Since we're heading into spring, I thought I'd highlight one of my favorite 'feel good' bands, the Shout Out Louds. I was first introduced to this amazing Swedish indie band through a German friend while living in Sweden last year, and she (fortunately) convinced me to go see them live with her and some other international students. It was honestly one of the funnest and best shows I've ever been to, and I've been to more than I'd care to count at this point.
Their singer has been compared to Robert Smith (the Cure) but I really think the Shout Out Louds are much more upbeat, and they have a faster, more melodic approach to guitar and keyboard parts which I love. By comparison, I would say that the Cure are more textural in their guitar work. Of course there are bound to be many differing opinions on this point.
But I've gotta say, what really does it for me is the Shout Out Louds willingness to take the melody away from the traditional indie rock choices of guitar or keyboards and lay that on instruments such as strings, horns, woodwinds or even xylophones or bells. The tracks "Tonight I Have To Leave It" and "Impossible" are perfect examples of this, with the main melody in the former handled by a group of strings and and the one in the latter hammered out via bells before the guitars come in with a great chordal accompaniment.
This band always reminds me of the good times I had in Sweden and the awesome people I met, so in a way they will always hold a special place in my heart.
Here are some tracks which are good insights into their sound, and I hope you enjoy them!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MVlPV7AF7k "Tonight I Have To Leave It"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAifrFAJIw4 "Impossible"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZPSyI4Zybo "Fall Hard"
Thanks for reading!
