The Outlaw Orchestra - Back Under The Covers
- Rock Media UK
- Sep 24, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2022
Album review by; Kayleigh
The Outlaw Orchestra's next instalment of covers comes in the form of the 'Back Under The Covers' album. The five tracks within sees the UK group cover tracks from artists like The Beatles to Motorhead showing off the bands wide range of taste in music.
This is The Outlaw Orchestra's second album featuring covers, the first was 'Under The Covers' (2021). This first collection came after weekly cover videos created by the band during lockdown led them to decide to release some songs digitally. It was never intended that the EP would be reviewed by music press but it quickly gained attention. After this The Outlaw Orchestra released their second full length album 'Makin' Tracks' (2021) which brought the group more attention and led to many festivals and gigs which kept them busy and left them with little time to get back into the studio. However they have now recorded 'Back Under The Covers' which is set for release on the 30th of September after first single, Small Faces cover 'Itchycoo Park' comes out a week earlier on the 23rd.
'Back Under The Covers' opens with fiery guitars before the bass slowly creeps in, it wasn't until the drums came rolling in followed by the familiar sounding banjo that I realised what I was actually listening to. The Outlaw Orchestra manage to make this Beatles classic their own in a fun way. 'Come Together' is a song that I feel is covered regularly by a lot of great artists so it was really nice to hear someone do something a little different with it.
Next up is 'Itchycoo Park' which will be released on the 23rd ahead of the album itself. This one has this sort of upbeat round the campfire sort of energy to it. I don't think it's too far removed from the original Small Faces track but it's a nice one to listen to and shows off a more chilled out side to The Outlaw Orchestra than I have really heard before.
Then 'Rocky Mountain Way' picks the energy right back up again. The blues rock sound is instantly familiar and the dirty guitars grab your attention pulling you right into the song. I wouldn't say this is my favourite of the covers and for me the vocals feel a bit shouty at times but it's still fun and you can tell the band themselves had fun making it.
The fourth track is 'Cripple Creek' which is a cover of The Bands 'Up On Cripple Creek'. This wasn't a song I had heard before but listening to the original honestly I prefer The Outlaw Orchestra's version. Everything feels a lot clearer and therefore makes the song seem groovier and the storytelling of the vocals easy to follow. I really enjoyed this one and I liked how it felt like it leant more into a country sort of tone which is what I enjoy about The Outlaw Orchestra.
Last track and personal favourite of mine 'Iron Fist' comes at you fast. The more stripped back but still big version of Motorheads song is a great closer for the album. It is so different from the original that it's hard to recognize what song this originally is but that makes me love it even more. It loses a bit of the original aggression and rasp being more stripped back which seems odd when the vocalist is singing the words 'devils grip, the iron fist' but I don't think that really matters as again it seems fun. Also I don't think there's many people who could or would even try to copy Lemmy's signature gravelly rasp.
Overall 'Back Under The Covers' is a fun five-track that has actually led me to find a band who's original music I also enjoy. The album is something easy to listen to and it's cool to see a different take on some familiar songs. I love the way they aren't afraid to incorporate multiple instruments into their music such as a banjo, mandolin. lap steel, pedal steel etc. A band of three guys that manage to collectively make it seem like a whole orchestra is playing. 'Back Under The Covers' is definitely one to check out.
The Outlaw Orchestra also have a video due to be released in December which they worked with Kris Barras on and a B-Side to accompany that I will be keeping my eye out for.
3.5 out of 5
Tracklist;
01. Come Together
02. Itchycoo Park
03. Rocky Mountain Way
04. Cripple Creek
05. Iron Fist
Find The Outlaw Orchestra online;
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