The Shout Out Louds: Adam (vocals, guitar); Carl (guitar); Bobban (keyboards, background vocals); Ted (bass guitar); Eric (drums).

Recording information: 2005.

Swedish quintet Shout Out Louds mine a fun and familiar style that looks back to the gleaming pop melodies of the 1960s rock while maintaining its allegiance to the indie scene of the 2000s. There is tuneful modern garage a la the Strokes in lead singer's pouty, scratchy vocals and in the band's uptempo rockers ("Very Loud"), languorous, chiming turns reminiscent of acts like Grandaddy (as on the dreamy folk-rock of "A Track and a Train"), and shimmering, moody introspection that recalls bands like Sparklehorse (as on the aptly named "Go Sadness").

Yet Shout Out Louds bring these influences together beautifully in the album's elegant, understated production and--most importantly--the strength of their hook-packed tunes. The sheer, unadulterated catchiness of songs like "Please Please Please" and "Hurry Up Let's Go" is impossible to dismiss, and the tasteful touches of keyboards (which mix in a definite New Wave flavor) only sweetens the pot. The 2005 U.S. release of HOWL HOWL GAFF GAFF is culled from singles and tracks from a full-length album (of the same name) released in Scandinavia. On evidence of the pure pop pleasure they give, Shout Out Louds are sure to find an audience Stateside as well.

What the critics say...

Entertainment Weekly (No. 821/822, p.136) - "[S]inger Adam Olenius brings a scratchy fragility to these 11 urgently peppy toe-tappers....the merry melodies are as warm as the guitars are fuzzy..." - Grade: B+
Uncut (p.109) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Inspired by Polish movie posters, macabre fairy tales and, by the sounds of it, an arsenal of Arcade Fire bootlegs....[They] have much going for them.