Eric Church hits stores and all online retailers with his latest album, The Outsiders, on Tuesday (February 11th). Produced by Jay Joyce, his fourth studio collection features his latest hit, “Give Me Back My Hometown,” as well as the title track and much more.

The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s 2011 album, Chief, which has sold 1.5 million copies so far and produced five hit singles, two of which hit No. 1 (“Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen”).

Eric says he made a “conscious effort” to challenge himself on this new project. “We were at a point in our career where I understand that we had two choices. I could’ve continued to do what ‘Drink in My Hand,’ ‘Springsteen,’ ‘Creepin’,’ I know how to do those things,” says Eric. “I know how to continue the career that way. I think we made a conscious effort to challenge ourselves artistically and to do something…that was artistic. That’s what we did…That’s what we chose on this album. We made it that way.”

Eric Church (conscious effort to challenge himself) OC: …it that way. :28
“We made a conscious effort when we started this album, we were at a point in our career where I understand that we had two choices. I could’ve continued to do what ‘Drink in My Hand,’ ‘Springsteen,’ ‘Creepin’,’ I know how to do those things. I know how to continue the career that way. I think we made a conscious effort to challenge ourselves artistically and to do something…that was artistic. That’s what we did…That’s what we chose on this album. We made it that way.”

Eric Church (played most of guitar) OC: …it’s different. :12
“Jay and I probably played, I know Jay did, but I mean, I did too, we played most of the guitar work on the album, and that’s never happened before, ever, and I think it sets it up as a different vibe and a different feel. Sonically, it’s different.”