88.3 WAFJ listeners who have only heard the single “Lay ‘Em Down”…..you don’t even know.
Something is different about this album. After listening to it over and over, thoroughly enjoying every minute, and being glued to each track like a suspense novel, I realized what makes The Outsiders so unique. These 14 tracks come across more like stories than songs, and the gang vocals and catchy, anthem melodies give the same impression an intense Broadway musical might.
Ok, so if you’re like me, and your first thought when someone says “musical” is “The King and I”; forget that. The Outsiders is simply brimming with creativity and soul, in a way that makes it seem like there is so much more going on under the music.
Lead singer Bear Rinehart leaves it all on the table with his strong, soulful voice, and the band provides simple and provocative instrumentation.
Driving southern rock songs like “Prisoner” and “Girl Named Tennessee” strike a nice balance with soulful anthems like “Through Smoke”, “These Hard Times” and “Lay ‘Em Down”, to create a very “southy” sound. (is “southy” a word? It is now.) NEEDTOBREATHE even presents a couple of love songs with “What you’ve done to me” and the both musically and lyrically gorgeous “Stones Under Rushing Water”, which includes vocals from Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek.
The gang vocals (which means a group of people singing in unison) used on many of the tracks almost demands that you sing along, and really creates the atmosphere of a live performance, drawing you in and making you feel like a part of the music.
The Outsiders is different in that it is not simply a collection of songs thrown together, but a collection of stories that can really pull you in. This album is very well done, and extremely fun to listen to.
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