Localized The Outfit

This debut EP from The Outfit shows that the band isn't shy about its influences; from the melancholic, four-on-the-floor swagger of Interpol to the breathy, lo-fi vocals of The Strokes to the melodic guitar work of Franz Ferdinand, all the modern rock staples are there. There’s a lot of fun to be had within these four songs—the sloppy hi-hats and precision bass combine for a wonderfully nervous energy on such tracks as “Towns”—but The Outfit relies too heavily on tired garage-rock revival anthems from nearly a decade ago. But maybe that’s the point: “You’ve got your new-wave voice / But they don’t care / You’ve got to change their minds,” sings vocalist Eric Johnston on “The Philistines,” as if he was encouraging his own musical recycling program. There are moments, though, that signal something more promising on the horizon. “Bricks” is easily the album’s most rewarding track with its spaghetti western intro, whip-smart punk riffs, and interweaving sections, including a devastating half-time jam. Johnston’s voice is clear and confident throughout the EP; the quartet a charming mess of unplanned noise. The Outfit ultimately sounds like (and is) a young band ready for the benefit of experience and more adventurous songwriting. More novice than a rip-off, The Outfit introduces itself as an up-and-coming group in search of a voice that just isn’t there yet. Grade: C+