Elsewhere, PopMatters manages to muster a bit more enthusiasm for the Shout Out Louds and the "Tonight I have to leave it" EP: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/shout-out-louds-tonight-i-have-to-leave-it-ep/

This week's It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Shout Out Louds
02. Feist
03. The Arcade Fire
04. Laakso
05. Death Cab for Cutie
06. Justice
07. The Smiths
08. The White Stripes
09. Modest Mouse
10. Of Montreal

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Shout Out Louds
Our ill wills
Bud Fox Recordings/Merge

It's finally here: the Shout Out Louds second album. I was wondering when the band would stop touring and record and last fall they entered the studio with Björn Yttling. In contrast to their debut album "Howl howl gaff gaff", where I thought the production overshadowed the both the songwriting and performance, everything is hit in stride and the songwriting has grown up a bit. With the single "Tonight I have to leave it" invading clubs and venues worldwide, the album is being set up to be one of the biggest indie releases of the year. Standout tracks such as "You are dreaming", "Normandie", "Time left for love" and "Blue headlights" (keyboardist Bebban Stenborg's singing debut) really connect with the listener, with both strong hooks and great lyrics. The album closes out in style with "Hard rain", a track that is most akin to "Howl howl gaff gaff" in feel, but not overpowered by production. Instead the production values allow the song to breathe and unfold before your ears. Although I thought the band should have gotten better known with their debut, this record surely will; and has been one of the records I have listened to the most so far this year.
- Matt Giordano

MP3: Shout Out Louds - Tonight I have to leave it

It's true: the new Shout Out Louds record "Our ill wills" sounds a lot like The Cure. A lot. Trouble is, I've never been much of a Cure fan, hence I'm not that into it. It's fine for what it is, I guess. It doesn't provoke any strong reactions, the worst I can say is that I'm indifferent. However, there are still a few standout tracks - opening number and lead single "Tonight I have to leave it" is by far the best, but I also can get behind "You are dreaming" and especially the closer "Hard rain". In fact, I was strongly considering posting the latter but I don't want to bother with any of the C&D BS that comes with posting unauthorized tracks from a high-profile release. Like the other high points, the sound is very much influenced by producer Björn Yttling, especially in terms of percussion. "Tonight..." gets steel drums (I think?) and "Hard rain" has what sounds to me like pitched cowbells. They're subtle, but it makes a big difference. It's those little things that make Björn such a sought-after talent. I'm also a big fan of that nostalgic vibe I get from the song. "The words came like a hard rain / And your smile changed like a hurricane / Your breath smells like cardamom / And the words came like a hard rain" It's the incorporation of smell that gets me. Indian spices are just that vivid.

Shout Out Louds - Tonight I have to leave it

This week's It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Feist
02. Belle and Sebastian
03. Björk
04. The Arcade Fire
05. Architecture in Helsinki
06. Shout Out Louds
07. Sufjan Stevens
08. The Cure
09. Bright Eyes
10. Interpol

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Listmania! 2007 so far

MP3: Closer - Sensing the wake

We're six months into 2007 and our halftime reports are now posted. There's been a good number of strong releases so far this year, Säkert! being a collective favorite and others such as Laakso, Shout Out Louds, Isolation Years, Aerial and Familjen making multiple lists. Whittling our individual picks to three each can be difficult, but I think it forces us to be more decisive and discerning.
One act that didn't make by list, but surely deserves a place is Closer. Problem is, their new EP "The 39" isn't officially released yet and I didn't want to be all, "this is the year's best record and no, you can't hear it." Actually, I did play the track "Sensing the wake" on my radio show a couple times, but I really have no idea how many people heard it. Well, those problems are now a thing of the past as the kind dudes of Closer have decided to let me offer up "Sensing the wake" as a free download. Still no word on an official release, but it'll come - just wait.
For those that have missed my description of the band in the past, Closer plays what I can only describe as intelligent rock music. It's heavy and dark, but not exactl metal and it has the intensity of hardcore without being, y'know, hardcore. The musicianship is stellar as well, but never too showy. Fellow musicians will pick up on it, but there's no conspicuous solos or anything else to draw attention to it. Thematically, the EP is a concept piece along the same lines of "Tokpela", their debut. This time, it's based on a linear story centered around a single person and a series of events. Various similar motifs are repeated throughout the record, tying it together as a whole. Vocalist Joachim Dahlberg describes "Sensing the wake" as part one, "where the sensing part is actually just the saxophone intro, the calm before the storm." Beyond that, you're on your own. Closer loves to be mysterious and is happy to let you draw your own conclusions.

