Paul Kelly, Australia's national treasure, has gone eclectic in recent releases, unless you consider setting Shakespearian sonnets to music mainstream.
"Life is Fine" returns to familiar territory: sturdy, pop-rock songs from a writer who's a master of economy and expressiveness. Lovely lines abound: "You're autumn trees undressing in the month of May," he sings, a reminder that this came from the Southern Hemisphere. Kelly updates a Roy Orbison song and sets a Langston Hughes poem to music in the title cut.
Vika and Linda Bull shine as singers, and not just backups - Kelly generously gives each a lead in one song (although maybe not too generous, since Vika's assignment, "My Man's Got a Cold," is the album's one true clunker).
The joyous and playful love songs, "Firewood and Candles" and "Josephina," shine particularly bright.