Needtobreathe
H A R D L O V E

Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Have you ever heard of the saying, "never lose true sight of who you are"? That couldn't ring more true than it ever has for South Carolina band NEEDTOBREATHE in the last decade, the vigorous and daunting quarry that has become renowned for their heavy touring that they've set conquest with, and for their rustic, gauging and dynamic Christian rock sound that's been relative to their Southern roots over their last five albums. Even more dumbfounding is the freedom they've been given to offer up their exotic, sonic sound under the firm command of Atlantic Records in that decade plus - considering the restrictive and otherwise overwhelming control that is existent in many of the major labels on mainstream artists these days that results in less-than-appealing music. The pressures of being under such a prestigious and renowned brand hasn't phased the band one iota, and it showed spectacularly in their woodsy, naturalistic setting "Rivers In The Wasteland", an interesting localized twist that further magnified their popularity as boundless. A leading change did take charge however within this band, as they started to finalize and complete their latest road-trip in their new musical excursion. Led by brothers Bear and Bryant Rinehart, they've taken another leap forward across the highway with their personal, poppy yet "true to who they are" road-trip "H A R D L O V E" as they continue to stride along with their signature, scented sounds whilst catering a little bit to the masses with some little changes, that works still to their advantage as a refreshing avenue away from their already-distinctive formula.

The critical vantage points that had propelled them highest with their last watery, serene outing "Rivers In The Wasteland" was how they were able to alternate sonically without having to fully compromise it entirely as a whole, making significant but not completely transformative to who they've been as a band. That alternative change-up is immediately christened once again in their sonical, vast pop-rock anthem "Hard Love", touching on the harsh reality of a difficult romance that Bear fights to save through his accented, vividly emotive vocals under dusty, kaleidoscopic synths, clamping drums, and an empowering choir that further fronts the struggle of holding on. Aided with strong, shouting lines like "what won't kill you will make you stronger/get back up/cuz it's a hard love" that is conveyed throughly with damning conviction, it is definitely their most mainstream-like, manufactured piece to date but having been done in an enjoyable, fun fashion helps void itself of the lame, watered down vitality that it could've been plastered with as its done with most radio-prepared singles. It's also a sweet, cool refresher as its really one of the limited few that repels itself from the signature NEEDTOBREATHE sound that we are used to: bluesy, lushly rock and roll with a tad of grilled country on the side. That bluesy sound returns in ultraviolet form in the trumpet-filled, sunny "MONEY & FAME", a contradicting, rebellious Southern ode that speaks to the consequences of the glitz and glamour of stardom. Underneath patriotic, soulful trumpets and slow, mellow drums that match the positive, sun-bathed atmosphere it surrounds itself in, this is simply a classic showcase of their signature formula that's fitted and worked so well to their advantage for the decade plus they've been around, aided with powerful, get-back-up lines like "money and fame/bring a man shame/ain't no doubt about it" that signify it's rebellious tone. It makes you literally feel like you're traversing and vacationing throughout the Carolinas and otherwise. It's as pure Southern-like of a country/rock song as you could ever get.

The advancement towards more modernized pop-rock does boggle it down a little bit, as it feels like they're needing to cater a little more to a much wider audience by placing in awkward, melodically cringeworthy day-trips like the rising, murky "WHEN I SING". Occupied underneath a generic, basic guitar line with unfelt background vocals clouding around the grungy, hazy inspiration anthem, and littered with emotionless, weird lyricism like "when I sing this is just my way/to tell me that I need you" - this is undoubtedly one of the band's lamest and quite uninspiring excursions to date, feeling like the saying of "never lose true sight of who you are" is starting to dissipate right before your eyes. But it doesn't really signify it in any permanent circumstance, being a slight bump on the road off another one of NEEDTOBREATHE's best musical vacations to date. That is established once again with the sunset, neon "BE HERE LONG", a somber, romantic synth-fest that is immersed fully itself inside summery, peachy synths and up-pace drums that feel as if you're perched beside your loved one on the California beach on a ultraviolet sunset falling down and the stars are glowing in the glistening night sky, completing the cross-country road trip in beautiful fashion. It is able to reaffirm the fact that they can alternate their bluesy, grassy sound to match up a bit with the likes of the usual alternative pop artists that are crashing the scene. Aside from the per usual change to give some catering to the masses to, which is a case of mostly hits, NEEDTOBREATHE's latest road trip with "H A R D L O V E" is certainly one worth taking up for and traveling all across the country with, brimming away with emotive jams that will give you all the feels all over the spectrum, as it wishes to do such. It may be a tough pill to swallow to see them take up the poppy, more modern change in some of that sound, but they do it so seamlessly and transition back to their original formula so well without breaking a sweat, that it makes you ask, "why does it even matter"? It doesn't at all in this case, and as Bear rings out in the sparkling "BE HERE LONG" with the line, "we've found the promised land", man did they really find it.

Tweet

Recent reviews by this author
Logic Bobby Tarantino III	DMX Exodus
Nas King’s Disease	Logic No Pressure
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon	Raleigh Ritchie Andy

user ratings (43)

rate it Awful - 1 Very Poor - 1.5 Poor - 2 Average - 2.5 Good - 3 Great - 3.5 Excellent - 4 Superb - 4.5 Classic - 5

2.8 good