Wanted Man

Rolling Stone (Australian) 498, July 1994
By Ross Clelland

Maybe we've been taking Paul Kelly a little too seriously all these years. While he was (rightly) lauded for his ability to sing of injustice without ranting, or deal with the darker sides of human nature non-judgementally, often overlooked was the fact he could write a damn fine melodic hook to go with those words.

Wanted Man is Kelly's most overtly pop record to date. While nearly all the material speaks of the usual themes of love, loss and relationships, the results are - as ever - totally sincere whether Kelly is writing as a participant or observer. And while much was made of his decision to free himself from the perceived limitations of the Messengers, enthusiasts should not fear: Producers Randy Jacobs (Was Not Was) and NDW's David Bridie individually allow Kelly to broaden the feels in the songs without straying too far from the identifiable style. There's some late-night smoky jazz on "Lately", country swing on "Maybe This Time For Sure" and good old-fashioned 12-bar blues on "Ball and Chain".

But it's the lyrics that make Kelly's work special. Wanted Man is book-ended by the songs of simple emotion in simple words which PK has always done so well. Over piano and muted strings, "Summer Rain" is devoted and descriptive, with an understated cleverness in the wordplay that somehow isn't forced or cloying ("She'll change your plans like summer rain/She's warm, she's fresh like summer rain"). Similarly, album closer "Nukkanya" speaks with that human voice about the pain of leaving.

Elsewhere, there's a classic Kelly song-story in "Love Doesn't Turn Up On Time" [where did he get this from??]; You're Still Picking the Same Sore" and the album taster, "Song From the 16th Floor" (one of the album's weakest tracks), are at least well-constructed and easy to sing in the shower.

While Wanted Man exhibits a more user-friendly Kelly, his essential humanity and talent for a tune remain intact. If it acts as a springboard to a wider audience, that's a bonus.