GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Who knew that here in Australia we have our very own Dixie Chicks? The McClymont sisters; Brooke, Samantha and Mollie, are a mini skirt sporting, stiletto wearing, guitar playing country trio with a shitload of attitude. Their first self-titled EP released in 2006 earned them two Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia, one for Group or Duo of the Year, and the other for New Talent of the Year. After touring with Lee Kernaghan the girls headed over to the home of country music, Nashville, to work with songwriters responsible for hits from Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Lonestar, and of course, the Dixie Chicks. The result is ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’, polished country pop packed with strong vocals, sweet harmonies, irresistible hooks, and of course, the ever-present fiddle.

The empowering opening track, ‘It’s My Life Again’, sounds and feels exactly like the lyrics of the song, like you’ve packed all of your belongings in the car and you’re singing along to it as you drive towards your dreams, with the wind blowing in your hair of course. ‘Save Yourself’, the lead single off the album, is a foot tapping warning to a new lover with wonderful harmonies and an undeniable hook, and the characteristic storytelling narrative of country music is employed on the dramatic and harder edged, ‘Settle Down’. The vocals on, ‘You Were Right’, are a little too country for me, as is the rollicking ‘Ghost Town’, though eventually the charm of both wore me down a little.

The ballads on the album are the most accessible and radio-friendly, with the exception of ‘Don’t Tie My Hands’, which for one reason or another had me recalling the song Lurleen Lumpkin sang for Homer on ‘The Simpsons’. The stripped and dramatic, ‘Way Too Late’, has a Clare Bowditch quality with their revealing harmonies providing a stand-out on the album, and despite some odd lyrics, ‘Shotgun’ showcases their harmonies to their fullest and has a beautiful lullaby sound.

However, sometimes I do take issue with the lyrics. A big city gal, fond of my bright lights and busy streets, I find myself chuckling at tales of the rodeo, small town shenanigans and the hardships of working the land. I know the sentiment of the lyrics is universal, falling in or out of love feels the same no matter where you live, but it can make the song harder to relate to. A few of the tracks are more hardcore country than others, and if you’re not a fan of the fiddle this is not an album for you, but even some of their mediocre songs are saved by great hooks and charming harmonies.

Crossover superstars like Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, and Carrie Underwood continue to prove that country music isn’t just for the middle aged, line-dancing farmer crowd, or those that live in what I somewhat affectionately refer to as ‘the sticks’. The younger stuff is a lot more mainstream, as well as getting a hell of a lot sexier (hello Keith), so it doesn’t hurt that the three McClymont sisters managed to dodge the ugly stick. With their look and sound it wouldn’t surprise me if the girls followed in Urban’s footsteps and made it big in the American market. If you’re into the early Dixie Chicks you’ll love ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’ but it might be a bit too country for the average listener.