Outlier - ​Irondale

​Outlier

​Irondale
self-released; 2016

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Garrett McBride (vocals/guitar), Donnie Bigler (bass/vocals), Willie Marsh (drums) and Drew Lehe (guitars) are Outlier. The band recently released Irondale which is a six-song EP that showcases a band that by no means is reinventing the wheel but has some talent.

​Irondale is a rock album that has its roots in every where from ’90s rock to contemporary pop. I would have liked to hear some elements that defined the band's sound a bit more because it does feel very broad at this point.

They open with “Liciana.” The guitar is clean, dripping with delay as the drum creates a steady beat. I loved the bass line here. Very compact and buoyant. It reminded me of the band Interpol. McBride has a good voice. He has a smooth delivery and an aesthetically pleasing voice.

Up next is “Break Me to Bits.” The music is pleasant but fairly standard and serves to support the vocals. Overall, a good song with some catchy melodies. There is some more success with “Counting Sheep.” “Counting Sheep” is arguably the highlight on the EP and most single-worthy song on the EP.  It’s has a number of memorable hooks and I enjoyed the energy on this track.

“Wastin' Time” is a little more festive and upbeat. It’s probably a favorite that they play live. “Rabbithole” serves up jangly guitar with shades of the blues. The vocal performance is top notch here. They close with “Woman” which is another solid song. Perhaps a little more classic rock influence on this track. 

The next logical steps for Outlier is to get a boost in production on their next release and keep digging to figure out they can stick out against an above average indie rock band. This is a good start for the band but they also fall into a category of wait and see.

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