CD Review: Callie McCullough – After Midnight
by Antony Bailey for Country Music News International Magazine
- After Midnight
- Feathers
- Fiver Dollar Pearls
- Missing You
- No Good Way
- Three Quarter Time
The Ontarian country singer-songwriter Callie McCullough released her debut album ‘After Midnight’ in 2020 and she soon received a Canadian Country Music Association CCMA nomination for an Alternative Country Album of The Year award. McCullough’s debut album continues to be enjoyed by country audiences far and wide and she continues to record her own music independently.
The album commences with ‘After Midnight’. The harmonised vocal in the chorus adds much more elegance and subtlety to the song overall and the song gently fades into the distance. ‘Feathers’ is the second track to appear on the album. The music follows a traditional country format, and the upbeat tempo and extra push from the rhythm section ultimately add more impetus to the tune.
‘Five Dollar Pearls’ is predominantly an acoustic track with minimal support from the rhythm section. The song starts with a soothing guitar riff before McCullough enters with the first line of the song ‘’I know I’m wild, I try to tame it / I’m not your style, I try to change it’’ sets the tone for a what is a poignant song about being unworthy of someone’s love no matter what one tries to do.
‘Missing You’ begins in a similar fashion with a comforting guitar riff setting the ball rolling before McCullough enters the frame with her gentle yet captivating vocals to accompany the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. The record ends with the refrain ‘’When I’m missing you’’.
The fifth record on the EP called ‘’No Good Way’’ reinforces the poignant message about being strong and defiant in life’s toughest moments. The final song ‘’Three-Quarter Time’’ sees a shift to a 6/8 meter and lyrics such as ‘’Nobody sang sad songs in three-quarter time’’ is the refrain that concludes what continues to be a successful EP on a positive note.