{"id":20853,"date":"2008-07-11T16:51:00","date_gmt":"2008-07-11T04:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/?p=20853"},"modified":"2025-10-20T17:23:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T04:23:42","slug":"the-outsiders-the-outsiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/2008\/07\/the-outsiders-the-outsiders","title":{"rendered":"The Outsiders: The Outsiders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wellington band The Outsiders<\/a><\/strong> are relatively new out of the gate, but the pedigree of the members is extremely well-established. It is unsurprising, then, that this supposed demo is far more polished in all respects than most full releases seen in this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Outsiders<\/em> is a five-song demo that serves as an introduction to the band that features ex-members of such bands as Ritalin<\/strong> and Sommerset<\/strong>. Production quality is excellent throughout, as is the musicianship. Indeed, it feels like selling the CD short by calling it a demo as this is, for all intents and purposes, a debut EP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the reasoning behind the ‘demo’ label is the sound of the band itself. The influences, particularly of bands like Hot Water Musi<\/strong>c, lie heavy on the music, right down to the inflections of country on tracks like, “Bonships and Friendships<\/em>“. Whether this is a bad thing naturally depends on your feeling of the likes of Hot Water Music, The Draft<\/strong>, et al, but when the band strike a more original line such as on closer “Sleeper<\/em>” that straddles the lines between 90s pop-punk and latter day post-punk with a touch of melancholy, they are far stronger. Indeed, a full CD of this more unique voice would have been a spectacular opening salvo from any band.
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But The Outsiders are clearly a class act. The songs are strong in every case, with a clear appreciation for layers in songwriting to provide depth beyond simple hooks. This is extremely promising stuff and could well herald the arrival of a significant new voice on the national stage. In addition, with both The Outsiders and one of the other shining new lights this year, The Rocket Jocks<\/strong>, being signed up to new label Deep Red Records<\/strong>, there may also be a new outlet of note rising up. Definitely two to watch out for\u2026<\/p>\nMatt Barnes, Punkas.com<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Released<\/strong><\/td>2008, July 11<\/td><\/tr>
Label<\/strong><\/td>self-released<\/td><\/tr>
Formats<\/strong><\/td>CD\/ DL<\/td><\/tr>
Recorded<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Engineer<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Cover art<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n