Paul Kelly ... Nothing but a Dream

USA Today Online - 25/02/2002
by Elysa Gardner

*** awarded

Aging gracefully can be a tricky task in rock 'n' roll, and more than a few worthy artists have tripped themselves up by trying too hard to be hip or, alternately, growing complacent and dull. But on his new CD, this revered Australian singer/songwriter manages to maintain both his dignity and his sense of adventure. Songs such as Change Your Mind and Midnight Rain showcase a relaxed, bittersweet lyricism that brings to mind some of the more recent work of Mark Knopfler and Van Morrison. Other tracks incorporate rootsy, exotic and contemporary flourishes - everything from bluegrass and Celtic textures to the subtle funk and industrial accents in Love Is the Law - without seeming self-conscious. Not every tune reveals Kelly at his most exciting or inspiring, but as a collection, Dream clearly represents an old pro who has not yet fallen asleep on the job.