The Outsiders - latest CD

Below is my REVIEW of The Outsiders second album: “Need to Breathe”

Released: 2009 by Atlantic
All songs written by 2 guys in the 4 member band (Rinehart & Rinehart)
14 songs - Biography

Need to Breathe is The Outsider’s seconds album (their first was ‘The Heat’ which sold well). They are 4 guys who look as though they are on parole (looking at the CD jacket insert); undoubtedly  'southern boys' y'all.

Good album? Yes, it’s above average in the music equivalent of Richter scales for earthquakes. The first song (wait for it) called ‘The Outsiders’ features a banjo, and a bit later – a mouth organ. How good is that?! Shortfalls and little sins/ Close calls where no one wins/ Stand tall but running thin/ I'm wearing thin/ Oh, why are we keeping score? /Cause if you're not laughing /Who is laughing now/ I've been wondering if this starts sinking/ Would we stand our ground /After everything we've learned /We've finally come to terms /We are the outsiders

Sound a bit country to you? You got it! But, I need to add – more like country/blues rock (distortion guitar at times) mixed with some softer ballads.

The album cover, as you can see, has a white horse (better looking than the insert) with a painted circle around its eye. Not sure of the symbolism – could be code for crop circles? We are assured that only washable paint was used and the horse is doing fine!

Back to the album …

I pretty well liked it from the start although the main vocalist’s voice is not for everyone –sounds a touch like Joe Camilleri at times; Third Day comes to mind - some may not like the whiney voice (I do).

My favourite song is Lay ‘em Down. Call it nostalgia but the mind pictures of country folk going down to the river to have their sins ‘washed away’ with sends tingles up my spine (slight exaggeration there). To the purists there is no hint of baptismal regeneration – just a good song about getting serious about sin; the only place to go is Jesus (not that His Name is mentioned!).

“All you sinners/And the weak at heart/All the helpless/On the boulevards/Wherever you are now/Whatever evil you’ve found/Bring all of your troubles/And come lay ‘em down.”

Actually, Jesus said for those who were weary and carrying heavy burdens to lay them upon Him - to lay 'em down.

Other songs of note are:

"GARDEN" Chorus: /Let the songs I sing bring joy to you./ Let the words I say confess my love./ Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune./ Father let my heart be after you.

"GIRL NAMED TENNESSEE": bring back the barn dances!

Finally you need to know that this album fails to explicitly mention God, Jesus, Holy Spirit etc, etc.

It’s one of those ‘read between the lines album’. You have to make up your own mind on that.

I've listened to Need To Breathe a lot; I like it (all songs) - but I don't regard it as a praise album. I'd be happy to buy it at my local secular store where it would not be out of place.

Finally, I would like to see them live!

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: Amazon about covers it. Lots of interesting comments.