The Outlines - High on a Wire 7" (1987, Gusto!)

Singles. 45s. Good things come in small packages, right?  Well you hope anyway when you're just taking a chance on a 7" with an interesting picture sleeve.  Was holding out for greatness here, but settled for something half-way decent.  Prior to listening I expected The Outlines record might be something of a treat given its copyright date, and the fact it was a private indie pressing from a Georgia combo. Given the pedigree of indie bands that called Athens and Atlanta home, I thought a quartet from an another big Georgia "A" town, in this case Augusta, would be worth a shot. In any case, this foursome certainly didn't jangle like R.E.M. nor did they operate on the same creative tier as Pylon, but a subterranean ethos was still at play. "High on a Wire" is angsty, but economic post-punk, with a mean, angular riff permeating the entirety of it's two and a half minutes. The Outlines don't succeed as effectively on the less pent-up "No Idea," which suffers from underwritten lyrics and a lack of a discernible hook. It appears this single is all this band had to offer the world.  A few scant details regarding the Outlines and some other indie Augusta, GA hopefuls from the same era are available in the text blurb accompanying this YouTube clip.

A. High on a Wire
B. No Idea

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