Shout Out Louds - "Optica"

Artist: Shout Out Louds

Album: Optica

Label: Merge Records

Release Date: February 26^th, 2013

Review by: Sean Kayden

“Optica” marks the fourth studio album from Swedish indie-pop group, Shout Out Louds. It’s their first album since 2010’s “Work”. Over the course of eight years, Shout Out Louds have continually made solid, joyously charming records. Their innate ability to transform the sounds of The Cure and The Smiths to a modern style is quite impressive. Lead singer Adam Olenius generally has a high-pitched voice, but this time around it seems to be slightly toned down. His previous proclivity for singing melancholy words in a relatively happy voice is still in tack. Shout Out Louds have always demonstrated a strong knack for songwriting and “Optica” is no exception. With the lyrics in tact, a slick and polished sound, and high production values to boot, the band’s fourth album in nearly three years is one of their strongest to date. In many ways it’s a return to form in how lively and jaunty the record it is. With a different direction in sight and new sounds in mind, Shout Out Louds mess around with electronics and percussions to create a refreshing, albeit uneven, yet thoroughly satisfying record.

“Sugar,” the opening number, is chirpy and utterly upbeat. It kicks the album off in the best way possible—providing what’s to come and showing the listener Shout Out Louds mean business with their recently found resonance. Follow up track “Illusions” is another gem. It’s a bit slower but equally as potent. It’s a song that dazzles with 80s influences and juggles both lightheartedness and deep sentiment from beginning to end. Ultimately, it’s the catchiest song off “Optica.” “Blue Ice” slows us down a bit, but beautifully so. It’s deeply heartfelt and introspective. Not to mention, it’s naturally smooth and divine. “Circles” is my choice for best song here. The song showcases dreamy guitars and yearning vocals. It’s as if it somehow doesn’t fit on “Optica,” but fortunately it wasn’t cut because it’s the band’s most elegant, finest written, and greatest arranged song they’ve ever crafted. However, even with all this good, there’s got to be some bad. “Hermilla” showcases the vocals of bandmate Bebban Stenborg (who plays various instruments as well as provides much of the back-up vocals). The entire song feels out of place, but unlike “Circles” it has no elements of a Shout Out Louds tune. It falls apart fairly quickly and completely has the record going off the rails for a good three minutes and thirty four seconds. Luckily, the album quickly gathers itself back on track with “Chasing The Sinking Sun.” It’s another typical Shout Out Louds affair, but despite being “typical” it still provides much variety and shines as its own standout track.

“Optica” puts Shout Out Louds back on path as one of the best indie-pop bands around. After all these years the band is still relevant and making great music. It’s been nearly three years between albums and that can feel like a lifetime for listeners, who may have given up hope on a return for a band that could have easily faded out like those before and after it. However, Shout Out Louds not only return with just a new album, but one that surpasses expectations with fresh surprises and interesting sounds to follow.

Grade: 8.4 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Sugar”, “Illusions”, “Blue Ice” “Circles"

Published by Mountain Views News on March 2nd, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n09/p10.htm