Needtobreathe – CMT Campfire Sessions | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media

Drive All Night Records

Release Date: February 8th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Needtobreathe– CMT Campfire Sessions (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Washed By The Water
Brother
Great Night
Let’s Stay Home Tonight (feat. Alana Springsteen)
Banks
West Texas Wind
Wasting Time
Temporary Tears
The Outsiders

Currently right now one of the most popular and respected bands in both Christian and mainstream media markets (probably according to both listeners and critics; and alongside bands and artists such as Switchfoot, Owl City, Lifehouse, Relient K, for KING & COUNTRY, and Skillet!), Needtobreathe are a band whom I have increasingly been actively following and listening to over the past few years, and have been respecting more and more. Branching out and recording plenty of songs specifically directed to the mainstream media, the South Carolina quintet comprised of lead singer Bear Rinehart, and good friends Seth, Tyler, Randall and Josh; with the five having wowed us again and again with their honest lyrics, catchy music and southern rock goodness, also providing us with plenty of inspiring and thought-provoking messages to ponder over as well.

With their most successful and critically acclaimed full length studio album HARD LOVE around about 8 years old (you can read my review here!), the 12 track collection of pop rock goodness showed us once again what a force Bear and co. are right now, and how they’re definitely a band to be reckoned with both now and into the future. Providing us songs that compel us to dwell upon and ponder the deep issues of life, there were plenty of songs that personally impacted and spoke to me, such as “Wasteland”, “Multiplied”, “Brother”, “Testify”, “Hard Love”, “The Heart”, “Happiness” and “Difference Maker”.. Fast forward to 2023, and here we are, blessed with another Needtobreathe release. Since that time in 2016, Bear’s brother Bo has left the band, and we’ve also been fortunate to hear new projects from the group, inclusive of Hard Cuts: Songs from the Hard Love Sessions, Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions), and Acoustic Live Vol. 1. Three more studio albums eventuated (Out Of Body, Into The Mystery and CAVES), to much commercial and critical acclaim (all three are objectively and subjectively impressive in my own honest opinion, and Needtobreathe deserve all of the praise and accolades for these three albums alone!); but as we enter into 2024, the group have released a long-ish EP- a ‘live’ project called CMT Campfire Sessions. It’s not a fancy nor polished release, but rather a raw and acoustic, ‘rough-around-the-edges’ type of release. And it’s one that shows us that rock-n-roll and alternative music is still alive and well, and that Needtobreathe’s prowess as a band and an entertainer will last a long, long time… as long as they’re still making music, and I reckon that will be a long time as well!

CMT Campfire Sessions isn’t a greatest hits album- it’s only 9 songs. Now that you know, I guess many of you won’t be surprised to see a few hits, as well as a few more lesser-known songs. Also, this release isn’t like a ‘we’re such a big band, we can release our hits and our lesser known songs, and have it still sound fantastic, so aren’t we fantastic?’ type of egotistical thing. It’s more of a ode or tribute to the fans, and a live release for CMT (Country Music Television) to tie us over to the next studio album (Christmas album?); and so as we ruminate over these already inspiring and powerful lyrics of songs like “Washed By The Water”, “Brother”, “Temporary Tears”, “The Outsiders” and others; let us be in awe of probably one of the most underrated rock bands ever. Needtobreathe is influential, just like contemporaries Switchfoot and Skillet; and if you need proof, just take a listen to their discography. Their body of work stands up for itself, and this is only a snapshot of what Bear and co. have done, and can do! Well done guys, I can’t wait to hear what’s in store for you all next!