She took her songs to the CMAA Academy of Country Music in Tamworth in 2020.
Her mentors were Catherine Britt and Melody Moko – enough said. How can a girl go wrong? Really? They guided her and the result is this four track EP produced by Catherine, her dear self.
Even legends need something pretty special to mould. Like, you can’t make a purse out of a sow’s ear. You can’t make an awesome singer/songwriter out of a paper doll. In other words, there has to be something there in the first place.
That said, there is definitely a Catherine/Melody feel about Katelann’s music. She has awesome pipes and the lyrics/stories and melodies are first class.
Grandad’s Guitar is about a guitar handed down to Katelann. Her grandfather and her mother are/were musicians, so it is in the blood.
The thing with Katelann’s songs is that they are self explanatory. I have no need to dissect them and spew forth meanings. Troubled Man is a common story, sadly and beautifully told. It is really quite stunning.
The title track is a bit Lee Ann Womackish. There is nothing wrong with that!
Be that Man is a bit more uptempo and more poppy than the other three more countrified songs. It is still country, just a little bit different in style.
If this teaser is an indication of anything to come, then we are in for a hell of a ride.
Benny Allen is proving his versatility by releasing The Old Guard, a bush ballad. He likes to mix it up, our Benny, and this is one to put a smile on the trads’ faces.
Lying next to you is the latest from Alan and Trace, written by Alan. A beaut little country love song. one of their best so far.
Anita Spring has teamed up with some bloke called Allan Caswell on this very traditional country song, Changing my mind – can’t really go wrong.
All Songs written by Natalie Henry, except: With – Catherine Britt Weed Wine & Women Your House or Mine When’d ya change your mind + Bill Chambers With – Melody Moko Wild Woman’s World Leavin’ With – Lyn Bowtell Reckless Producer – Michael Moko, Catherine Britt
Players Guitar – Michael Moko, Dan Parsons Drums – Aly Foster Bass + Keys – Ian Peres (wolfmother) Lap Steel – Michel Rose Fiddle + BV- Lillie Mae Harp + BV – Hussy Hicks BV’s – Catherine Britt, Melody Moko, Genevieve Chadwick Extra Stuff – Sam Cashman
How do you follow the fabulous Apple and Pride? Answer: With this eternal flame of White Heat.
Natalie Henry is the name of the character of a strong willed, independent woman and mother who survives the atrocities of World War II and concentration camps to be reunited with her family and to slowly mend and heal in Herman Wouk’s novels Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Her name and some obvious similarities connect her with our very own country music singer.
Our Natalie Henry stands on the verandah of a burning house with young children on the cover of her latest album, White Heat.
This album has been in the works for a while, a project that Natalie has worked on with producers, Catherine Britt and Michael Muchow (Moko). The combination of this trio is magic enough, let alone the addition of a superb supporting cast that would be the envy of any album producer.
Natalie’s songs are honest and whatever the female equivalent is of ballsy. Actually, even bigger than ballsy.
She not only wears her heart on her sleeve, but just about every other body part. Her sound, like Catherine’s and Melody Moko’s is unmistakably country.
Like Loretta, Tammy, Patsy, Tanya and Reba, she is not afraid to bend or break rules or to stand up for what she believes in through music – a platform which allows or allowed them to vent and expose life’s shit and sugar.
She’s ‘real people’ – her truth is the truth. Natalie’s songs connect with everyday people. She tells stories that are her own but most of us can identify with the things that she talks about – if not in our own lives, in people who we know.
Natalie has already released several songs that appear on the album, such as it goes in these times. However, with 13 songs, there are some new ones to discover as well as the ones that we already treasure.
The title track is up first, which, I think, is a great thing. It is how old country music albums did it and it sets up the rest of the album.
The next song is the fabulous Weed, Wine and Women, which I thought would be the title of the album at one point, but I was wrong. Maybe the title was a little bit too controversial for some to deal with.
Arms of a Stranger – this is a favourite for me, a realisation song in many ways.
Leavin’ – Loretta would love this song. I can hear her singing this one.
Blue – a colour to describe a million country songs that are sad and heartbreaking. Natalie’s voice is as sweet as sugar on this one.
Wild Woman’s World – from bittersweet to sassy – this one takes you from the puddle of the last song to an ocean of aggro. It says a lot in a short time.
Eddie – I think that this one is about Natalie’s daughter. A highly personal song.
