JOHN WILLIAMSON
HONEST PEOPLE (Strinesong Pty Limited)
Williamson’s 50th studio album pays tribute to the hard-working honesty of country folk, the fierce beauty of the Australian outback and Grandpa’s unparalleled love of cricket. There’s heatwaves, Tamworth and a call for a republic. There’s marital spats and Mightymite on toast. Evocative guitar work carries Williamson’s charismatic drawl through his relatable narratives, all delivered with a true blue sincerity that is difficult to beat.
THE WOLFE BROTHERS
NOTHIN’ BUT TROUBLE (Independent/ABC)
From Australia’s Got Talent to touring with Lee Kernaghan, The Wolfe Brothers have made their name in leaps and bounds. Nothin’ But Trouble shows us why: whether they’re singing about one-night passions or childhood sweethearts, their youthful zest is delivered with slammin’ rock influences and textbook riffs. There are an awful lot of red dresses and cherry lips, but apparently they make the beer taste better.
JIMMY BARNES
30:30 HINDSIGHT (Liberation Music)
Who better to revive Jimmy Barnes classics than … Jimmy Barnes? While other music veterans may have been content to oversee a tribute album on their 30th anniversary, Barnes does the hard yards himself. He draws breath only to let talented collaborators (The Living End, Keith Urban, Bernard Fanning and Tina Arena, among others) help kick new life into these rough diamonds. It’s alive, relevant and rockin’.
THE SUNNY COWGIRLS
MY OLD MAN (WJO)
This is The Sunny Cowgirls’ musical upbringing, courtesy of their dad’s taste in tunes. From Bob Dylan (Blowin’ In The Wind) to The Beatles (Can’t Buy Me Love), to Stevie Nicks (Dreams) and Don McLean (Vincent), the Clabburn sisters bring their sunshine to oh-so-familiar classics by way of ukulele, banjo and home-grown drawls. The arrangements aren’t revolutionary, but it’s hard to complain when you’re singing along.
