Album Review: Patrick James ‘Outlier’

Pack up your bags for a moment, turn off your TV for a sec, and just take a walk with Patrick James. Leave your world for a few moments and lets go on a journey. Lose yourself in raw emotion and delicate ballads. Drift away with layered crescendos and then come back down to earth with a bit of a boogie to up-beat dance ‘rump-shakers’. ‘Outliers’ builds upon James’ musicianship and fleshes out every aspect that one man and his guitar/piano can imagine. A debut record that slipped under the 2015 radar, and we just couldn’t have it anymore.

In New Light bursts has you foot a-tappin’ or your head a-boppin’ from the get-go and smacks a smile on that dial of yours before you can say, “This sounds a little bit like Boy & Bear”. There are certainly undertones of the Sydney indie-rock crew in James’ marrying of husky vocals and folk crescendos that draw similarities between the two, which definitely isn’t a bad thing. Or maybe it’s just the moustache shared by the lead vocalists (which certainly isn’t a bad thing either)? With a powerful love story, drizzled with metaphor the lead single shows off quite darlingly, James’ ability to both write a catchy song, but also tug at your heartstrings.

These upbeat folk-rock numbers drive the record for the most part, and features a layering of instrumental sound that continues to surprise even after listening to it for the umpteenth time. James gives you glimpses into all aspects of his musicianship, and you can feel with each track that James has projected an artistic vision onto each track. There is an honesty that lies beneath each song and it’s a little humbling even to see, there’s a true singer songwriter at work here.

If we jump further down the track list, we’ll come across a few tracks that take a detour away from the folk-rock musings and pulls it back a notch. Kings and Queens leaves James in the raw, with no glitz and glamour to hide behind. It’s his delicate voice, a simplistic piano ballad and your judging ears. “Somewhere deep inside, your love just sits in me,” is a simple taste of the emotion that fills James’ pen. A vulnerable moment shared with listeners, showing off his talent in a whole new light; proving that even in the most vulnerable of moments, James doesn’t falter, not even once. P.S. if this type of track is your jam, then do yourself a goddamn favour and watch out for Interlude as well. P.P.S. Bring a box of tissues.

The crescendoed goodness that drives most of the album continues to shine with tracks like So Grand and Make Me Stronger, but Bugs definitely takes the cake, and is 100 per cent this writer’s pick for the record. Opening with acoustic guitar and that husky vocals we guarantee you’ve fallen in love with by now, the track builds and builds on top of itself, adding a light synth, drizzling electric guitar on top and then climaxes to something magical. 10/10 on this on James.

The record is filled with some serendipitous surprises that is necessary in a debut record. Patrick James has not only created a musically impressive record, but a collection of songs that hits everything you could possibly need in an album. Upbeat opener? Check. Ballads to shake up the mood? Check. Heartrechning lyrics? Check. Almost kinda pop number but not really pop number but still easily danceable? Check. Outro that leaves you wanting more? Check.

His debut record ‘Outliers’ is definitely a feat and Patrick James shines on all occasions. A melange of tracks that make you jolt your head upright like a heavily caffeinated meerkat, as the singer songwriter combines his beautifully penned lyricism and genuinely beautiful musicianship that takes only one listen to win you over. With a national album tour that kicks off in February, right now is the perfect time to sink your teeth into the record and buy some tickets; something we couldn’t recommend enough.

PATRICK JAMES ‘OUTLIER’ NATIONAL TOUR

FRI 19 FEB

THE FOUNDRY, BRISBANE QLD
THU 25 FEB

WORKERS CLUB, GEELONG VIC
FRI 26 FEB

HOWLER, MELBOURNE VIC
SAT 27 FEB

ANITA’S THEATRE, THIRROUL NSW*
FRI 4 MAR

THE BASEMENT, SYDNEY NSW
SAT 5 MAR

TRANSIT BAR, CANBERRA ACT
SAT 12 MAR

LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE NSW (ALL AGES)
FRI 18 MAR

PIRIE & CO SOCIAL CLUB, ADELAIDE SA
SAT 19 MAR

JIMMY’S DEN, PERTH WA