Country Mike Blog

What's New? Wednesdays: The McClymonts and Jessie Farrell

Mike Sudhalter  |  August 31, 2011

This edition of "What's New? Wednesdays" has a definite international flavor.

The McClymonts, a trio of sisters from Australia, make their second American release with a high-energy country sound - Brooke, Mollie and Samantha.

The McClymonts could be one of the country music's best new trios

The album was released in January 2010 in Australia, but it was released in the United States last week. Their first album, "Chaos and Bright Lights" was released in Australia in 2007, and in the U.S., in 2010.

My favorite song on the new album is "I Could Be A Cowboy", where 'cowboy is a term that symbolizes independence. Brooke is the lead singer on this tune, and she's singing that "I could be a cowboy, but I don't like to be alone."

They share vocals on another of the album's strong tracks, the uptempo "I'm Not Done With You Just Yet." It's good great harmonies, but it may be just a little loud for country radio.

Samantha takes the lead vocals on "A Woman Is A Flame" and "Take It Back" - songs that are very strong, but have more of a pop sound to them.

The trio follows in the proud tradition of Australian country artists like Keith Urban, Sherrie Austin, Catherine Britt and Kasey Chambers, who have had varying degrees of success in the U.S.

Jessie Farrell is a Canadian country artist from British Columbia, who hasn't yet received a lot of radio play on U.S. Country radio.

Her voice is as clear and powerful as a beautiful morning sunrise in the Pacific Northwest.

She released her fourth studio album, "Love Letters."

If Farrell received some publicity in the U.S., I believe the fans would respond very well. She has a sound that's more country than fellow Canadian, Shania Twain, but probably not to the level of country as say, Patty Loveless or Sunny Sweeney.

Farrell recorded a pair of bonus acoustic track of previously recorded albums, including the love song, "Fell Right Into You."

And the ultra-catchy, "I Guess"

That song is fun and sassy, but it can get stuck in your head for days and days and days.