Music Reviews
Artist:
OutlandishTitle:
Closer Than VeinsLabel:
RCA
“Your biggest fear is getting a ticket, as you cruise your cadillac/My fear is that the tank that has just left will turn around any come back”.
Their press release claims that Outlandish are “not just another frustrated political act confronting the ills of the world head on”, but the couplet above - which features early on in their new album, 'Closer Than Veins' – certainly suggests otherwise.
The problem with so many rappers and singers banging on and on about the horrors of war is that it has saturated and devalued the subject so much that you can no longer take it seriously when you hear it mentioned in musical context. While there's no doubt that war genuinely is horrific, it's become an only slightly less horrific cliché to keep bringing up over an acoustic guitar lick.
Of course, it's not just tanks, bombs and their like that voice their concerns about on this album; 'Just Me' finds them contemplating racial politics, religion is dealt with on 'Beyond Words' and 'Look Into My Eyes' sees the group worrying about their “vulnerable life” and if they'll “survive another day”. Outlandish are from Denmark.
The small saving grace on this album is the beats, many of which are pretty good ('Any Given Time' and 'Beyond Words' in particular), but to be perfectly honest, anyone who considers buying this album should take a minute to make sure that they've got everything by Talib Kweli, The Fugees and K-OS, because these artists pretty much cover the concious hip hop, acoustic soul and reggae mixture that Outlandish are peddling on 'Closer Than Veins', and all three do it infinitely better.
Rating: 2/5
Release Date: May 21st 2007
Label: RCA
Website: www.myspace.com/jointhestruggle
Words: Tom Ellen
