Southern Rock has always been a big hit for me with how many bands came out of the movement in the 70's. They all managed to sound different from one another as well. Groups like Molly Hatchet, Skynyrd, Black Oak Arkansas and of course today's band, The Outlaws. These guys have always hit hard with some of the best guitar oriented rock tunes to come out of Florida. The three guitar attack they have was always a draw to me and how they always blended that country twang perfect into their songs. "Dixie Highway" is their first album in quite awhile and almost plays like a retrospective to their past in a good way.
Opening cut "Southern Rock Will Never Die" is a staple playing as a tribute to the bands past and their peers name dropping Southern rock icons who have passed on. It is a really catchy track with some good lyrics as well. Next up is "Heavenly Blues" which is an older Outlaws tune brought into the modern day and is just as fresh as the first time I heard the original. The title track comes next with some really bad ass harmonizing leads and a catchy as all hell chorus. This tune especially really hits hard and shows that the Southern Rock sound has never died, it just got drunk and fell asleep for a little while. Up next on this dirt road is "Over Night from Athens" which is full of harmonizing leads and that heavy country feeling throughout. These are the tunes I always felt the Outlaws did best because they really show off the super melodic side of the band. "Endless Ride" is a more mellow tune but just as good with a lot of heart to it and a very bombastic ending in true Southern jam band style. This album definitely keeps up with its consistency where songs that lean less off the hard rock edge still have a big hook to them. These tunes really feel like you're being transported back to the mid 70's and that's almost what the band does with some songs reflecting on their past a lot."Dark Horse Run" is another absolutely great song with a high energy ending as well. It goes for the more acoustic tone but balanced well with some good vocal harmonies. Probably the most straight forward rocker on the album "Rattle Snake Road" still packs a punch with some good riffs combined with another catchy hook. Personally even seven tracks in this album qualifies as one of my favorites for the year but it gets better with the last few songs in the form of the instrumental "Showdown", the awesome "Lonesome Boy from Dixie" and the final one-two punch of "Windy City's Blue" and the great titled "Macon Memories".
Overall, this album shows that Southern Rock sound alive and well with the Outlaws riding high once again. With an amazing collection of tunes here that are very memorable in their own rights, the band definitely hit a stride with an album that will be high on my favorites this year. I hope that this can get a new generation talking about the rock n roll Guitar slingers that are the Outlaws for many more years down the road!
8/10
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