The Outsiders - Outsiders (1994 - Pseudonym)

The Outsiders - Outsiders (1994 - Pseudonym)

@ 320 kbps - Covers are included

Story 16 Tears are falling from my eyes Ain't gonna miss you I wish I could Afraid of the dark Teach me to forget you Filthy rich I would love you Don't you cry Won't you listen If you don't treat me right Bonus Tracks: Lying all the time Thinking about today Keep on trying That's your problem Touch (previously unreleased stereo versions) Bird in a cage (previously unreleased stereo versions)

Review by Mike Stax, 1995. Originally appeared on "Ugly Things" #14 :

"On drums: Buzz! Bass guitar: Appie Rammers! Solo guitar: Ronald Splinter! Slaag guitar: Tom Krabbendam! Zanger: Wally Tax! THE OUTSIDERS!!!"So begins the live side of the Outsiders' 1967 debut album. The band really need no further introduction to regular Ugly Things readers, but I'd hate to think I'm only preachin' to the choir, so let's do it.Not to be confused with the inferior American "Time Won't Let Me" group, the Dutch Outsiders were active in Holland from 1965 until early 1969, during which time they released a string of fine singles (many of which were Dutch hits), two "real" albums (Outsiders and CQ - both reissued on CD) and one compilation-type LP, Songbook).The Outsiders' sound is hard to characterize. Not only did they incorporate a diverse set of influences (including the Pretty Things, the Byrds, Tim Hardin and traditional East and North European folk music) but the band's musically un-schooled members approached their instruments in an entirely instinctive way that often gave their records a strange, off-kilter feel. Not that these guys were incompetent - far from it - they were just, well..... different.The band possessed in Wally Tax one of the greatest singers of all time - a man with a voice that could ache with sensitivity or rage with frustrated passion. On top of all this Tax and lead guitarist Ronald Splinter were a songwriting team that could equal the best of the day. Which all adds up to this indisputable FACT: The Outsiders made some of the best music to come out of anywhere in the 1960's.Introduction over. Let's get down to business...Seeing as how original pressings of the Outsiders self-titled debut album have been selling for a solid $100-$150 for the past 10 years or so, it's incredible that it's never been made available as a reissue, even in bootleg form. Which makes this new, legit, from-the-master-tapes CD all the more welcome.Whereas the band's singles where often melodic folk-rock songs with half a bloodshot eye of the Dutch charts, their album showcased the band's rougher, rowdier side. Side One captures the band in a berserk February 1967 live performance which kicks off with the astounding one-chord, six-and-a-half minute "Story 16", takes you through the plaintive yet stomping "Tears Are Falling From My Eyes" (girls sob uncontrollably as Wally emotes like a Dutch Otis Redding), turns up the heat for the manic, clattering, almost out-of-control "Ain't Gonna Miss You" and "I Wish You Could", and wrings every last drop of emotion out of you with "Afraid of the Dark".Aah... "Afraid of the Dark": The magic of this song completely paralized me the first time I heard it. I couldn't believe my ears. I had to immediatly hear it another four times before I could speak or even consider continuing with my life. And it still raises the hair on the back of my neck 11 years later. In its sparse, simple arrangement of fuzz bass, doomy, resonating guitar chordage, tingling four-note lead figure and dramatic percussive fills, "Afraid of the Dark" packs the darkest, scariest, loneliest atmosphere I've ever heard.Side Two includes some of the wildest tracks the band ever recorded, notably the growling, beyond manic "Don't You Cry" and the desperate, frenzied fuzz'n'harp maelstrom of "Won't You Listen". By way of contrast there's also the tender, sincere "I Would Love You" and the heartbreaking, so-true-to-life pop ballad "Teach Me To Forget You".The six bonus tracks are taken from some of their best singles: "Lying All the Time", "Thinking About Today", "Keep On Trying", "That's Your Problem", "Touch", and "Bird In a Cage". The latter two are previously unreleased stereo versions, which sound mighty good. Sound quality on this CD is actually superior to the original album, and unlike the original there's no fades between the live songs - in fact Pseudonym have even included an extra two minutes of introductory babble before "Story 16". The booklet has no liner notes, but the fabulous pictures (did I mention that the Outsiders also looked cool as hell?) more than make up for that.

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