Paul Kelly

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly is a national institution in his homeland but sorely underappreciated in the U.S., due in part to the decidedly Australia-specific nature of his work. With his knack for penetrating, sometimes acerbic lyrics and pop-friendly structures, comparisons have often been drawn to fellow critically acclaimed outsider Graham Parker. Kelly's songs are often folk-based, with a pronounced Highway 61 Revisited influence that stems from simple guitar/keyboard arrangements and his simmering vocal delivery.