The album opens with “Livin’ For Love,” which begins with the question, “Are we living for love, or digging for the money?” Soon she asks, “Do you ever question the emptiness you feel inside?” It is a song about choices, about decisions, about one’s path, and I love the presence of banjo. That’s Mark Collins on banjo. “I choose love,” Jackie Bristow sings partway through this track. I think it’s a choice many of us have been making in these years of insanity and the pandemic. What better choice is there? And what better motivation is there to get up in the morning? Or, for that matter, to go to bed at night? Rick Price, Kristen Rogers and Mark Punch provide the backing vocals. That’s followed by “Shakin’ My Bones,” which was written by Jackie Bristow and Mark Punch. With a title like that, I was expecting a rather light number, perhaps something to dance to, and so was surprised when it began as a mellow, somewhat haunting tune, with some interesting guitar work and beautiful vocal work. “Desert sun is screaming loud/Its orange blood, its wild heart/Feel the calm before the storm.” And again, I like Marc Collins’ banjo work, which feels an integral part of the song’s structure. But it is perhaps that work on electric guitar by Mark Punch that especially makes this track something special.
“Without You” is an unabashed love song. It opens with acoustic guitar supporting her voice, and there is something intimate in her delivery at the beginning, like a nighttime confession: “I’ve been thinking of you/And I’ve been dreaming of you/‘Cause I’ve been struck by love/It went straight to the heart/And it makes no sense/And I have no defense.” This song features more nice work on banjo, this time by Dan Dugmore, who also plays pedal steel on this track. This track also features a string section, which offers some striking work at key moments. Alicia Enstrom and David Davidson are on violin, Kristin Wilkinson is on viola, and Sari Reist is on cello. This one was released as a single. It is followed by “Outsider,” the album’s title track, on which she sing “I’m never on the inside with the hip crowd.” Ah, but it’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it? This one has some pop elements. Kristen Rogers, Camille French and Mark Punch provide the backing vocals. At the end, Jackie Bristow repeats, “I found my peace.” This one was written by Jackie Bristow and Mark Punch. Then “Tennessee You Call Me Home” has an interesting, soulful vibe. It suddenly opens to another level, with the presence of horns and that great backing vocal work joining her on the line “I’m coming home.” There has always been something immensely appealing in songs about heading home, and perhaps more so in the last couple of years than ever before. No matter which place is home in a particular song, we think of our own homes. Jackie Bristow sings, “Tennessee, I’m coming home,” but I’m thinking of Massachusetts. Mike Haynes is on both trumpet and flugelhorn, and Sam Levine plays saxophone on this track. Clayton Doley adds some really nice touches on organ.
On “Fool For You,” Jackie Bristow’s voice is supported by piano at the beginning. She sings “I know you love the intimacy,” and indeed we do. There is an intimate quality to her vocal work here that is engaging and appealing. Her voice then takes on an edge as she sings “You say it’s just a little bit of fun/You don’t want to hurt no one.” Nomad Ovunc is on piano. Then some pretty guitar work begins “California,” and the song just becomes more beautiful as it goes, with that pedal steel work by Drew Taubenfeld and that great blending of voices. There is something soothing about the sound of this song. “And we see a brighter shore/It’s up ahead, an open door.” That’s followed by “Surrender,” another track that gently grabs us, and includes some interesting backing vocal work, which is also done by Jackie Bristow. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “And I can’t control everything/Life has its ups and its downs/Oh, and we float down the river/Oh, let me surrender.” As she sings the appealing lines about floating down the river, her voice carries that sense. We can imagine her on a river, and her voice helps quiet our busy minds too, helps us let go, at least for the length of this wonderful song. Viktor Krauss joins her on upright bass, electric guitar and synthesizer for this one.
There is a positive bent to “Never Too Late,” as Jackie Bristow tells us “It’s never too late to start over.” Her voice might just provide the encouragement we need. Then as “Rockin’ Chair” begins, her vocals are supported by some nice work by Mark Collins on banjo. “There’s magic in the wind/It’s a gentle, peaceful feeling/Giving me some healing.” Ah yes, that is something we are all needing these days. Time is flying, and so many things seem to require our attention all at once, that what we really need is to take a break, set everything aside, at least for a time. To seat oneself on a rocking chair, breathe, and relax. Joe Davies adds to that relaxed vibe with some nice work on pedal steel. “Rockin’ Chair” is followed by “Wild Cat,” which begins with some good work on guitar. I also really like the percussion, which is part of the heart of this song. Thomas Gallatin is on drums and percussion. This track also features some gorgeous, seductive vocal work. “You’re my sweet romance/And you’re my lucky charm/The fire in my heart/You put me in a trance.” Mari Kreken and Tor Egil Kreken of Darling West provide backing vocals. The album concludes with “Easy Road,” which also mentions going home. “And I begged, borrowed and stole/Just to find my way back home.”
CD Track List
- Livin’ For Love
- Shakin’ My Bones
- Without You
- Outsider
- Tennessee You Call Me Home
- Fool For You
- California
- Surrender
- Never Too Late
- Rockin’ Chair
- Wild Cat
- Easy Road
Outsider is scheduled to be released on March 4, 2022 through Mesa Bluemoon Recordings.
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