The Outsiders
| Eric ChurchThe Outsiders
The Outsiders is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released on February 11, 2014, via EMI Nashville. Like all of his previous albums, it is produced by Jay Joyce. It was before the release that Church received media attention for saying "I think genres are dead." This comment irked certain news outlets. Two singles were released prior to the album's release: the title track and "Give Me Back My Hometown". Both were met with positive reviews from critics, and charted in the top 10 Hot Country Songs chart. The latter also reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, becoming his fourth chart-topping single. The album's third single, "Cold One", was released in June 2014 and was a top 20 hit. The fourth single, "Talladega", was released to country radio on September 15, 2014, and became Church's fourth No. 1 hit. The fifth single, "Like a Wrecking Ball", was released to country radio on March 9, 2015. The album received critical acclaim, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums Chart, with sales of 288,000 in its first week of release. It was the best-selling country album of 2014 in the United States.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
Like Church’s best songs, it’s a story as old as the hills that sounds like tomorrow’s news feed.
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Saving Country Music
The Outsiders is an absolute, colossal failure of process.
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The Guardian
A microcosm of an album with a radical spirit but a conservative heart.
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All Music
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.
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Sputnik Music
This is what country music should sound like...
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Kurrent Music
There are so many layers that multiple interpretations can result from it, and that’s when you know it’s a good album. The best this year, in fact.
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Spectrum Pulse
Frankly, the album would have been better if it was weirder and darker and went further, actually pushed boundaries instead of name-dropping rock cliches and outlaw legends who did it better.
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RoughStock
The Outsiders is best appreciated with a studied examination of its insides.
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Entertainment
As with all of The Outsiders‘ thrills, it’s both thumpingly obvious and exquisitely executed.
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Plugged In
As far as the album's lyrics are concerned, though, it's a much more conventional country affair—for better and worse.
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Renowned for Sound
The Outsiders is an album where the listener looks in, and can join Church and his inventive style on a journey sticking two fingers up to the passive and controlled of society.
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Newsday
Church may want to be an "Outsider," but he's destined for a mainstream embrace, whether he likes it or not.
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Little Rebellion Music Magazine
It is an ego-trip dressed up as serious art. May this be the worst album Eric Church will ever make, and may he return to servicing the songs rather than his image.
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Mimo
The Outsiders as the record that put Eric Church on the superstar map and gave Shelton/Bryan/FLG a run for their money.
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USA Today
It's adventurous and outrageous, full of metallic guitars and funky country skronk but also expresses vulnerability and pain.
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Recommended Listen
Eric Church knows the ins and outs of what makes the music industry tick very well.
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Review STL
In an industry that is filled with pop-country acts, Church proves with “The Outsiders” that country hasn’t lost it’s edge.
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American Songwriter
The Outsiders is at its best when it lets the songs market themselves.
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Country Universe
All in all, it’s remarkably well done.
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Country Music Project
Church really showcases his talent in this album, and every time it gets played I struggle to not stomp my foot to the beat.
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Buzzfeed
Although this album has been different than his others, it is nonetheless short of a work of art which builds up new ideas about music in general.
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Ink Free News
Church has managed to put together an impressive album, complete with self-reflective ballads, novelty tunes and high-octane rockers.
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Taiwan News
"The Outsiders" is the rare album that invites debate, and asks us to take sides. In this case, pick freely. You can't lose.
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Geesteelio
It seems I’m hooked for the long haul after listening to “The Outsiders.”
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Los Angeles Times
Eric Church gets 'back out there' with 'The Outsiders'.
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98.1 Minnesotas New Country
If you like music that is reminiscent, nostalgic and has some attitude, I would highly recommend you go pick up a copy of The Outsiders.
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