When’d you change your mind – you can tell that Bill Chambers had a hand in this one – the style and the talk- Natalie definitely gets her country on with this one.
More than a woman – no, not The Bee Gees’ song. The lyrics are very clever and a unique look at families and different relationships.
Your house or mine – again, a song examining modern families and the dynamics of how things work.
We don’t stand together – our round up of infamous country music gals would be whooping and hollering as this one gets played. Yee Haa.
Rockabye – undoubtedly the most beautifully crafted and performed song on the album. I won’t spoil it for you, just listen to it and marvel.
Reckless – this song, to round out the baker’s dozen and the album, is a little bit different to the others in style and probably the most contemporary sounding song, without removing the country feel.
The last track opens up a whole new can of worms with a force and fire that makes you wonder what is up next.
If you want good old fashioned, tell it like it is country vamped and ramped up, then this is for you.
The wait has been worth it. The guitars are on fire and so are the hearts.
Over the last couple of years, the band from Melbourne that has the same name as a Notorious Sydney inner suburb have lit up the charts with 6 singles.
Finally, they have put these and a few more together for their debut album. Their country pop style spans the age groups who appreciate some light with their shade.
Unlike a lot of country pop, Darlinghurst is not a bubblegum pop band. All of the songs have a strong or underlying link to country music, that is, you can make a distinct connection to country.
They harmonise well together, they seem like a group who has been together for 10 or twenty years rather than just a few.
For the purists, they may not relate to all of the tracks, but this opens the door for a younger audience.
Individually the 4 members of Darlinghurst bring different styles and elements to the band. The band is: Jason Resch, Pagan Newman, Cassie Leopold and Matt Dravidian.
The different styles allow different creations and perspectives and there are often four energies felt.
When they are joined by Shannon Noll it doesn’t sound like Darlinghurst and Shannon Noll, it is like he just fits into their groove, which is very different on that song.
The fact that most of the singles entered the charts at no. 1 says a lot.
Darlinghurst offer a different view to country and easily slot into a few of the 94 types of country music.
Before Summer Starts to Fall – Troy Kemp and Katrina Burgoyne have joined forces in America to produce this boppy little number. It does feel summery.
Whatcha wanna is the fun yee Haa song from God and his apprentice (a.k.a. Carr and Cornell or even better known as Cornell and Carr!). Let your hair down if you’ve got some! It makes you feel happy.
The Kootingal Queen, Ashleigh Dallas, has released Lottery. It is a fun song too, I think folks need songs of hope and fun at the moment. This certainly lives up to that. The chorus certainly leaves you breathless!
Kirsty Lee Akers took time out from painting and decorating on the Block to release a new song, For Love. Her voice soars through this powerful anthem like love song.
Go Ahead, Celebrate is the latest from Matt Joe Gow. It is the usual high quality from our adopted man from New Zealand. If you sense a theme today, it looks like it, but this song has a bit more depth than the title may suggest it is a definite ear worm.
My Boy from South Australia, Matt Ward, has released the title track of his upcoming album, If I was in Dallas tonight. It has a great drumbeat, twangy guitars and a catchy tune.
Whittling away with Jim Lauderdale ( Gill/J Lauderdale)
Caught between a rock and a heartache (Gill/R Rutherford)
Feet of clay (Gill/C Esten)
Let’s have a drink (to not drinking again) with Jerry Salley (Gill/J Salley/B Whyte/A Wilburn
The Scrapbook (Gill/B Whyte)
Put ‘er there (Gill/G Burr)
Still missing (Gill/T Jutz)
Heartquake (Gill/T Jutz)
Forget me not (Gill/B DiLuigi/KManna)
Produced by Angus Gill and Tim Crouch
Features: Tim Crouch, Randy Kohns, Clay Hess, Tony Ray, Jim Lauderdale and Jerry Salley
Angus Gill is one of our brightest stars – he is involved in every aspect, including turning the lights off at the studio on the way out.
He likes changing things up. This album is pure bluegrass, featuring some of the best in the business, including superstars Jerry Salley and Jim Lauderdale and Nashville tv show actor, Charles Esten.
The album starts with the finger picking, lively Always on the run and finishes with the acapella Forget me not.
Wedged in between are a mixture of thoughtful, sweet songs and a touch of humour and of course the drinking er not drinking song.
Samson is a very honest song of a typical childhood. A bullied kid who turns out to be a hero.
Whittling away with Jim Lauderdale is a lovely gently rollicking song. Sometimes you need tissues to listen to an Angus song. This is one of those times.
