McClymonts, The - Chaos and Bright Lights (Album)
If you’re a traditional country music fan, but flinch at the sight of an achy breaky mullet, then The McClymonts are for you. They project an image of slick cool country without a ten gallon hat in sight. This new wave country seems to have hit our shores full force.
Yet the album Chaos and Bright Lights is more Dixie Chicks than our own Kasey Chambers. With polished big guitar sounds, some tricky fiddle work, intermittent harmonies and a fast thigh slapping pace. The inspirational lyrics sung with that country twang are all about asserting your independence, with the first song 'It’s My Life Again' all about living well being the best revenge. The sweet melody of 'Way Too Late' uses guitar finger picking and violin to good effect. The following track 'You Were Right (until I proved you wrong') reverts to course with an assertive lonesome women finding out her ex is a deadbeat. The fast beat makes you want to join in with a consolatory Yee HA!
The McClymonts don’t really deviate from a traditional country sound, they sound very American, if I hadn’t been on their website I would never had guessed at an Australian background. This puts them in danger of sounding homogenous, songs like 'Shotgun' and 'Ghost Town' have stuck to a tried and true American country formula. Yet The McClymonts seem to have done this consciously and embraced their genres country of origin. If you’re looking for an inspirational album that’s all about country gal power then this one is for you.
