Album: “La Familia” by The Outlaw Orchestra

I took a listen to the third studio album from The Outlaw Orchestra, “La Familia”, due for release on 18/10/2024. This is the much anticipated follow on from the excellent “Makin’ Tracks”. Having worked with Rogue Studios in Wembley to record the album, the sound teeters a little more towards the classic rock sound but retaining their renowned roots/Americana feel.

Having graced the same bills as The Darkness, Brothers Osborne and Kris Barras Band, I knew this would be right up my street. Unsurprisingly for a band that cross a few popular genres, tracks from the new album are being played far and wide, having featured on Planet Rock, BBC 6 Music, Chris Country, and HRH Radio, so far.

Opening track “Rotten Apples” (which is set to be the new single, to be released on the same day as the album), is a cracking start to proceedings, with some clever lyrics (who expected an Isaac Newton reference? Not me!). A foot tapping, fun and catchy tune, it makes you want to take your partner by the arm and dance around the room; I was alone, so I took my puppy by the paw – almost as effective.

We then moved on to “SOS”, which got the hips wiggling, and would have got my boots stomping, had I been wearing boots. The lyrics are very classic rock, there’s a bit of cowbell in there – everybody is having a good time.

We take a moodier turn with “Fear The Bite”. This felt like a dark tale for a stormy night. A great, wandering tune from the banjo, accompanied by the steady beat of the drums and percussion makes you feel like you’re taking a journey with the band. Certainly, a track that conjures up great imagery.

Bloody love the banjo (I hope it’s a banjo, one day I’ll learn my instruments) on “El Dorado”. The opening riff feels a bit Blondie-esque which is a pleasant surprise on this kind of album. Another fun track that you know you’d have a great time listening to at one of those sweaty late-night gigs at a dirty dive bar. That’s a good thing, I promise. I’m getting Friday night vibes, which is a shame considering I’m listening to this on a Monday. It just makes you want to go out to a gig and maybe have one too many drinks.

“Holy Ground” feels more personal, I felt that those lyrics were sung from the heart. It has a soulful feel and is one of those tracks that grows on you the more you listen to it. The riff towards the end is killer.

“Small Change” is a song that I’m sure plenty of bands can relate to, with the theme of having to hustle and grind to try and make a career out of music. Short and sweet, it feels that there’s a lot of feeling in the two minutes, giving it a bit of a punk quality.

The opening riff on “Sunday Drivers” is a beauty. Then there’s possibly a pan pipe (see earlier lack of instrument knowledge), which you would not expect to fit in with this vibe at all, but here it is, again conjuring up imagery, this time of the desert and the stars. We then move into a proper groove with some great vocals. I feel this track really shows the talent of this band, which is where they get the “Orchestra” part of their band name – because they’re very fine musicians.

We then smoothly move into a track that I’d say covers the “Outlaw” part of their name, which comes from their ability to exude that Saturday night hell-raising, foot-stamping escapism. “Bag of Bones” is a track that absorbs your attention, with lyrics you can sing along to, and it has a real Americana theme.

The next track was the first single from this new album; the hugely successful “Born to be a Thief”. It’s easy to see why this has been such a hit with audiences, the slow build draws you in, and it fits into numerous genres – classic rock, country, Americana, and all that falls in between, meaning that it is appealing to a wide audience. Personally, I find the next single to be released (Rotten Apples), to be more fun, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that’s received once released.

I know I already referenced a smooth transition, but the opening bars of “Graceless Time” are so smooth, that they just wash into your ears like a pouring a sumptuous bourbon down your throat. The vocals are a delight, and you can just feel yourself drifting into the music.

We wrap up with “Outlaw”, a classic, balls out, upbeat track, with a bridge that makes you appreciate the musicianship in this band even more. It feels like it should be their theme song! This album left me feeling ready to rock; time to put my favourite band tee on and get to a gig I reckon.

Track Listing
Rotten Apples
SOS
Fear The Bite
El Dorado
Holy Ground
Small Change
Sunday Driver
Bag of Bones
I Was Born To Be a Thief
Graceless Time

Band Members
Dave Roux
Pete Briley
Ryan Smith

Links
https://www.theoutlaworchestra.com
https://www.facebook.com/theoutlaworchestra

Article by Sarah Lovegrove.