Audio By Carbonatix
Artist: Shout Out LoudsTitle: WorkRelease date: February 23Label: Merge
The album’s title and no-nonsense cover art and design belie the breezy indie pop contained inside. Mind you, it’s not the wimpy and boring indie pop in the vein of, say, Vampire Weekend. The band’s crystaline sound may seem fragile, but there’s some real musical muscle laid down by Shout Out Loud’s excellent rhythm section.
The singer sounds a bit like Robert Smith and mid-’80s-era The Cure is an obvious starting point for Shout Out Louds, but without the dressed-in-black melodramatics. To me, SOL sounds like a bit what like I imagine the excellent new band Surfer Blood may resemble after they grow up and get a few more records under their belt.
Work loses some steam midway through because the songs start to sound a lot a like, but the record doesn’t wear out its welcome. And during my second listen, I realized that despite the delicate pop going on throughout Work, it’s actually a great guitar record. If you’re into that sort of thing.
Best song: “Walls,” which sounds a bit like Wilco’s “Shot in the Arm.”Rotation: Medium-heavyDeja Vu: Swedish rockers who want to turn their back on ABBA but will never really shake ABBA’s pervasive influence.I’d rather listen to: Yo La Tengo’s May I Sing With MeGrade: B
The “Nothing Not New” Archives
Feb. 23 — Brian Jonestown Massacre: Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? (B+)Feb. 22 — Shearwater: The Golden Archipelago (D+)
Feb. 19 — The Strange Boys: Be Brave (B+)Feb. 18 — Tindersticks: Falling Down a Mountain (A)Feb. 17 — Lightspeed Champion: Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You (C-)Feb. 16 — Adam Green: Minor Love (B-)Feb. 15 — Juliana Hatfield: Peace & Love (B+)
Feb. 12 — Massive Attack: Heligoland (C-)Feb. 11 — The Watson Twins: Talking to You, Talking to Me (C-)Feb. 10 — Hot Chip: One Life Stand (B+)Feb. 9 — You Say Party! We Say Die!: XXXX (B+)Feb. 8 — Allison Moorer: Crows (B)
Feb. 5 — Joe Pug: Messenger (C)Feb. 4 — The Soft Pack: The Soft Pack (A)Feb. 3 — Polysics: Absolute Polysics (B-)Feb. 2 — Pierced Arrows: Descending Shadows (A-)Feb. 1 — The Brunettes: Paper Doll (B-)
Jan. 29 — Basia Bulat: Heart of My Own (C)Jan. 28 — Priestess: Prior to the Fire (B)Jan. 27 — The Magnetic Fields: Realism (B)Jan. 26 — Four Tet: There Is Love in You (D)Jan. 25 — Delphic: Acolyte (C+)
Jan. 22 — The Hot Rats: Turn Ons (B+)Jan. 21 — Los Campesinos!: Romance Is Boring (A-)Jan. 20 — Midlake: The Courage of Others (D-)Jan. 19 — Laura Veirs: July Flame (B+)Jan. 18 — Beach House: Teen Dream (C)
Jan. 15 — Charlotte Gainsbourg: IRM (B)Jan. 14 — OK Go: Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (D)Jan. 13 — Eels: End Times (A-)Jan. 12 — Spoon: Transference (B)Jan. 11 — Editors: In This Light and On This Evening (D+)
Jan. 8 — Surfer Blood: Astro Coast (B+)Jan. 7 — Yeasayer: Odd Blood (C-)Jan. 6 — Cold War Kids: Behave Yourself EP (B+)Jan. 5 — Vampire Weekend: Contra (D+)Jan. 4 — Texas Tornados: Está Bueno! (B)
Jan. 1 — Scanners: Submarine (B-)