Closer - Sensing the wake

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand by for...
02. Oh Laura - A song inside my head, a demon in my bed
03. Svenska Akademien - Gör det ändå
04. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
05. Mustasch - Latest version of the truth
06. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
07. Takida - Bury the lies
08. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
09. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
10. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
11. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
12. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
14. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
15. The Tough Alliance - A new chance
16. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
17. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
18. Sonata Arctica - Unia
19. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
20. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation

This week's It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Shout Out Louds
02. The Arcade Fire
03. Arctic Monkeys
04. Björk
05. Of Montreal
06. The National
07. Feist
08. The Tough Alliance
09. Modest Mouse
10. Radiohead

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Live report: Loney, Dear, Shout Out Louds + Maia Hirasawa @ ICA, London UK 05/24/07

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Takida - Bury the lies
02. Mustasch - Latest version of the truth
03. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
04. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
05. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
06. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
07. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
08. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
09. The Tough Alliance - A new chance
10. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation
11. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
12. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
14. Jimmy Jansson - Sån e jag
15. Sonic Syndicate - Only inhuman
16. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
17. The Boppers - 30
18. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
19. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
20. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am

This week's It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Shout Out Louds
02. Bright Eyes
03. Feist
04. Bloc Party
05. Arctic Monkeys
06. Björk
07. Radiohead
08. The Arcade Fire
09. Laakso
10. The Beatles

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
02. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
03. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
04. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
05. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
06. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation
07. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
08. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
09. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
10. Marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
11. Markoolio - Värsta Plattan
12. The Boppers - 30
14. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
15. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
16. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
17. Mr Jones Machine - Återvändsgränd
18. Jerry Williams - I can jive - Det bästa med Jerry Williams
19. Laleh - Prinsessor
20. Emilia - Små ord av kärlek

Shout Out Louds
Live @ Herrgårn, Linköping, 05/03/07

What is there to say about Shout Out Louds that hasn't already been said? Most of you people already know that their career skyrocketed shortly after the release of the "Howl howl gaff gaff" album in 2003. The record did well in Sweden and parts of Europe, but it was in the States that things started to happen. A record deal with Capitol opened a lot of doors (followed by appearances on both Letterman and Jay Leno). But that was then and this is now. Armed with new popish material, Shout Out Louds are once again back on the quest to rule the world. A quest they just might succeed with, Herrgårn in Linköping is totally packed this evening. People really want to see one of Sweden's hottest bands at this moment, that's for sure. If anyone in the band feels nervous or any kind of pressure of once again playing in front of a Swedish audience, they certainly don't show it. Shout Out Louds perform with all the experience and professionalism they could ever muster. Every song is delivered with such confidence and honesty that I lose all defences. This is the band to see this year. The songs on the new album, "Our ill wills" differ quite a lot from the previous album, but in a good way. Call it development if you want. Where "Howl howl gaff gaff" was all about simplicity, the songs from "Our ill wills" show off a band with a fascination the late 80's, especially the British new wave music (The Cure, Joy Division, etc.). "Impossible" will be the song that brings back sunshine into your heart.
- Christian Stenbacke

Danish label At:tack Music is starting up a new Nordic division and will be handling Danish releases for a large number of high profile acts including Shout Out Louds, The Ark, The Radio Dept., National Bank, Lionheart Brothers and more as well as homegrown acts such as Medina, As In RebekkaMaria and The Gypsies. If you can read Danish, check the press release: http://www.attackmusic.dk/news.php?nyhed=264