Catching Up With Kasey Chambers

It is probably safe to say that I don't own very many albums that would be clearly categorized as "country" with some exception and when you say Australian artist, I tend to think of INXS or AC/DC (yes, I am of that generation), so this post is a bit out of my usual focus. However, both Payton and Nelson have both been writing about Kasey Chambers lately, in part because of her new album Rattlin' Bones (with hubby Shane Nicholson). Given that I like both of their sensibilities (Payton's and Nelson's that is), I decided it would be good to check this Australian alt-country rocker out. Of course, as is my way, I went back to one of the earlier efforts that boys gave high praise.

So let's just cut to the chase, Barricades and Brickwalls is a great album (do I get to say that having started by saying I don't have a lot of country?). It is all country from tough blues driven rock-oriented blues to honky-tonk to bluegrass. KC's vocals are wonderful ranging from a twangy country girl fresh of the mountain to a gritty-you-ain't-gonna-mess with me guitar playing woman. If you haven't heard any KC as I hadn't, I would recommend starting where I (and probably many others have) with this album. And I will definitely be looking into her new album and others.

Here I am going to give you three tracks from B&B that show her stylistic range. First, the great bluesy opening and title track of the disc followed by a slow country song about the, um, country (that might be the only song I have that includes a reference to "dingoes") and finally a great bluegrass feeling country tune with all the classic instrumentation and harmonies.

Barricades and Brickwalls
Nullarbor Song
Still Feeling Blue