Ways & Means is a 21-track double album released in 2004 - peaking at #13 on the ARIA chart. Though identified as a solo record, it was more of a group effort, with a backing band later dubbed the Boon Companions co-writing many of the tracks. The Boon Companions consisted of Kelly's nephew Dan Kelly on guitar, Peter Luscombe on drums and his brother Dan Luscombe on guitar and keyboards, and Bill McDonald on bass guitar. The album perfectly displays Paul's canny ability to portray distinctive characters within the context of a four-minute pop song - mining his seemingly bottomless well of melodies. Thematically and sonically, disc one boasts the more direct, upbeat tunes, while the second is moody and more sedate - and the overall whole is a cohesive and beautiful work.