Caught between a rock and a heartache’s title is typical of Angus’s plays on words. It has a nostalgic feel and a touch of humour – I don’t want to walk that aisle but I don’t want her to walk away and some other very clever lines.
Feet of clay is a father and son song. Easily fits in with Cats in the Cradle and Father and Son.
Let’s have a drink (to not drinking again) with Jerry Salley is the obligatory drinking song. It is a cracker. Jerry and Angus go together like Peas and Carrots.
The title track is next and it is a wonderful song about Angus’s grandmother and their relationship. Another box of tissues for the subject but it is delivered in an upbeat way.
Put ‘er there is a beaut little love song. It is co-written with Gary Burr who may be best remembered by Aussies singing with our Corky a few years ago.
Still missing – a sad song about those that have left us, too young and tragically.
The cleverly titled Heartquake is next, a yee Haa of a track. It will get you up on your feet before Forget me not settles you down.
Wonderboy has done it again. It is another winner. Well done Country Music Grandson.
There’s not an awful lot of information available n this album out there. A lot of articles say the same things.
Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way. When my partner in crime mentioned that John PayCheck had an album out, I said, Didn’t he die in 2003? No, she said, that was Johnny, this is his son, John.
John PayCheck is an interesting character. He travelled a lot with his Dad on a touring bus when he was a kid and learned to play brass and woodwind instruments as well as the guitar. However, that wasn’t the path that he chose.
He did a degree in computer science and was an army vet. He flew helicopters. He’s now back down on earth and he’s having another crack. At the family biz.
His style is very much 90’s Country. Think Garth, the Trace x2, Brooks and Dunn, etc.
The songs are what you would expect in subject content. There is nothing very different here, but that is sometimes a good thing. It is a comfortable fit. It is familiar and easy to listen to.
There are traces of his Dad, that was probably unavoidable but he is carving out his own music career. I don’t think that he will be telling people to take this job and shove it anytime soon.
I was in shock that I didn’t know about this guy. Apart from being right up my alley, this guy has released 10 albums in 6 years. For someone who spends most of their life listening to music, that is just crazy.
Most of the reviews that I have read, chiefly concentrate on the man, himself , more than his songs. This is understandable, because his life is fascinating.
He has had two heart surgeries in the last few years, he is a distant relative of Davy Crockett and the Texan is a mix of African American, Cajun, creole and Jewish.
He has been quoted as saying: ‘Nashville don’t exactly like the phrase 60’s country music’ in the 2020s’.
Raised in a trailer by his mother, he then travelled Europe for a while.
His hat and checked shirt give him away. His sound is not just 60’s country, I would say that there is a blues, soul and even 50’s feel to his music.
There is definitely a nostalgic trip here. While there is a substantial amount of banjo picking, twang and bayou sound here, there is also a commentary here which is more from modern times.
Maybe Loretta and Patsy got away with a bit in the 60’s but many in country music didn’t say as much as they are allowed too now.
Perhaps that is why Charley doesn’t get the credit that he deserves. He has the trad sound but he likes to speak his mind. Many with the trad sound just sing simple songs. Charley doesn’t. He also makes them sound like he is singing about personal stuff, but it they are actually local or national situations.
It is very clever how he does it. He is a bit more obvious in the title track, but mostly he plays it like they are just his stories.
Maybe another type to add to the 94 types of country music should be Gulf and Western, which is what his music has been labelled as by some critics.
If you don’t read too much into the lyrics ( I could never do that, as a words person) , you can just sit back and be soothed and sway to the tunes offered here.
On that level, the instrumentation on these songs is the stuff my Dad used to listen to. if you close your eyes, you have your own time machine back to the 50’s and 60’s.
I couldn’t find a list of credits on this album, but from what I can gather, Charley must have been the Chief songwriter and I suspect that the album wasn’t recorded in Nashville! Rumour has it that it was recorded in Georgia.
I will definitely be going through his previous music. There’s no bro country here!
I heard a saying once. If it looks like country, sounds like country, then it must be country.
Best finish to an album this year – Skip a rope!
Thanks Clelia and Kylie for putting me on to this fella. Yee Haa.
Produced by Sarah Humphreys and Kristen Lee Morris
Tracks 1 and 9 engineered by Josh Schuberth
Mixed and Mastered by Jeff McCormack
Sarah- vocals, acoustic guitars, autoharp, piano
Kris – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo
Jy -Perry Banks – Pedal Steel
Jeff McCormack – bass
Stefano Cosantino – bass
Matt Cowley – drums and percussion
Annie Leeth – Strings
I think that it may be the year of the duos this year in Australian Country Music. There are so many wonderful albums an singles from duos in 2021.
