Customer Reviews

Bitter Shovel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It took several months for me to truly appreciate this cd, but it is really incredible. The first couple of times I listened to it, I thought it was "ok" - don't know where my brain was - not at home I guess. This cd has become one of my favorites and certainly one of the best new cd's I have heard. This cd ranks up there with Forty Foot Echo, Shinedown, and Splender's `To Whom it May Concern'. A great cd you will want to add to your collection,

Outspoken seems like another of those bands that could have been.

Each song of theirs is distinguishable from all the rest, but the singer has a voice very reminiscent of Nickelback's Chad Kroeger. A few of the songs sound like they could have been done by Nickelback, but the others are unique in and of themselves, and they display Outspoken's talent.

This is a regular, but altogether good, rock band. Their songs are memorable and filling, while remaining altogether singable.

Good CD.

Ok, so my rating may be inflated by a half-star since I'm living in Louisville right now, as Outspoken breaks out nationwide. But still the disc is easily closer to 4 stars than 3. That's at least how many radio-worthy singles you'll find here.

This is good, crunchy, melodic rock, easy to listen to the whole album in one sitting. You'll appreciate how special, how -rare- it is to have great harmonies as you savor the synergies of the lead and backup singer. And this band is fantastic live... tight and polished.

This band is ready. Get on their back and get this disc.

Two rips, though, not on the band, but their label, Lava Records. The mixing and production of "Farther" is really sub-par... it's such a shame for what may be one of the great songs in recent years to suffer such weak drum recording and mixing as well as slothful guitar pacing. It sounds like a year-old demo (and still it shines... that's how good the song is). And second, the liner notes don't introduce the band at all! Two major blown opportunities. Outspoken will still transcend.

How would I go about describing the sound of outspoken? First take the sound on Nickelback during the "curb" and "the state" albums and rub them really hard against "the fallout" by default. Then had just a pinch (JUST A PINCH remind you) of scooter from cold during the "year of the spider" recordings and...Bam!(sweet Emril reference!) you have an Outspoken as a sample platter towards better more accessible artists. I don't say this to take away from what this band has been able to achieve. This is a good album with a select handful of tracks that are worth your time, and an album that is made well enough to just let play and pass the time. Nothing provocative here, nothing over stimuating, it is an album that is written in the modern style that combines a few hard rocking "Drop-D" songs with melodic ballads that will fit well in the VH1 roster between 3 doors down and Shinedown. So in conclusion if you like any of the before mentioned bands or if you are into bands like "Course of Nature" then pick this up (used is fine) and expect to listen to it three or four times and then revisit one of the other bands I've listed.

This is the rock and roll record that I have been waiting for. The guitars sound huge like rock and roll guitars should. The song writing is as strong as anything I've ever heard, including the classics. Every song could be a hit if the radio stations would play them all. Is that a mandolin I hear in the intro to ";Way I Am";? Nobody plays a mandolin on a rock and roll record do they? These guys do and it's just what the song needed and it will help this song go to the top of the charts before its all said and done. For Goodness shake if you never buy a rock and roll CD again you have to get this one. It will keep you rocking for years to come. This would be the first piece of music you'd replace if for some reason you lost your collection.

These guys are a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stale rock market. The entire cd is stellar and with the track Farther picking up radio airplay and doing well on the charts these guys seem poised to take the rock world by the throat and show it a thing or two.
check the cd out..it's well worth it

The Outspoken saga has been years in the making, with the band waiting uncommon stretches for their album to be released. Now that the album is finally upon us, it is everything an album of this kind should be, and more. This band has the unmistakable potential to do very well for themselves.

Outspoken has been compared to bands such as Alice In Chains and Staind, although really Outspoken sounds nothing like them. I'd consider them a better, darker, and overall different band on the lines of Fuel or Nickelback. Make no mistake, these comparisons are quite a stretch. But upon the first listen of this disc, you will notice that Outspoken is a far step above the common rock band.

The songs on this album are all great, and when I say that I mean it more than ever before. Each and every song on this album is extremely listenable. The album opens with the title track, "Bitter Shovel," the hardest rocker on the album. This song is extremely melodic while still staying heavy. The song is an excellent way to introduce the rest of the album. The second track, "Revolving," begins as a clean, slightly more mellow track but transfers quickly into the distorted chorus. This track introduces the single "Farther," one of the best radio friendly songs I've heard in some time. My personal favorite track is Elastic, track 7, which is another great potential single. But honestly, all the tracks are strong and quite varied as well. No song ever sounds too much the same.

The songs are all very strong lyrically as well. Only a perfect person could find nothing to like in these lyrics, because they are mainly about struggle in one way or another, such as my favorite lyrical track "My Turn." David sings in the chorus, "It's my turn to let it out/To reach down and be the man that I can be/It's taken a lifetime, but I'm gonna let it out/Cause it's my turn." A great track is also the slower "Way I Am" which begins "I break down in the middle of filling you in on my day/Sweetly you touch and say everything's gonna be okay." These are simply highlights, as all the lyrics are just as strong as the songs are.

So who will like this album? Well, honestly I can't imagine any rock fan disliking this album. There's really very little to dislike about this band, they play straight up rock that glows with talent. Check this band out if you are a rock fan in any way, and I can't imagine you being disappointed.

This album is totally ready for mainstream radio. If it sells more than 20 actual units I will be pretty surprised.

Outspoken does something that many bands take for granted- melody. This cd should be #1 on all rock charts. The tracks are melodic and often break open into crashing guitars (similiar to the band REVIS, also excellent). My favorite track is "Deep than Down", the lyrics are astondishing and groundbreaking in my opinion. They have something on here everyone can relate to. Please support this band and buy this cd! You will not be disappointed.

I was bemoaing the stale state of hard rock music when my friend recommended this CD. And you know what? It totally rocks! You won't feel guilty banging your head to music and lyrics that are a cut above the rest of what's out there right now. This is a rare hard rock album that is actually listenable all the way through; when you're done, you don't feel bludgeoned by what you've just heard -- you just feel rocked. The drummer, Donnie, beats the kit like a madman -- could he be the next John Bonham?