Reviewed by Ian Webber

This young three piece outfit from San Diego are full of variety, painting a surprisingly broad musical picture. 180 Out are far from your typical pop punk group, mixing together a whole range of influences that include ska, rockabilly and funk to achieve their end sound. Each track is upbeat and bouncy, but the overall feel of the music is slightly dated. Simple song structures are played well throughout with a solid bass line and some well matched vocals. The standout track is the rhythm and blues number "My God Is Bigger" with its sing along chorus. "He Wants To Know You" shows promise as a worship song but its reliance on an over repeated phrase tires quickly. In fact I found the lyrics on most tracks simplistic and full of Christian clichés, which grated after a while. There is a satisfying unsophisticated raw edge that provides energy and attitude and I can imagine that 180 Out would be an enjoyable live band to catch in a hot and claustrophobic club. Sadly, 'Black And White' demonstrates that the band need to add stronger lyric writing to deliver a satisfying album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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