The Outsiders
Omnivore, 2024
8/10
Originally released in 2009, this 3rd album from the southern rockers NEEDTOBREATHE extended their reach with plenty of records sold and high profile tours. Out of print for years now, it lives again and even is available on translucent red vinyl.
The title track starts the listen soft and emotive, where Bear Rinehart’s soaring and gritty voice helps the tune build into a powerful, southern rocker, and “Valley Of Tomorrow” follows with guest Scotty Wilbanks on piano for the rich and harmonic delivery.
Further along, “What You’ve Done To Me” uses Sandra Benser and Casandra Williams expressive voices alongside Joe Stillwell’s agile drumming, while “Hurricane” is an intimate moment of mesmerizing keys that ends up pounding pretty hard amid Seth Bolt’s strategic bass.
Sara Watkins makes an indelible appearance on “Stones Under Rushing Water”, where an acoustic template unfolds with a poetic quality, and deeper yet, “Garden” is populated by graceful and stirring strings that illustrate another avenue that NEEDTOBREATHE excel at.
This album didn’t waste anytime climbing the charts when it was released, and allowed the band ever greater fame via their distinct Christian/alt/country rock hybrid that certainly has aged well.
Travels well with: Crowder- Neon Steeple; Collective Soul- Here To Eternity