Outlaw Nation

Blood Money

Stoopid Records

(Outlaw Nation MySpace)

Outlaw Nation granted The Pier with an amazing exclusive a couple of months ago by allowing us to leak the MP3 of the first single, Pretty Girls, from the band’s new album Blood Money.

Pretty Girls was heavy on the horn synths and keys, and possessed one of the most danceable reggae beats heard this side of the Caribbean. Blood Money, the band’s first release on Slightly Stoopid’s record label, follows this first taste very closely.

This Blood Money sound is a new one for Outlaw Nation and one that maintains consistent throughout its entirety. It’s a sweaty mix of abrupt horn melodies, bouncy keys and dirty grooves, providing vocalist Christian Simeon with the perfect foundation to croon over with some memorable flows.

Rays of sunshine beam with each track especially on the joyous Here We Go and the carefree Dem Fire Burn. Then there is the solid vintage reggae grooves on the brilliant Babylon by Night and Grow. The weed anthem Smoked Out! has one of the crusiest beats here, complete with RnB type vocals in the chorus. The only real change of pace on Blood Money comes from the more familiar sounding Outlaw Nation on the chill album closer Goodbye.

What would be a Stoopid Records release without a guest appearance from someone in Slightly Stoopid? Kyle McDonald pops up towards the end by contributing a dubbed out verse on the excellent Graverobbers.

Blood Money was recorded down south in New Orleans and you can hear the party influence in the raw, sweat-drenched, sexy grooves on each track. I am interested to see these songs translate in a live setting, cause they would sure make for a hell of a fun time. As stated by the band itself Outlaw Nation is here to shake up the nation!

Reviewed by Pilipo

Blood Money is set to be released on March 13.

Official Tracklist

1. Blood Money Intro featuring Habimana

2. Rise Up

3. Babylon By Night

4. Dem Fire Burn

5. Grow

6. Blood Money

7. Pretty Girls

8. Babylon is Falling

9. Here We Go

10. Jah Nah Dead

11. Mental Oppression

12. Smoked out!

13. They Don't Know

14. Earthquake

15. Graverobbers featuring Kyle McDonald

16. Goodbye