CD Review – ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ – The McClymonts
14 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on CD Review – ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ – The McClymonts
‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ – The McClymonts (Executive Music Group, 2010)
This is an updated version of my original review written in 2008.
We are quite partial to all things Australian over here (Keith Urban! Hugh Jackman! Lamingtons!) so when there is country music from Down Under to be discovered, we are first in line.
The McClymonts are a trio of sisters, Brooke, Samantha and Mollie, hailing from New South Wales, Australia who were signed to Universal Records in 2006. ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ is their debut album, released in Australia on November 12, 2007. Now an award-winning album, the trio is releasing the album in the United States as they embark on an overseas career.
The CD opens with the anthem-like ‘My Life Again’, an energetic tune about reclaiming your life after a bad relationship. The other side of the story gets told on ‘Save Yourself’, which was released as a single, and see the girls warning any men that they may be too much to handle.
Relationships are the main topic on this album. There are songs about the emotionally unavailable guy (‘Don’t Tie My Hands Down’), the cheater (‘You Were Right’), and just a general Mr Wrong (‘Good Cry’).
But this isn’t a collection of men-wronged-me songs. There’s the aforementioned ‘Save Yourself’ and the sassy ‘Favorite Boyfriend of the Year’ to show these girls can hold their own.Though most of the tracks carry a nice tempo, things are slowed also down on the fragile ‘Way Too Late’ and sugary-sweet ‘Shotgun’.
The sisters recorded this album in Nashville and on a few occasions it’s in danger of sounding too formulaic and polished, as is the case on ‘Ghost Town’ and ‘Finally Over Blue’. Fortunately, the wonderful vocals always more than make up for those risk-free arrangements.
With magical melodies and heavenly harmonies, ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ is a sparkling country album and the perfect introduction to the world of The McClymonts!
‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ will be in stores on August 17.
Disclosure of material connection for this review.
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Latest posts by Liv Carter (see all)
- Well yes, racism, but it’s more complicated - February 13, 2017
- Black River Entertainment had a great reason to party! - October 25, 2016
- Keith Urban returns to the States for US arena leg of his “ripCORD WORLD TOUR 2016” - October 10, 2016
