Music CD - Shout Out Louds: Our Ill Wills

	Music CD: Our Ill Wills Artist: Shout Out Louds List Price: $14.98 Our Price: $9.25 Your Save: $ 5.73 ( 38% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Merge Records
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Tracks: 1. Tonight I Have To Leave It 2. Parents Livingroom 3. You Are Dreaming 4. Suit Yourself 5. Blue Headlights 6. Impossible 7. Normandie 8. South America 9. Ill Wills 10. Time Left For Love 11. Meat Is Murder 12. Hard Rain
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0673855031026 Label: Merge Records Manufacturer: Merge Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Merge Records Release Date: 2007-09-11 Studio: Merge Records
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Great Comment: I don't think I have to say much. To me, this felt like a continuation of Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff. I felt like the first song was a continuation of "Seagull" on the last album. This album seems so much more "grown up" though. Musically and lyrically speaking. Although I don't think the band really matured, it just seems more grown up. I personally think there is a difference. Anyway, to me it sounds more cohesive. ANd I think the female back up vocals were a great attribution to the cd. I love this cd. There really is nothing to say. I honestly think if you like the last album, you'd like this one. There are some influences from the CUre, but SOL's are so much more consistant and the totally different. I like the CUre but these guys are quite more creative and refreshing. NUFF SAID. Customer Rating: Summary: Definitely influenced, but a decent album... Comment: You can hear the influence of The Cure in the vocals (and some of the music for that matter) but that's not necessarily a bad thing for me. I agree that this isn't very original but it's a good sound, nonetheless. If you like Rogue Wave and/ or Vampire Weekend you'll like these guys. I'll give this Swedish group credit for a nice album. Matt Zarnstorff Customer Rating: Summary: Head on the Door, Meet Johnny Marr Comment: I found the first single to this band posted to an MP3 blog, and after seeing them compared to "Head on the Door" era Cure, I couldn't resist giving them a whirl. When I did, I was completely floored. Yes, it reminded me instantly of the Head on the Door and In Between Days. But I absolutely *love* those songs, and as I continued listening, I heard so much more to love than that. The guitar had clearly been influenced by Johnny Marr from his classic Smiths period. The voice was wonderful--definitely Robert Smith-y, but despite all these rather obvious influences, the whole was delivered as a perfect pop confection, somehow making all the influences work as something original and purely delightful. The songwriting is strong; they have almost immediately established a pipeline straight to the heart of 80's era college angst while covering it in Neo-Romantic hipness. If any of this influence business sounds at all intriguing to you, let me make it easy for you. Just order this album. You won't be sorry. It is fabulous, fun, breezy, poppy and just plain enjoyable. Definitely a keeper, and I look forward to more from these folks. Customer Rating: Summary: Lovely Comment: I'm not one for comparisions. I like what I like. If I find two or more acts that have similar sounds, I'm glad. That's a good thing. It just means there's more to love. And I happen to love Shout Out Louds. I bought Howl Howl Gaff Gaff and fell in love with their glorious pop along with the wondefully quirky addition of the xylophone. Their new record is a bit more grown up, like kid who's gone out seen some things. But it still feels young and fresh. This is the music of my teenage years, whistful, romantic, hopeless one minute and hopeful the next. One of my particular favorites is 'Meat is Murder.' It really sounds like it's just Adam and his guitar. There's a nakedness,a trepidation about how he tells you some of the things he's been going through and the way that he's continually making sure he isn't saying too much. It feels very real. So, this is an album I would encourage you to buy. It is a wonderful addition to any collection. I haven't said too much have I? Customer Rating: Summary: Throughly enjoyable Comment: If you don't like the fact that most pop music is recycled, you will not like this album (see various 1 and 2-star reviews here). If you like musicians who can take music that you/they love, tweak it a little and make it sound fresh, you will like this album. I love the Cure and when I first heard the opening cut on this album (Tonight I Have to Leave It), a big grin spread across my face. Sure it sounds like In Between Days, but so what? They have taken a 22-year-old song, changed the words and a few notes, and presto! A great "new" song. Anyway, there is plenty of nice stuff here that doesn't sound Curish. In fact as 2007 winds down, I can't think of any album that came out this year that I like better. You can lump this band with The Killers, Interpol, etc., who have all taken great music from bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, and, yes, The Cure, revamped it and made some great new music. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: In a sense, after a slew of EPs, singles, and 2005's Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (the U.S. version of which was reorganized and augmented with various tracks from said EPs and singles), this is Shout Out Louds' first proper full-length, and the incessant touring seems to have aged their sound like a fine wine. While Howl Howl Gaff Gaff reaped much of its flavor from twee indie pop and sheer ebullience, Our Ill Wills dives headlong into the new wave influences that previously lay beneath the surface. The inspiration is immediately apparent--Brit classics like The Cure, The Modern Lovers, The Smiths (one song--not a cover--is even titled "Meat is Murder"), et al. OK, the accent's different, but the upbeat-but-melancholy hop is undeniable. The pop perfection here is due in no small part to the man behind the boards, Björn Yttling (he of the sandwich-acronymed Peter, Björn and John). Simple string arrangements and washes of texture are draped over each song. Percussion by Yttling's bandmate, John Eriksson, perfectly augments most songs (further solidifying those Head on the Door era Cure comparisons). Witness the woodpecker woodblocks on "Impossible," or the the samba-esque a gogo bells of the first single, "Tonight I Have to Leave It," cleverly decorating its dour sing-song. "You Are Dreaming" is a slinky, tom-driven, lost-love rocker. Later in the album, playful but gut-wrenching naïve pop songs recall Moe Tucker's vocal on the Velvet Underground's "I'm Sticking with You," like "Blue Headlights," with keyboardist Bebban's cracking question, "We are good people, aren't we?," and "Meat is Murder," a simple tearjerker with acoustic guitar, bells, and Adam Olenius' wistful tale. "Hard Rain" closes the album, its Cars keyboard lead no indicator of the upcoming noise jam to complete the album. Say what you will about influences on sleeves, this is pop music at its best: nostalgic and angst-ridden, but ultimately life-affirming. Shout Out Louds have found a winning formula. --Jason Pace