Optica (LP)


Shout Out Louds

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Amoeba Review

02/25/2013

Shout Out Louds' stadium-ready indie pop packs an '80s-infused wallop on their fourth album, Optica. Adam Olenius' vocals have always echoed those of The Cure's Robert Smith, and his band certainly has been inspired by the sunnier side of new wave in the past, in addition to underground acts of the C86 vairety and '60s paisley pop. But they've taken those influences a step further on Optica with a radio pop sensibility that doesn't belie their indie roots. The synthesizers and weary vocals of "Glasgow," for instance, call to mind The Buggles to a greater degree than, say, Glasgow's Belle & Sebastian, an easy touchstone for them previously. Olenius does Smith and co. proud with opener "Sugar," a giddy, dreamy pop song of the sort that The Cure used to write in their sleep, like "Catch" or "A Letter to Elise." Olenius and keyboardist  Bennan Stenborg make a fine Thompson Twins or Human League on standout "Illusions," a brittle pop song and masterfully casual singalong, while Stenborg takes the reins for the cool, collected synth jam "Hermila." There's purpose behind their '80s throwback tendencies though, as "Blue Ice" pairs its "Time After Time"-style synthesizer ballad backdrop with a wearily mature reminiscent of The National. Though they don't completely transcend reference points on Optica, the Shout Out Louds succeed in doing what they've always done well - offering entertaining, uncomplicated indie pop - while updating their sound by drawing deeper from their well of influences. The result is a fun record with as much heart as desire to please.

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Track Listing



Side A Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Sugar 		Shout Out Louds 04:06
2.
Illusions 		Shout Out Louds 04:56
3.
Blue Ice 		Shout Out Louds 04:14
4.
14th Of July 		Shout Out Louds 04:16
5.
Burn 		Shout Out Louds 04:04
6.
Walking In Your Footsteps 		Shout Out Louds 03:44


Side B Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Glasgow 		Shout Out Louds 06:58
2.
Where You Come In 		Shout Out Louds 04:50
3.
Hermila 		Shout Out Louds 03:34
4.
Chasing The Sinking Sun 		Shout Out Louds 03:48
5.
Circles 		Shout Out Louds 04:47
6.
Destroy 		Shout Out Louds 06:39

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$19.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.

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