One of music’s most electrifying entertainers and prolific songwriters, Eric Church, has finally set the date for his fourth studio album, the aptly titled, The Outsiders, for Feb. 11, 2014. The release is the follow-up to his CMA and ACM Album of the Year, Chief, which has gone on to sell over 1.5 million records and produce two No. 1 singles, “Drink In My Hand” and “Springsteen” and three Top 10 hits since its June 2011 release.
Church shared the news exclusively with Associated Press' Chris Talbott remarking, "I'm interested to see what people think about them. I always say the songs are mine till the moment we release them, then they’re the fans’ (songs). I’m very anxious. I have a lot of anxiety to see what people think about what we’ve done.”
Jay Joyce once again joins Church for production and songwriting collaborations. Church started writing for the release in 2012 while on his arena tour, Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour. Talbott notes, “Some of the most striking moments [on The Outsiders] would seem odd to your local program director. There’s a dark trilogy, for instance, that includes a dramatic recitation of the Shel Silverstein poem ‘The Devil and Billy Markham.’ ‘Roller Coaster Ride’ actually feels just like one. And album-closer, ‘The Joint,’ is an oddly affecting cross of Tom Waits and J.J. Cale.”
