Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Just in case the title of The Outsiders doesn't give away the game, Eric Church takes pains to strike a defiant stance throughout his fourth album, underscoring his status as a genuine Nashville Rebel. He sings about his "Dark Side" and the Devil, murmurs ominously about "A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young," winks a double entendre about "The Joint," and declares "That's Damn Rock & Roll," a provocative statement from a singer who is nominally country but loves to strut with a heavy metal swagger. Church brings on the thunder with "The Outsiders," a galumphing rallying cry that's intended as a middle finger to all those cheerful bros in tight-fitting jeans who sing songs about trucks set to a hip-hop beat. He may sneer at those good-looking suburban country dudes riding the top of the charts but Church is a modern man -- he decorates the kiss-off "Cold One" with a skittish electronic funk beat -- who doesn't take a second glance at the past, unless it's to tip a hat to Hank, Hag, Jones, or Waylon or to deliver the slow-burning Southern soul of "Like a Wrecking Ball." Contrary to the bluster of "The Outsiders" and "That's Damn Rock & Roll," Church doesn't follow the macho straight and narrow on The Outsiders. Surely, he never disguises his masculine side but sings sweetly, too, and he indulges in detours, the craziest being the prog pomposity of the eight-minute suite "Devil, Devil (Prelude: Princess of Darkness)." Most of all, he takes strides to paint himself as the heir apparent to workingman's hero Bruce Springsteen, going so far as to write an anthem to dying middle-class America called "Give Me Back My Hometown." Designed to be a set closer at arenas across the U.S., it delivers the requisite fireworks but Church possesses a sly eye for detail that humanizes his broad strokes, a necessary counterpoint to songs that are otherwise outsized. This shift toward the epic -- present throughout The Outsiders but not always dominating the tone -- is a real shift for Church, who has otherwise specialized in songs that are a little simpler. Church has made the conscious decision to try a little bit of everything in his quest to be a savior to both rock and country, and if he doesn't quite knock it out of the park when he swings for the fences, he nevertheless scores.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Jason Sellers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Beathard, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Spillman, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - J.T. Corenflos, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lynn Hutton, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Tyndell, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jason Sellers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Luke Laird, ComposerLyricist - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Acoustic Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Beathard, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roy Agee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Michael P. Heeney, ComposerLyricist - Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Beathard, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Mandolin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Matthew Wheeler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jason Sellers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Organ, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Spillman, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Danny T. Meadows, ComposerLyricist - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Monty Criswell, ComposerLyricist - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Beathard, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Mandolin, Piano, Dobro, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Luke Laird, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Banjo, Bouzouki, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Jay Joyce, Producer, Mixer, Electric Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Cotten, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Beathard, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Mendelson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Wheeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Hall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Church, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Hyde, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Producer, Executive Producer - Craig Wright, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Hendricks, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2013 EMI Records Nashville
Album review
Just in case the title of The Outsiders doesn't give away the game, Eric Church takes pains to strike a defiant stance throughout his fourth album, underscoring his status as a genuine Nashville Rebel. He sings about his "Dark Side" and the Devil, murmurs ominously about "A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young," winks a double entendre about "The Joint," and declares "That's Damn Rock & Roll," a provocative statement from a singer who is nominally country but loves to strut with a heavy metal swagger. Church brings on the thunder with "The Outsiders," a galumphing rallying cry that's intended as a middle finger to all those cheerful bros in tight-fitting jeans who sing songs about trucks set to a hip-hop beat. He may sneer at those good-looking suburban country dudes riding the top of the charts but Church is a modern man -- he decorates the kiss-off "Cold One" with a skittish electronic funk beat -- who doesn't take a second glance at the past, unless it's to tip a hat to Hank, Hag, Jones, or Waylon or to deliver the slow-burning Southern soul of "Like a Wrecking Ball." Contrary to the bluster of "The Outsiders" and "That's Damn Rock & Roll," Church doesn't follow the macho straight and narrow on The Outsiders. Surely, he never disguises his masculine side but sings sweetly, too, and he indulges in detours, the craziest being the prog pomposity of the eight-minute suite "Devil, Devil (Prelude: Princess of Darkness)." Most of all, he takes strides to paint himself as the heir apparent to workingman's hero Bruce Springsteen, going so far as to write an anthem to dying middle-class America called "Give Me Back My Hometown." Designed to be a set closer at arenas across the U.S., it delivers the requisite fireworks but Church possesses a sly eye for detail that humanizes his broad strokes, a necessary counterpoint to songs that are otherwise outsized. This shift toward the epic -- present throughout The Outsiders but not always dominating the tone -- is a real shift for Church, who has otherwise specialized in songs that are a little simpler. Church has made the conscious decision to try a little bit of everything in his quest to be a savior to both rock and country, and if he doesn't quite knock it out of the park when he swings for the fences, he nevertheless scores.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:41
- Main artists: Eric Church
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI Records Nashville
- Genre: Country
© 2014 EMI Records Nashville ℗ 2014 EMI Records Nashville
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.