Outside Looking In

A self-released, self-produced debut from a 27-year-old Dublin singer/songwriter Outside Looking In contains 12 original songs.

Claiming strong Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher influences Murphy's sound is rooted in the mid-seventies with a hard-edged blues base at its heart.

With an impressive sounding voice reminiscent at times of T-Bone Burnett and no shortage of guitar chops (he plays all bass parts here as well), Murphy clearly has some kind of talent.

The songs aren't half bad either: 'Close To Dying' is a convincing rocker in the Thin Lizzy mode with a strong lyric to boot while 'I Don't Care About You' is a nifty shuffle worthy of any bar band. The country flavoured 'Said Goodbye Susanna' gives an even better hint of where Murphy's strengths may lie and suggests a possible way out of the dead end that is hard rock.

On the downside there is an overwhelming demo-tape, work-in-progress feel about the album which is probably down to the economics of DIY recording. The lack of original song titles, while unavoidable, is also hard to fathom. While you might get away with universal declarations such as 'Breakaway' (not the Gallagher & Lyle song) or 'Only You' (not the Platters hit) it can only serve to confuse when you title one of your songs 'Chelsea Morning' (certainly not the Joni Mitchell classic) or even 'The Joker' (again, not Steve Miller's version). An over use of effects such as the dreaded wah-wah pedal on 'Getting Stoned' is another minus which a half decent producer would put to rights.

With a little more imagination and a more generous budget Murphy could well come up with something more worthwhile in the future. But this will do for now.