This duo is no exception. Eagle and the Wolf are Sarah Humphreys and Kristen (Kris) Lee Morris from NSW’s beautiful Blue Mountains.
I reviewed the duo’s single, Currawong, recently. It blew me away and so I dug a little more. I was excited to learn that they were about to release this album.
Both of them had successful solo careers and then put together an album which in one interview, they called Clunky and Flawed. I can’t see that when I gave it a listen but I think that we are all our own biggest critics.
The first track on the album mellows you out and it has so many peaceful and beautiful images that it almost lulls you off into dreamland. That would be the title track.
Then you are hit with the short and sharp, early Linda Ronstadtish Something Good.
Then there is Darlin’ which has a Memphis bluesy sound that Elvis would have dug deeply.
Back to Mellow with Soft hearted Woman – with Jy-Perry Banks featured heavily on steel and Sarah’s gentle lilting voice singing a sad and very timely song.
Probably the most intriguingly titled songs of the year – Love isn’t a bucket – takes a few listens to get the full picture. Interestingly, it mentions a lot of water based lyrics and they live in the mountains! Some of the best lyrics in a song that I have heard this year!
Next is Currawong which I have already mentioned. It is a very Australian song with a bit of a Sara Storer flavour. Beautifully performed. Hauntingly riveting.
Scare Myself is next. Maybe the hardest song to totally understand unless you were the one who lived it. I don’t like to totally dissect songs, I like to understand them, though. Maybe it is about just moving on rather than lamenting about things that you can’t really change.
Mescaline is a natural hallucinatic drug found chiefly In cacti in South America. I thought of myself as an extra in Easy Rider or tripping at Woodstock when I was listening to this one
Here we are sounds like looking at where you are, maybe not knowing why you are there, what got you to that point, or alternatively, knowing exactly why.
Here in my arms – a beautiful and simple love song.
Ray – the Ray refers to American singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne. Like Rick Hart’s Levon Helm, it is not a song about the artist, it is just a reference point for bigger and broader things.
This is an amazing country folk/alt.country album with a touch of Memphis blues/mountain music and swamp.
It is an album which needs to be listened to closely so that you can pick up on all of its nuances and idiosyncrasies but you can just chill to the harmonies and haunting tunes if you prefer.
Beautifully produced and a great band of musical brothers there helping out Sarah and Kris.
2. For a girl (W. Mobley/ N Thrasher/T Martin/J Dailey)
3. Here’s to Anyone (J Rice/J King/DSoutherland)
4. Memorise you – (M Taylor/EArjes/SD Jones)
5.one of those (J Reynolds/L Hardy/L Veltz)
6. Comin’ Down ( J Weaver/J Miller/JMirenda)
7. Ground I Grew Up On (J Thompson/B Beavers/ B. Kinney)
8. California Won’t ( M Busbee/A Dorff/j Nite)
9. Tiny Town (Tyler)
10. Other LA – (E Dylan/ L Hardy/A Sheridan/DIsbell)
11. Let there be country (J Afable/SMoakler/T Nicholas)
Produced by Michael Knox
This is the debut album from the boy from Louisiana. In 2019, Laine won American Idol. I don’t watch those shows for a number of reasons, but they have exposed some raw talent and not necessarily the winners.
With Laine, it appears that they may have got it right. I saw him on a live stream of Grand Ole Opry. It wasn’t so much what he sang that made me notice him, but what he didn’t.
Laine has something. Maybe that was what the idol judges saw too. It is more than just potential.
There are some standout songs on here – Tiny Town, One of those, Authentic, Let there be Country and my favourite, Ground I grew up on and California won’t.
He is very young, so there is no rush. I think that when he gets to be more road worn, experienced and has his sometimes too smooth and shiny edges roughed up a bit, he will be ascending.
He has a touch of Tim McGraw about him. I hope he works on that. He definitely has the pipes and the lyrics to these songs are heavily rooted in country, even though the sound and arrangements are more poppy.
The sentiment is there. From what I have heard, he seems loyal to his birthplace and the lyrics seem to indicate that.
He sings older than 21. I think that in 10 years time, given proper guidance and choices, Laine will be fairly huge.
Cowgirlup 