Broken West Wishbone Test

The Oufit’s debut full-length album, Broken West Wishbone Test, is an all-out rock ’n’ roll party. From the undeniable “Strange Bones,” which seems destined for college radio stations nationwide, to the slow burn of closer “Out Of The City,” this debut might turn some heads even outside of the local scene.

Bringing together high-energy punk rhythms and guitars with vocalist Eric Johnston’s baritone crooning—similar to that of The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas—The Outfit has some solid rock chops and just enough pop panache to make its music accessible to a mass audience. The band plants its feet firmly with the first four tracks, which are sizzling with attitude and action. Where The Outfit really seems to shine is on the slower tracks like “Old Riot,” or on the built-up explosiveness of “Cold” where Johnston brings a little falsetto to the party.

Broken West Wishbone Test has hooks, solid beats, and surprises enough to keep anyone interested. (See the tinge of slide guitar on the Old West ballad “Black Horses” for one example.) Despite a few filler tracks, The Outfit has put out a solid collection of tunes with some great production to boot. While it might not end up on any of this year’s best-of lists, BWWT is just about as strong a debut as anyone could hope for from one of Denver’s up-and-coming bands.