Very few compilations that are released get it right. If my ramblings in the past are any indication, then it takes something quite special to get me interested. Australian stalwart Paul Kelly could fill volumes of CD's with his poignant tales of Australian life but as a single disc collection goes, 'Songs From The South' pretty much covers the bases.

Though the release is nearly a decade old, it shows that Kelly's 85-95 period was his most fruitful. Songs like 'To Her Door' and 'Dumb Things' are now staples of cover bands (another pet peeve of mine) across the land, bands who seem to "beef it" every single time just to piss me off I swear to God. For every song that got a sweaty pub crowd singing along ('Darling It Hurts' is also a live favourite), there was a quiet tale about the everyday struggles of man and woman. The chilling live recording of 'Everything's Turning To White' especially is a reminder that song for song he holds himself up quite well to Dylan and Springsteen in terms of songwriting.

His writing is very poetic and quite often his songs are just 'spoken word verse' over some accompanying music. 'Bradman' is one such song, recalling the life of cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman. For those of you unfamiliar with cricket, look up a website on Cricket Batting Averages. Bradman's batting average is evidence alone that he should be mentioned in the same breath as Ali and Jordan.

Towards the middle of the 90s, Kelly turned his hand to the subject of love, bypassing the schmaltz for more interesting fare like 'Song From The Sixteenth Floor' and the Rhythm and Blues feel of 'Give In To My Love'.

The final track though is probably his masterpiece. Strangely titled 'How To Make Gravy' it is actually a Christmas song from the point of you of an inmate writing a letter to his brother a few days before the 25th of December. He tries to imagine how the day is going to be and the sad fact that he won't be there (especially because he makes the gravy). Towards the end of the letter he even gets paranoid about his brother putting the moves on his wife. It's a bittersweet tale that transcends cultures (though you have to disregard Christmas in 100 degree temperatures), and not many songs can do that.

Paul Kelly has now become an institution in Australia. 'Songs From The South', for the uninitiated, is a great introduction to his talents.