Album: Outside In by The Dust Collectors

The highly anticipated album “Outside In” by The Dust Collectors was finally released on May 26th. This year has been fruitful for the Canadian four-piece band, with the release of a single and two EPs building anticipation for this album. My first encounter with The Dust Collectors was through their debut EP “Filtered Gems,” take a look at it on our sister blog here. 

What immediately caught my attention was their remarkable musical prowess, songwriting skills, and captivating vocal harmonies. In addition they seamlessly blend different styles and genres, including folk, country, and rock, while infusing their music with storytelling lyrics and captivating vocal lines. Therefore, listeners enjoy a captivating and immersive experience.

“Outside In” is a 14-track album that features tracks from the previously released EPs, along with two new additions, “Shoulder Season” and “Bad Talk.” The album art itself is visually appealing and intriguing, displaying a creative and minimalist design composed of logos representing each track. For instance, train tracks symbolise “Old No. 9 Train,” and boxing gloves represent “Take a Dive,” among others.

The album opens with the country-infused “Shoulder Season,” featuring a catchy walking bass line, a train-like drum beat, and a guitar riff that embodies the essence of country music. The soaring vocals, complemented by backing vocals, further enhance the song. Just before the outro, there’s an instrumental interlude where the two guitarists engage in an impressive exchange of melodic and complementary licks.

The subsequent tracks, “Murder I Wrote” and “Take a Dive,” exemplify the band’s exceptional storytelling abilities, painting vivid musical landscapes with each song. “Keeping Time” and “Waiting Game” showcase The Dust Collectors‘ experimental side, incorporating uncommon timings and time changes. “Keeping Time” features an organ, while “Waiting Game” incorporates keyboards. The band also reveals a softer side with romantically themed songs like “Dandelion,” “Better Times,” and “Truth Be Told.”

“Black Fly” can best be described as a folk-infused Beatles-inspired track, with its beautiful vocal harmonies and captivating chord progression. “Here’s Hoping” and “Flush & Plumb” are country songs with contrasting progressions. “Here’s Hoping” starts in a slow tempo and transitions into a double-time chorus, while “Flush & Plumb” begins with an upbeat tempo and shifts into a half-time chorus.

“Bullshit & Lies” showcases The Dust Collectors‘ pure rock side, with overdriven guitars delivering captivating riffs backed by a groovy rock drum and bass groove. The alternative rock vocal line

completes this piece of art. Halfway through the song, an Oasis-inspired interlude leads to an impressive melodic solo before the last chorus. Followed by the Oasis-inspired interlude as an outro topped by lead guitar licks.

In conclusion, “Outside In” is definitely an album to listen to; it contains everything from amazing vocal harmonies, exceptional songwriting, groovy drum and bass lines, melodic guitar riffs, licks and solos, to top-notch production and various genre mixes.