John Williamson - The Big Red (24/02/2012)
He’s a living legend when it comes to Australian country music, but it’s been about 4 years since we last heard from John Williamson. However one of the things we can be guaranteed is that he will always bring forth a genuine and true reflection of this particular genre.
The first single off this album ‘Hang My Hat In Queensland’ is a poetic ballad penned about Willamson’s new home in the Gold Coast hinterland and his expectation of seeing out the end of his days there. He’s clearly not shy about the topic of mortality and for a man who’s in his sixties and still going strong, he needn’t have anything to fear. ‘Look Out Cunnamulla’ is a jaunty more upbeat track about the floods that struck the area in 2010, but written from the more positive aspects of what floods can bring rather than their destructive nature.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, with the album’s title track ‘The Big Red’ about getting out and exploring this ridiculously huge country of ours with that special someone. Whilst you’re slapping your thigh or tapping your toe to this catchy track it may just want to make you go on your own roadtrip. With an almost cliché harmonica intro ‘I’m A Basher’ takes us on a journey through some classic country sounds courtesy of twangy electric guitars and Williamson’s trademark narrative lyrics describing the excitement of being a part of the Variety Outback Bash.
One truth that can always be relied upon from an artist of Williamson’s calibre is that his music will always be an honest portrayal. His entire career has been based on providing music that is fair dinkum and a picture of Australia in all its colours. This particularly record is more autobiographical than some of his earlier works but that doesn’t detract from his style, rather it adds character and depth. Lets hope that Williamson doesn’t hang up his hat just yet and manages to bring us more of this honest and true Australian country music.
Carina Nilma
The first single off this album ‘Hang My Hat In Queensland’ is a poetic ballad penned about Willamson’s new home in the Gold Coast hinterland and his expectation of seeing out the end of his days there. He’s clearly not shy about the topic of mortality and for a man who’s in his sixties and still going strong, he needn’t have anything to fear. ‘Look Out Cunnamulla’ is a jaunty more upbeat track about the floods that struck the area in 2010, but written from the more positive aspects of what floods can bring rather than their destructive nature.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, with the album’s title track ‘The Big Red’ about getting out and exploring this ridiculously huge country of ours with that special someone. Whilst you’re slapping your thigh or tapping your toe to this catchy track it may just want to make you go on your own roadtrip. With an almost cliché harmonica intro ‘I’m A Basher’ takes us on a journey through some classic country sounds courtesy of twangy electric guitars and Williamson’s trademark narrative lyrics describing the excitement of being a part of the Variety Outback Bash.
One truth that can always be relied upon from an artist of Williamson’s calibre is that his music will always be an honest portrayal. His entire career has been based on providing music that is fair dinkum and a picture of Australia in all its colours. This particularly record is more autobiographical than some of his earlier works but that doesn’t detract from his style, rather it adds character and depth. Lets hope that Williamson doesn’t hang up his hat just yet and manages to bring us more of this honest and true Australian country music.
Carina Nilma