I wasn’t sure what to expect when I pulled The Outside’s EP from its simple jacket sleeve (with minimalist, tongue-in-cheek cover). The next seventeen minutes plus, however, proved a blissful rock n’ roll listening experience. The New York-based band’s female vocalist, Tree, has great range, capable of belting out lyrics over crunching guitars one minute, then turning warm, seductive and soothing the next.

The Outside is in many ways similar to Kristen Hersh’s bands—Throwing Muses and Forty Foot Wave. They’re capable of playing the hardest core rockers or slower ballads with equal aplomb. The music is beautiful at every gain and distortion level. I’m really looking forward to future efforts.

Favorite Track 4, “The Perfect Way I Lost You ”