Outward Bound (Sonny Landreth album)

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Outward Bound
Studio album by
Released1992
LabelZoo Entertainment[1]
ProducerR.S. Field, Sonny Landreth
Sonny Landreth chronology
Way Down in Louisiana
(1985)
Outward Bound
(1992)
South of I-10
(1995)

Outward Bound is an album by the American musician Sonny Landreth, released in 1992.[2][3] Landreth supported the album by playing the Montreal International Jazz Festival.[4]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by R.S. Field and Landreth.[5][6] Landreth worked on Outward Bound for two years.[7] Sue Medley contributed backing vocals to "Bad Weather".[8] Members of the Goners, the backing band that worked on some of John Hiatt's albums and of which Landreth was a member, played on the album; Hiatt appeared on two songs.[9][10] "Yokamoma" is an instrumental track.[11] "New Landlord" is about an addiction to gambling.[12]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Chicago Tribune[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]
Entertainment WeeklyB[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[5]

Entertainment Weekly praised Landreth's "snowflakes-in-the-swamp trail mix of bayou blues and Boulder boogie."[14] Stereo Review noted that, "even when Landreth's voice is defeated by the melodrama or piety of his songs, he can always let his fingers do the talking."[15] The Ottawa Citizen concluded that, "in the world of slide guitar players, Landreth belongs right up there with the late Duane Allman, Robert Johnson and Lowell George."[16]

Rolling Stone noted that R.S. Field "has a knack for revitalizing traditional elements with a spark beyond musical nostalgia."[17] The Orlando Sentinel thought that "Landreth isn't an outstanding lyricist, but his words have an appealing simplicity and frankness and his mild voice is well-suited to the material."[8] The Washington Post said that "the revelation comes in hearing all of the crafty and evocative tunes Landreth has composed for the album and how they tailor-fit his light, tuneful tenor voice."[18] The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph listed the album as the 11th best of 1992.[19] The Milwaukee Sentinel listed Outward Bound among the 25 best albums of 1992.[20]

AllMusic wrote that "Landreth's playing sizzles and slashes... There's lots of space where what isn't played is just as important as what is."[13]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Soldier of Fortune" 
2."Back to Bayou Têche" 
3."When You're Away" 
4."Sacred Ground" 
5."New Landlord" 
6."Speak of the Devil" 
7."Yokamoma" 
8."Planet Cannonball" 
9."Common Law Love" 
10."Bad Weather" 
11."Outward Bound" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sonny Landreth". Live Sessions. National Public Radio. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Sonny Landreth Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Tearson, Michael (Nov 1992). "Rock/pop recordings — Outward Bound by Sonny Landreth". Audio. Vol. 76, no. 11. p. 120.
  4. ^ Lepage, Mark (2 July 1992). "Guitar whiz Landreth's mojo is working". The Gazette. p. C6.
  5. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 655.
  6. ^ "Album Reviews — Outward Bound by Sonny Landreth". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 28. Jul 11, 1992. p. 46.
  7. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 80.
  8. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (28 August 1992). "Sonny Landreth". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
  9. ^ a b Rothschild, David (1 October 1992). "Rave recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  10. ^ McLeese, Don (16 July 1992). "Musical rebirth works for singers". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 5.
  11. ^ Burliuk, Greg (9 July 1992). "Blasts from the Past". Entertainment. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  12. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (7 October 1992). "Bound to be a Success". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 40.
  13. ^ a b "Sonny Landreth Outward Bound". AllMusic.
  14. ^ a b "Outward Bound". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ "Popular Music — Outward Bound by Sonny Landreth". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 11. Nov 1992. p. 134.
  16. ^ Saxberg, Lynn (2 July 1992). "Slide guitar master goes solo". Ottawa Citizen. p. E2.
  17. ^ McLeese, Don (August 20, 1992). "Country & Western". Rolling Stone. No. 637. p. 53.
  18. ^ Joyce, Mike (2 September 1992). "Recordings". The Washington Post. p. C7.
  19. ^ Asakawa, Gil (1 Jan 1993). "The best CDs of the year weren't by superstar acts". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D1.
  20. ^ "Music in 1992: Grunge, grits, gentler rap". Milwaukee Sentinel. 1 January 1993. p. 13D.