Full Review: Needtobreathe – The Outsiders
No matter what style of music calls your heart (or how far above it you may think you are) there is something about southern rock, when done correctly, that is just good for one’s soul. ‘The Outsiders’ does fit nicely in a mainstream rock package, but once opened, the songs have the potential to infect and affect you in a deeper way than most mainstream music.
Self-proclaimed outsiders in the first minute of the first song, Needtobreathe doesn’t waste time trying to ditch typical stereotypes and schools of thought. This is a band that understands it’s easier to see the big picture standing on a hill rather than standing in the middle of a crowd. Brushing up against the previous album’s hit “Washed By The Water”, tracks like “Lay ‘Em Down” invoke the same feeling and general theme but in a new and equally as effective way.
This record has its flaws like all the rest except the flaws are minor, unmarring to the album’s goal. Each song has its only distinct taste of the soulful rock genre, but there are moments in songs like “These Hard Times” and “Prisoner” which end up tired and repetitious by the end. This album shines brilliantly for the first half and finishes just as strong, but sags just a tad during the middle parts.
It’s hard to make a point by point comparison for the lyrical content to the band’s last record, but at first listen it does seem to be slightly more ambiguous. Of course, as you pick apart the words and dive into their meaning, they clearly have a faith driven aspect and focus to them. The lead single “Something Beautiful” is a good example of how the songs have multiple meanings depending on your circumstance, but at the heart of it is clearly the band reaching out for something more than the things of this world.
The order of songs can be the difference between good and great albums. Although the ending song of an album is not as important as the ending of a movie, it still can have the same powerful effect if the correct song is placed in that spot. “Let Us Love” fulfills its duties and more, using a groove that provokes movement, group vocals and lots of clapping, bringing ‘The Outsiders’ to a satisfying conclusion.
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Tags: needtobreathe, rock, something beautiful, the outsiders
August 12th, 2009 at 8:26 am
is the lead mainstream single “Something Beautiful?” because the lead single for the Christian market is “Lay ‘Em Down”
August 12th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I was specifically told by the band’s PR that “Something Beautiful” was the lead single. If there are 2 for different markets that would make sense but I dont know
August 26th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Sounds alot like Kings of Leon. Would be cool if needtobreathe finds the same success.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Doug – I thought the same thing about their new album – they are starting to sound more like Kings of Leon, which I hope is not the case.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I thought the same about Kings of Leon. Closer to Counting Crows in my opinion. Regardless they’re still unique and better with every album.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
If they did come close to the popularity of Kings of Leon it would be great for the band, but they definitely established a different, softer, more unique sound that Kings, who are a bit harsher (in a good way) in vox and instrumentals. Thanks for bringing people back to a GREAT band, i almost forgot they had a new CD out until i saw this.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
What is the meaning behind the song The Ousiders?
I don’t really understand it.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
My guess is in the review.
“Self-proclaimed outsiders in the first minute of the first song, Needtobreathe doesn’t waste time trying to ditch typical stereotypes and schools of thought. This is a band that understands it’s easier to see the big picture standing on a hill rather than standing in the middle of a crowd.”
September 28th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
This is a great album! Like the Word which these boys are well versed in, there is much meaning behind each and every song. I found the whole album spiritually entertaining throughout. As the review points out this album certainly is more ambiguous and I wonder if that’s to reach more folks or Atlantic pushing to sell more records?? Time will tell. The Outsiders has soul throughout including the middle tracks like the energetic Hurricane with chanting lyrics such as ‘break the paths of our fathers before us’ and Stones Under Rushing Water which reminds us of all the beautiful things we take for granted as life rolls on by like stones under rushing water. They’re Outsiders like most of us believers who familiarize themselves with the Word. And as Outsiders they remind us to love in the final track. Let us love like we were children! Peace be with you and Godspeed NTB.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Why the red circle around their eye?
April 12th, 2010 at 10:15 am
im really glad to have found needtobreahte on your top 10 im really amazed at the lead singers vocals and how better and better they sound with each album God bless you and them