Critical Record Review – The Outsiders, by Needtobreathe.
I chose this album because I think it is a masterful work of popular music, from the soul-searching lyrics to the almost omnipresent piano chords gently guiding the choruses. Also, it has helped me get through every late night paper writing session for the past two years – it’s mellow enough to softly compliment my studying, but inspirational enough to help me push through the last three pages even after 2 a.m.
Produced by John Alagia, who is best known for his work with Dave Mathews Band and John Maher, two folk-pop artists with a feel that sometimes parallels Needtobreathe, this album is the third from the four-man folk-rock band.
To be clear, the classification of Needtobreathe as folk-rock is my own. Typically the band is identified as an alternative rock or Christian rock group, although their lyrics are not explicitly or exclusively Christian. I plan to make an argument for why the group fits my understanding of the folk-rock genre better than any other.
When I say folk, I’m referring to modern or contemporary folk, which relies heavily on assemblage, which creates something new out of old cultural artifacts and practices. Needtobreathe’s overall sound is heavily influenced by their acoustic work with instruments typical of old-time music – the guitar, mandolin and banjo.
(Trust me, I’ve been to Galax, the country’s largest old-time fiddle convention – the only way to get a banjo out of an old-time music lover is to pry it from his cold, dead hands.) Needtobreathe’s emphasis on vocal harmonies unites them with other artists in vogue right now (look at how quickly Mumford and Sons, another folk-rock band, shot to star status). As far as the band’s particular version of the folk aesthetic goes, they’ve got a strong beat driving the tone of each song with a rocking rhythm. Even the slower, easier listening songs are grounded by a steady, lullaby-type beat.
Needtobreathe easily fits the rock description as well, with their electric guitar and synthesizer accenting many of their songs, especially at the bridge, when the tension has built to the breaking point. Their use of piano, which is near and dear to my heart as the only instrument I’m proficient in playing, also puts them solidly within rock’s genre. But you can’t deny their reliance on folk heritage, which is why I classify them as folk-rock.
For a little bit of context, you should know that brothers Bo and Bear Rinehart, two of the group’s members, are “pastor’s sons who hail from the rural South Carolina town of Possum Kingdom,” according to the band biography on needtobreathe.net. Seth Bolt and Joe Stilwell round out the quartet.
On the surface, I am interested in how inspirational and thoughtful the lyrics are because they resonate with my beliefs, but they also have a wide appeal because they speak about the great themes in life that we all are interested in, regardless of religious beliefs (finding purpose, joy in trial, finding love, finding one’s place in the world).
But what I love about this album is how it shows the depth of the folk-rock genre far beyond that which artists like John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band have tapped. Folk is usually rich lyrically – featuring poetry layered with meaning intrinsic to the singer’s beliefs, and the Needtobreathe boys have created works of art with their lyrics that resonate with anyone facing challenges or looking for something more in life. Which is everyone, right? Except maybe Paris Hilton.
Needtobreathe appeals to multiple audiences, but especially to college kids, because we’re at that crossroads in life where the themes I mentioned above are so poignant, but people at all stages of life can still appreciate those themes.
The larger audience Needtobreathe serves is the youth culture. Needtobreathe isn’t yet mainstream, so they have to reach out to the audiences who will reach back, that is the ones who do their own digging to find great music, rather than passively letting DJs feed it to them. Because of that special relationship, the artists can stay more true to their original desire, rather than letting a producer take their music on a different path than they had in mind.
The band’s authenticity comes through in the earnest vocals and honest lyrics. On their website, the band talks about their intentions for their music:
“We wanted to make an important record in the way that people used to make records. Bands rarely have the time that allows them to create a game-changing album like Born to Run, Rumours, or Damn The Torpedoes. So we said, ‘Let's set ourselves up to do that. Let's believe in the songs enough that we're willing to take the time they need and really push ourselves. It may sound naïve, but we still have a dream that we're going to make a record that's going to change everything for us.”
Although they were speaking specifically about their fourth album The Reckoning, released just last week, I think they had the same mindset when creating The Outsiders. And the wonderful thing is, while believing in their songs and staying true to themselves, they still produced a product with wide ‘of-the-people’ pop appeal. According to the website, The Outsiders hit No. 9 on Billboard’s Rock Albums chart, and held down a top 20 spot on the Top 200.
Well done boys, well done.
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