It may seem like an odd time to be reviewing a Christmas album, but Big Coloured Lights makes for a worthy listen at any time of the year, due to the seven amazing tracks Katie Curley has included here. Instead of simply covering or rehashing the most well-known Christmas songs, Katie has instead created her own music, suitable for winter listening regardless of the month. Let’s dive in!
By Jane Howkins
Big Coloured Lights kicks off with the opener Christmastime Therapy. It’s a country/folk-infused tune, sounding absolutely American in every single way possible. However, the track takes a slightly more melancholic view of the Christmas season, adding a dose of realism to the music. The arpeggios are gorgeous to behold, as is Katie’s high vocal style, working surprisingly well with the instrumentation.
Closing In On December is a little more up-tempo, making you want to dance along with the infectious beat and guitar melodies from the very first listen. It makes for a nice change from the opening song too, as the lyrics are a lot more upbeat, alongside the music itself. The title track, Big Colored Lights, appears next, and what a joy it is to behold. It’s much more slowed down than Closing In On December, allowing Katie’s unusual vocal style to really shine through. It’s one of my favourite songs on the entire record, showing a lot of heart.
A Very Texas Christmas once again speeds things up, seeing Katie use the bouncy beat and folky instrumentation to make something catchy that will get stuck in your head straight away. The tone change on the chorus is really pretty, using the element of surprise to catch you off guard (this is a good thing!) Extra Happy Holidays sees the piano coming to the forefront of the record, although the guitar, bass and drums are still prominent enough (everything sounds really well produced too!) Katie’s husband Brendan Curley plays the guitar here, showing that musical talents surely run through the family, creating a lovely tone on his parts.
Shotgun Wedding In Bethlehem sees Katie changing things up completely – it’s a blues-infused rock and roll song with more than a hint of the retro rock genre. It’s the most untraditional song on the record, yet it’s also my favourite, simply oozing attitude throughout. The final track is New Year’s Too, which sees Katie harmonising in gorgeous style with fellow vocalist Lizzie Edwards. It’s a really nice closing song, ending on a heartwarming note.
Katie Curley is clearly a talented songwriter, with every track on Big Colored Lights being well worth your time. The songs on offer here are suitable for listening to all year round too, so it’s still well worth a listen now!