For those unaware, “Thomas Hardy’s poem ‘Heredity’ is the beating heart of this song,” describes Paul Kelly when asked about his latest single, “All Those Smiling Faces” (out today), from his forthcoming album, FEVER LONGING STILL (release date: November 1, 2024 via Gawd Aggie / Cooking Vinyl).

“Other poems joined the party. Dana Gioia’s Finding A Box Of Family Letters and Wislawa Szymborska’s Letters Of The Dead. Things got crowded, just like a family BBQ. Still, I managed to get a few words in here and there,” he adds. “The band is awesome on this, serious, full of intent. I don’t set out with an album in mind. I never know what the themes are until I am in the middle of doing a record.”

The Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist has consistently embraced musical risks and creative challenges throughout a remarkable musical journey, often incorporating literature into his lyrics and songs. To say Paul Kelly is Shakespearienced, as he celebrates his 50th year as a performer with a new album, is no surprise.

1. Houndstooth Dress
2. Love Has Made A Fool Of Me
3, Taught By Experts
4. Hello Melancholy, Hello Joy
5. Northern Rivers
6. Double Business Bound
7. Let’s Work It Out In Bed
8. All Those Smiling Faces
9. Harpoon To The Heart
10. Back To The Future
11. Eight Hours Sleep
12. Going To The River With Dad

This expertly, and seamlessly impassioned new album, and one that coincides with Kelly’s live appearances at Austin City Limits and performances at Le Poisson Rouge in NY, Teragram Ball in LA, and Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV, opens on the gently rambunctious Houndstooth Dress and the free flowing Love Has Made A Fool Of Me, and then we get brought forth the 70’s-hued, jangling guitar sounds of Taught By Experts, the brassy Hello Melancholy, Hello Joy, the all-embracing Northern Rivers, and the Dylan-esque storytelling of Double Business Bound.

Along next is one of my own personal favorites here in the form of the pop-tastic Let’s Work It Out In Bed and the joyfully sculpted Americana of All Those Smiling Faces, and they are in turn lovingly backed by the rhythmic rocker Harpoon To The Heart, the low slung Back To The Future, the album rounding out on the languishing beauty within Eight Hours Sleep, closing on the impassioned Going To The River With Dad.

TOUR DATES:
Oct. 7 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 9 Le Poisson Rouge New York, NY
Oct. 11 Austin City Limits Festival Austin, TX
Oct. 20 Mountain Stage Charleston, WV

Paul Kelly - All Those Smiling Faces (Official Video)

Official Website

Paul Kelly @ Facebook