Gun Outfit - "Dream All Over"

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There is a growing trend in indie music, especially indie-folk, for bands to have co-lead singers and songwriters, often involving one woman and one man. But then there are bands just choose to have multiple singers and songwriters, regardless of gender, and allow each individual to share their songs. The Drive-by Truckers, Sleater-Kinney, and Sloan are some of the bands that apply this classic formation.

Gun Outfit have also long applied to this approach, although you likely have not heard of them until now. Formed roughly eight years ago, Gun Outfit are one of Los Angeles’ underrated and under-the-radar bands. Part of their lack of recognition could be the fact that their music isn’t what you generally associate with the City of Angels. It isn’t the lush sounds of ’70s music scene nor electronic or pop-based. It isn’t the romanticized indie-folk being churned out by many of the city’s rising bands or rap or hip hop of the West Coast.

Instead, as heard on their terrific new album, Dream All Over, Gun Outfit are creating what could be best described as a cool, desert rock ‘n roll. It’s a mix of lo-fi rock, the sensibilities of the West Coast indie-rock scene, the lushness of Laurel Canyon-era folk-rock, and the southern rock that The Drive-By Truckers are synonymous with. The album is a meandering but wonderful journey through a maze of experiences and sonicscapes.

The album starts off the jangly, trippy rocker, “Gotta Wanna”, a wonderful introduction to the band’s multi-faceted sound and the chemistry between co-front persons Carrie Keith and Dylan Sharp. The kaleidoscope rocker, “Matters to a Head”, which is punctuated by Sharp’s balalaika and biting lyrics, is a track that sounds like George Harrison has been reincarnated. Gun Outfit can also create great southern rockers, like on the dark and guttural “Scorpio Vegas” and the melodic “Pass on Through”.

Then there is the stunning “Blue Hour”, a wonderfully warm pop track that you could put endlessly on repeat during a lengthy road trip. While Keith’s vocals are light and airy in a Liz Phair manner, the song echoes of another underappreciated band, Toad the Wet Sprocket. That same lushness is heard on the dazzling “Legends of My Own” and heart-breaking ballad “Angelino”. “Worldly Way”, likewise, is a hypnotic track – in more ways than one. The psychedelic track with the Middle Eastern flair is mind-blowing delirious and one of the trippiest songs released this year.

Dream All Over is a grower of an album. With each listen, you get sucked in a little bit more. And like a great wine, it’ll only get better and better with age. Gun Outfit truly have created an album that will age well – that is timeless.

Gun Outfit are Carrie Keith (guitar, vocals, slide); Dylan Sharp (guitar, vocals, banjo, balalaika); Daniel Swire (drums, percussion); and Adam Payne (bass).

Dream All Over is out now via Paradise of Bachelors. Purchase it at the label’s store, iTunes (US|CA|GB), Amazon (US|CA|GB), and eMusic.

Website – www.gunoutfit.us
Facebook – Gun Outfit
Instagram – @gunoutfit

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