Living in Colour explained

Living in Colour
Type:studio
Artist:Shane Nicholson
Cover:Living_in_Colour_by_Shane_Nicholson.png
Label:Lost Highway Australia, Universal
Prev Title:Love and Blood
Prev Year:2017

Living in Colour is the ninth studio album from Australian country singer Shane Nicholson, released on Lost Highway Australia, Universal in August 2021. The album was written and recorded in a studio on the Central Coast (New South Wales) by Nicholson alone due to the ongoing COVID restrictions, while balancing life and producing several other artist's projects at the same time. Nicholson said "I haven't really done that since then, being able to sit there by myself and pick up instrument after instrument. It was mostly me and a bottle of whiskey into the night, that was it." The album peaked at number 68 on the ARIA Charts.

The album was announced in July 2021 alongside the album's third single "And You Will Have Your Way" with Nicholson saying "In my 20s the world seemed basically full of possibilities. I had this idea that there were elders to me that were learned, educated people, intelligent people and they took care of everything. Then my 30s came along and I had kids. I started thinking about what the world would be like for them. By the time my 40s arrived my old world-view had almost completely fallen apart, and I had reached peak cynicism."[1]

Nicholson supported the album with the Australian Living in Colour tour, due to run from 20 August to 4 December 2021.[1] These date were later delayed and are expected from 8 October 2021 to 12 February 2022.[2]

At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Country Album.[3]

At the 2022 Country Music Awards of Australia, the album won Album of the Year and Alt. Country Album of the Year.[4]

Reception

Jeff Jenkins from Stack Magazine said "More than two decades after his first release, Nicholson is doing his finest work. Living in Colour is both a celebration of music and a lament for a world gone crazy." Jenkins concluded saying "The world needs more songwriters like him."[5]

Beat Magazine said "A rare talent who has bridged the gap between alt-country and the mainstream, this album captures Nicholson's charismatic talent for writing striking songs that pay tribute to the unpredictability of human experience, with the ability to wrap up difficult subject matters with music of uplifting beauty and charm."[6]

Charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 68

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shane Nicholson Reveals Living In Colour Album. noise11. 9 July 2021. 10 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Despite Being An 'Accidental Album' Shane Nicholson Is Living In Colour With His Newest Studio Release. scenestr.com.au. 20 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  3. Web site: ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge . . 20 October 2021 . 24 October 2021 . Kelly, Vivienne . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000045/https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ . 20 October 2021 . live.
  4. Web site: 2022 Golden Guitar Awards see Cassar-Daley take out Slim Dusty record, Shane Nicholson and Ashleigh Dallas collect top gongs. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 April 2022. 21 April 2022. Maguire, Kemii.
  5. Web site: Shane Nicholson, 'Living in Colour' review. Stack. 19 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  6. Web site: Country luminary Shane Nicholson unveils new album Living in Colour a testament to life's highs and lows. beat.com.au. 23 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  7. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 30 August 2021. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1643. 6. 30 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Living in Colour (DD). Apple Music. 4 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Living In Colour (CD). JB Hi-Fi. 4 September 2021.