwriters. Highly recommended.





Be forwarned however.In EMI's zeal to make this disc compatable with cd/dvd-a/dvd-v/SACD/multi-format computers you may have difficulty with playback.Only my DVD player would play disc without any glitches.





But really,it's just such a smashing album."