For those not in the know, since 1999, the Grammy-nominated southern rock band NEEDTOBREATHE have quietly emerged as a dynamic force in music, from releasing their first album in 2001 to finding themselves playing arenas and receiving nominations for multiple Dove Awards, Grammys, and Billboard Music Awards.
The Outsiders, in 2009. The record quickly put them on the map, peaking at #20 on the Billboard 200 and at #2 on the Hot Christian Albums charts. Their single “Something Beautiful” crossed over to Triple A (#12) and “Hurricane” to the Alternative charts (#29).
AllMusic gave the album four stars, claiming it “offer[s] up another collection of sweeping, reverent rock songs [and] flirts with touches of roots rock and traditional gospel, from the title track’s powerful Southern stomp to the sheer power of Bear Rinehart’s voice.”
The Outsiders won the Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of The Year, and “Lay ’Em Down” landed honors as Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. Two years later, the band would be on tour as the opening act for Taylor Swift’s Speak Now world tour, as well as performing alongside acts including Tim McGraw and Train.
1. The Outsiders
2. Valley Of Tomorrow
3. Through Smoke
4. Lay ’Em Down
5. What You’ve Done To Me
6. Hurricane
7. These Hard Times
8. Stones Under Rushing Water
9. Prisoner
10. Won’t Turn Back
11. Girl Named Tennessee
12. Something Beautiful
13. Garden
14. Let Us Love
In general, Contemporary Christian music has been pretty accepting of the mainstream. Some bands, such as Underoath, had brought CCM into completely unexpected realms such as metalcore, infusing the so-called Devil’s music with Jesus’ message. Then there are bands such as NEEDTOBREATHE that, while incorporating mainstream elements into their music, still feel rooted in the Evangelical traditions.
With NEEDTOBREATHE and their 2009 album The Outsiders, it is apparent that the band had been studying their southern rock, especially, in my humble opinion, the mighty Kings of Leon. The electric guitars, drums, banjos, violins, organs, they’re all present. In fact, lead singer Bear Rinehart sounds so damn similar to Caleb Followill, nasally voice and all, that you would have sworn this was a lost KOL album!
At the same time, The Outsiders had the earnestness of a sermon, an album that gives off enough of a spiritual, inspirational vibe that it wouldn’t alienate CCM fans.
As for the album itself, while The Outsiders maintains a nice balance between the religious and mainstream, the album does suffer from being inconsistent. Most of the time, NEEDTOBREATHE aspires to be anthemic, to pound pianos, drums and show off lofty guitar solos.
It’s nothing life changing, but the songs still convey earnestness and energy. The opening title track mixes garage rock with the folky theatrics of Mumford and Sons. “Through Smoke” and “Lay ‘Em Down” are operatic, albeit a little cheesy, gospel tracks that enhance Bear Rinehart’s preacher-like bravado. And another stand out is “Hurricane,” which is the most KOL-like song on here, a catchy tune that mixes southern and alternative rock influences.
Since the release of this landmark album, NEEDTOBREATHE has reached arena-sized proportions, headlining iconic venues such as Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and four sold out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. The band most recently performed at the 2024 CMA Awards in Austin, Texas, with Jordan Davis, whom they also recorded an episode of CMT Crossroads with.
Now, over 15 years since The Outsiders was released and brought the band to greater heights, NEEDTOBREATHE are re-pressing the long sold-out record for the first time ever on translucent red vinyl.
Official Purchase Link
omnivorerecordings.com