First Impression: Shout Out Louds, Work

Work

Merge

Release date: Feb. 23

 

Tracklisting:

 

1. 1999

2. Fall Hard

3. Play The Game

4. Walls

5. The Candle Burned Out

6. Throwing Stones

7. Four By Four

8. Paper Moon

9. Show Me Something New

10. Too Late Too Show

 

First Impressions:

 

- Twinkling piano keys and a thumping bass line are the only apparent elements in the opening track “1999” which is a departure from their usual synth-laden sound. It’s a feel-good toe-tapper that’s complemented with playful lyrics, like the opening line, “I do remember, like a punch in the face/I’ve never felts so alive since 1999.”

 

- The next track, “Fall Hard,” demonstrates once again that these Swedes are quite good at making catchy tunes. Although simplified to just guitar melody, driving drum beat and muted horns as standouts, Adam Olenius declares: “If you fall hard, I’ll fall harder/If you’re gonna break, just let it break/I’ll pick up the pieces and mistakes.” Ladies, go ahead and swoon.

 

- “Show Me Something New” screams of Joy Division’s “Transmission,” like a monotonic repeating chorus and those sneaky 1-2, 1-2 beats. With the exception of Ian Curtis’ bleak outlook, Olineus proclaims he has “so much to live for.”

 

Key Tracks:

 

“Fall Hard,” “Throwing Stones,” “Paper Moon,” “Show Me Something New”

 

Predictions:

 

With their 2005 debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, The Shout Out Louds already established themselves as an indie-pop sensation. On Work, the synth-loving Swedes took a stripped down approach: They found no need to overly embellish their sound this time with the usual menu of organs, glock and accordian. Instead they focused on refining their sound and paired it with matter-of-fact lyrics—it’s a fresh departure, yet wonderfully uplifting.