Shout Out Louds

I remember (yes, I'm old) buying the import 12" single version of The Cure's "In Between Days" back when it came out in 1985. If I was forced to list my all-time 100 favorite songs, "In Between Days" would be very close to the top. It's perfect.

Back in 1985, I never expected a Swedish indie group to dig up Robert Smith's perfect pop moment and cycle it back for the 2007 crowd. Which isn't to say that the Shout Out Louds' "Tonight I Have To Leave It" is a rip-off. It's not. Heavily influenced, yes, but "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" (or so they say).

Seeing as there are not any current acts around that can dish out pop perfection and goth destruction on the same CD and still sell it in extreme quantities (like the Cure did for nearly two decades), I'm happy to have the Shout Out Louds attempt to fill old Robert's massive shoes. "Tonight I Have To Leave It" is the constant repeat song of the week around these parts. It's brilliant. Perfect pop. Though, I must admit, it just makes me want to see The Cure in concert once more before I die...

Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have To Leave It". Video.
Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have To Leave It (Kleerup Remix)".
Shout Out Louds - "Time Left For Love".

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A Baker's Dozen : Volume 9

I meant to post this weeks ago. Life has been hectic. Hectic but good. Enjoy.

01. New Ruins - "Book Lung". One of those songs where the music (haunting) mimics the lyrics ("Your ghost still walks all around these hills..."). | Myspace | Purchase

02. Eastern Conference Champions - "The Box". Reminds me of the anthemic moments of Hope of the States, but better. "And I've got nothing to complain about..." | Website | Myspace

03. The Tacticians - "London's Alright". Yet another love song to London. Impossibly catchy when the drums kick in. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

04. The Films - "Black Shoes". The first of many 'rockers!' in this set. Noisy and catchy and there's a part of me that never stops craving those two words in conjunction. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

05. Idlewild - "In Competition For The Worst Time". Hated it at first. Now that chorus owns me. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

06. Meg Baird - "Do What You Gotta Do". "So come on back and see me when you can..." | Website | Myspace | Purchase

07. Asobi Seksu - "New Years". One of those occasional neo-shoegaze gems that hit. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

08. Chemic - "Calm Killers". Dark horse treat here with a great late-90s indie groove that drops into an after-hours spent acoustic outro. | Myspace

09. Ferraby Lionheart - "Vermont Avenue". Ahh, yes, the eccentric genius of Mr. Lionheart. Advance peak from this forthcoming debut LP here. Can't wait for it. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

10. Bellavista - "Temptation On Your Side". "Psychbeat" SF-freaks here. Genius if for no other reason than the reverb-laden shout of "I just wanted to hang out with you!" | Website | Myspace

11. The Shys - "Never Gonna Die". From LA apparently. Another good solid rocker! | Myspace | Purchase

12. Holly Palmer - "I Want You". I don't have a clue what her deal is (she looks a bit 'over the top'), but I love the yearn of this song. Awesome subtle arrangement and instrumentation. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

13. Kubichek! - "Start As We Meant To". Great slow-burn lighters-up closer here. Like a UK Explosions with vocals. | Website | Myspace | Purchase