Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Up, Down & Sideways

Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd

Release Date: June 30^th 2023

Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre

Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley – Up, Down & Sideways (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Country Music, You and Beer
Roll On Baby
What Are You Waiting For?
Memory Lane
Don’t Give Up On Me Yet
High on a Monday
Wild Side
Lost If I Lost You
Rock Bottom
Star of the Show

Country music has always been an acquired taste of mine. I’m much more of a CCM/pop music lover at heart, but ever since 2019 when I ventured on a blog post series that was as daunting as it was eye-opening, I found myself enjoying country music, from artists like Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, The McClymonts, Sugarland, The Shires and Rascal Flatts, to Keith Urban, Lady A, Shania Twain, Tenille Arts, Lindsay Ell, Thomas Rhett, Tenille Townes, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town and Maddie & Tae, to name a few. As I compiled my personal top 100 inspirational and influential artists in modern music history, one of such artists on this list of mine that I ventured into the realms of, was The McClymonts; an Aussie country trio that resembles, according to many fans online and people just drawing comparisons, that of The Chicks (fka Dixie Chicks) of America. While I haven’t heard much of the Chicks’s discography, I have heard The McClymonts; and I have thoroughly enjoyed their music so far. They’re relatively underground only impacting the Australian market as of now, but as I’ve heard more and more of this unique sister trio, and their uplifting and often times challenging songs, I can attest that whatever the genre, God can indeed use whomever the band, and whomever the artist, to affect, impact and encourage. The McClymonts are one such band, and quite possibly one of the most underrated in terms of all of Australian music history, inclusive of both mainstream and Christian alike. Releasing 6 albums thus far in their illustrious 13 year career, it can be further expounded upon in a blog post I wrote about The McClymonts’s impact and influence here. The trio unveiled their most recent album in 2020, Mayham to Madness, and a few years after that, lead singer of The McClymonts, Brooke McClymont, and her husband Adam Eckersley, released a 10 track album as a duo, titled Up, Down & Sideways, under the moniker Brooke & Adam (their second album as a duo, their first coming in 2017).

Released at the end of June 2023, it may seem like folly for me to ‘review’ this album around 9 months later…and yet here I am, presenting my ‘musings’ on this album as a whole. Nevertheless, this isn’t a ‘review’ per se, but rather, me highlighting a few of the songs that stood out to me personally. My overall opinion is that this album is stellar and a must, for anyone who does love Australian country music, or even more particular, loves The McClymonts and their discography. As for individual songs- songs like ‘Lost If I Lost You’, ‘Memory Lane’, ‘Star of the Show’, ‘What Are You Waiting For’ and ‘Don’t Give Up On Me Yet’ are some of the songs that really stood out on this ten-track album (frankly, the album is a tad short- 10 tracks tend to go a little too fast for my liking), while the album title as a whole (Up, Down and Sideways) reminds me of an unconditional love that acts like this- envelops us all with everlasting and unending grace, love and adoration. Not sure if that was the initial message of the album title, but I’m sure it could’ve been seen that way.

Nevertheless, Brooke and Adam have created something special- their child Tiggy was heavily involved in the creation of ‘Star of the Show’ (which received them plenty of awards) and spoke to the heart of being young, and being innocent, a reminder that childhood only comes around once and to embrace being a child, and having a childhood (and having a child-like spirit), as much as you can; while ‘Lost if I Lost You’ features powerful guitar undertones a la Keith Urban, as we’re reminded through the protagonist in the song, that ‘…hey, I want affection, you at my ups and downs, ever since you picked my heart up off the lost and found, there ain’t nothing we can’t do, I’d be lost if I lost you…’ ‘Don’t Give Up On Me Yet’ is just a tad under 3 minutes, and a powerful reminder to always stick by your family and close friends, even if they are in their worst plight, because that is what a good friend does/what family does; that a friend in need is a friend indeed; whilst ‘What are We Waiting For’ is for couples who long to get away from the hustle and bustle, and to have quality time with their partners, exploring different sides of themselves with their partners along the way, all the while, as they explore the countryside together. ‘Memory Lane’ delves into both Brooke and Adam’s own personal love stories and reminds listeners of how being every successful marriage and time together as a couple, is an unflattering and often unsuccessful courtship, and more often than not, even if people don’t really know it, it’s really God’s grace and providence holding together marriages and people together, whether they’re Christians or not.

So, there you have it…a snapshot (albeit a very short one) of Up, Down and Sideways. Sure, the album released 9 months ago. But it’s still an album that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed ever since then. These five songs I’ve aforementioned above are just some of my favourites, not just on the album, but some of my favourite country songs of 2023…period. While I may not know if The McClymonts as a band will release anything else new, what I do know for sure, is that Brooke will still be in the industry for quite some time yet. This album is a stellar highlight from 2023, and if anyone who is a fan of the sister trio band as I am, will be sure that this Brooke and Adam album is also a fan-favourite of theirs as well. Well done Brooke and Adam, for such a powerul and compelling set of 10 tracks. Here’s to another McClymonts album in the near future.