NPR Streaming Eric Church's New Album

[BwareDWare94 723]

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/02/267029367/first-listen-eric-church-the-outsiders

 

For you country fans. I'll forewarn you, he was serious when he said they weren't worrying about genre. Lots of influences on this one, but if you're open to it, it's honestly pretty damn good.

[Maverick 791]

I saw this posted on his FB page. I'm gonna listen to it in a little bit. What type of sound does it have to it, Bware?

[BwareDWare94 723]

I saw this posted on his FB page. I'm gonna listen to it in a little bit. What type of sound does it have to it, Bware?

 

It varies by the song. I'd say it's a rock/blues kind of record with some folk/bluegrass mixed in. The only song that stands out as mainstream is probably "Talladega," which is catchy as hell but I don't like the similarities it has with modern pop country.

 

It's a good record, but it's strange, man. The final track "The Joint" is just odd. Devil Devil is probably my favorite track. It's got a nice 3 and a half minute prelude of spoken word, then transitions into a really catchy 4 and a half minute song with great lyrics.

Edited February 3, 2014 by BwareDWare94

[Maverick 791]

I'm only about halfway through the album and you're right - it definitely varies by song. Don't know how I feel about it yet. No song has really got my full attention yet. Talladega will probably be the next single on the radio.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Yeah, to me it's essentially 40-50 minutes of trying to fit square pegs in round holes. Artistic freedom is great but albums are supposed to be cohesive and The Outsiders is anything but cohesive. He's still at his best when it's stripped down to him and a guitar, so I dunno.

 

I really like "Talladega" but take a listen to Luke Bryan's song "Buzzkill" and the melody is almost exact. I think "Buzzkill is one of the last great songs LB released, but how similar "Talladega" is just astounds me.

 

Easily his weakest album.