TOTW: Shout Out Louds_ You Are Dreaming

This week I’ve been going back to a few albums from my past. Shout Out Louds were one of the bands that I felt like I “found” myself, years ago. After hearing their first single “The Comeback” on internet radio, I got their first album “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff” and have been a fan ever since.

Looking back at the blog, I was surprised to see they have only made my TOTW twice. What is unsurprising though is that both their pervious entries and this week’s recommendation come from their second album “Our Ill Wills.”

Partly this is because the album came out at the very end of my teens; an impressionable time for anyone and for me the time I finally had enough money to be able to buy albums and go to gigs regularly. However, in hindsight my love for “Our Ill Wills” also stems from the production of Björn Yttling of Peter, Björn & John fame.

Although I didn’t become a fan of Peter, Björn & John until a few years after I’d first heard “Our Ill Wills,” it’s clear that the pop sensibilities heard on their records are also implemented on this one, taking some of the Lo-Fi edge of their previous record and giving it a shiny counterpoint that really helps the music pop.

Because of these factors, “Our Ill Wills” Is a record I will always love. It’s chock full of great and under appreciated Indy gems that make the whole record an easy recommendation in my book.

“You Are Dreaming” is a track that exemplifies what works so well about it. The deadpan vocal delivery underpinned with crisp instrumental production has and will always work for many artists. Shout Out Louds continue to pull this off with aplomb to this day.

It was on “Our Ill Wills” that a real production sheen was applied to their sound, and in many ways is when it worked best. The strings on “Are You Dreaming” are a perfect example, creating a weight and a quality to the piece that enhance further the bitter sweet style that Swedish bands like “Shout out Louds” and “Peter Bjorn & John” create so perfectly.

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TOTW Playlist:

TOTW: Shout Out Louds_ Ill Wills

“Shout Out Louds” have made dreamy indie for nearly two decades. Their first couple of albums being key staples of my teenage years and provide a nostalgic haven for me to this day.

“Ill Wills” is a small instrumental piece that has always resonated with me. Its glockenspiel toylike lead melody and washed out distorted rhythm guitar creates a nostalgic quality first listen. It creates a track that’s short, sweet and well worth a listen:

Spotify:

TOTW Playlist:

TOTW: Shout Out Louds_Hard Rain

There are tracks that connect with people. For everyone they’re different, shaped by our past experience and connections we are attracted to certain Music which latches itself to us. It can bring us back to a moment or connect to our raw emotions in a way other mediums couldn’t achieve, especially within the same timeframes.

For me finding those tracks is the golden ticket. It’s almost an addiction and I spend hours of my time and a large percentage of my income doing so.

When I originally heard the shout out louds with their first single the comeback I was hooked, their ability to write pop songs that were both upbeat and melancholic really struck a chord with me and the track was regularly on rotation way back in 2004 which was then extended by the release of their first album in 2005.

It’s the finale of their second album that I consider to be their finest work to date. Everything seems to just work for me, The instruments and vocals blend together in a way that’s so natural it sounds effortless and we get this slow progression to a crescendo of distorted guitar reminiscent of the post rock genre. This mix of effortless melody driven by a strong beat from the drums and bass really gives the track a natural feel that makes it infinitely replayable.

Hard Rain is that golden ticket, it does everything I could want from this type of music and it hasn’t worn off in the 5 years of repeat listens, I hope you can get as much from it as I do: