Customer Reviews

Our Ill Wills

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I wrote a review for this album a long time ago, but I hope this review to be much more informative:

Our Ill Wills is what I deem a near perfect album. Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff was a good Indie-Pop album, but on this album The Shout Out Louds evolve into a stronger and more mature Indie band. They successfully drop the novelty of the Indie-Pop genre without sacrificing the peppiness. The sound of the album is classic. This album is no passing fad, which one could argue about Howl, Howl. However, what I think makes this album so much stronger is the addition of female backing vocals from another Swedish musician Lykke Li. It gives the songs and the album a lot of extra oomph, style, and flair. The lyrics and song structures are thought out better and don't stick to formulaic pop patterns. The Shout Out Louds just really tackle this album in a much more artistic and original manner.

Now... Yes, the Shout Out Louds are similar to the Cure. Adam Olenius does have a Robert Smith twang on top of his Swedish accent. Yes, their type of music is similar to the genre of the Cure. However, the people calling the Shout Out Louds rip offs are just being music snobs. The Shout Out Louds have their own unique style as well, and in my opinion, write more consistent songs. There is also influence from the Smiths here (They even cover "Meat Is Murder"). So if you like the Cure and the Smiths, and are not an elitist, you will love this modern Indie album. But they in no way imitators of these aforementioned bands. The Shout Out Louds are not taking anything away from their legacies, so just let it go.

Every song here is strong. There are no fillers. At first listen, there are a couple standout tracks ("Tonight" and "Impossible"). The songs flow together very nicely and they all grow on you. With every new listen, you find yourself with a new favorite. That's stuff that makes a GREAT album. This isn't an album with a couple good singles that you find yourself skipping to. This album is great start to finish. Also, the song ordering is fantastic. The Shout Out Louds organize the songs in a way that keeps you interested. They even mix it up with a song featuring solo vocals by Bebban Strong. "Tonight" is a perfect opener. "Hard Rain" is a perfect closer; an epic song perfect for driving through the city at night. There is a heavy theme of lost love and nostalgia in this album as well, connecting all the songs together lyrically. The album casing and artwork are also very appealing. Nothing about this release fails. This is also a perfect beach and driving album.

Overall, this is an underrated classic. The Shout Out Louds do not get as much recognition as they deserve. This is a gem and perhaps it will get the attention it deserves in the future. Best Indie album of 2007. Hell, It's the best album I ran across in 2007 period.

The Shout Out Louds are back with the follow up to thier critically acclaimed release Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. Our Ill Wills is a bit of a departure. That however does not mean that is a bad thing. This album starts off with the gorgeous song "Tonight I have to leave it" sung by the just as beautiful Swede Bebban. It's a nice start to the album and sets the mood for the rest of the album. Our Ill Wills manages to maintain the Shout Out Loud sound while not retreading old material. The poppiness is there but much less and it veers toward a more textured mature sound. Lets call it texture pop. More experimentation has resulted in a step forward for a band previously thought of a shoegaze pop. The lyrics are moving at times but sometimes lack imagination. That is part of the charm of these songs though. Shimmery songs and heartfelt lyrics that maintain there pop appeal while maturing along the way. Our Ill Wills most likely will not get the praise as Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, but it certainly deserves it. They could just as easily made a follow up of catchy pop tunes that can't lose and in some ways they have but you have to respect a band that isn't afraid to move forward as artists and travel new roads.

this is a great cd. i had heard of them around the spring of 2008 and i must say i knew they had a few good songs, but when i went to 2008's coachella festival they really blew me away. practically the only band that did that actually. they came out with energy dressed in white wearing lei's seemingly from hawaii and they began playing some of the brightest and most ear pleasing music while waving numerous instruments around, and it was a sound that caught me off guard and a sound that left me wanting more after their short set was over. this is a band that can take it to any level that they wish, and i am sorry that they seem to be so under rated here... i have the cd and it has become a great bright spot in my collection.

You can hear the influence of The Cure in the vocals (and some of the music for that matter) but that's not necessarily a bad thing for me. I agree that this isn't very original but it's a good sound, nonetheless. If you like Rogue Wave and/ or Vampire Weekend you'll like these guys. I'll give this Swedish group credit for a nice album.

Matt Zarnstorff

I found the first single to this band posted to an MP3 blog, and after seeing them compared to "Head on the Door" era Cure, I couldn't resist giving them a whirl. When I did, I was completely floored. Yes, it reminded me instantly of the Head on the Door and In Between Days. But I absolutely *love* those songs, and as I continued listening, I heard so much more to love than that. The guitar had clearly been influenced by Johnny Marr from his classic Smiths period. The voice was wonderful--definitely Robert Smith-y, but despite all these rather obvious influences, the whole was delivered as a perfect pop confection, somehow making all the influences work as something original and purely delightful. The songwriting is strong; they have almost immediately established a pipeline straight to the heart of 80's era college angst while covering it in Neo-Romantic hipness.

If any of this influence business sounds at all intriguing to you, let me make it easy for you. Just order this album. You won't be sorry. It is fabulous, fun, breezy, poppy and just plain enjoyable. Definitely a keeper, and I look forward to more from these folks.

I'm not one for comparisions. I like what I like. If I find two or more acts that have similar sounds, I'm glad. That's a good thing. It just means there's more to love.
And I happen to love Shout Out Louds. I bought Howl Howl Gaff Gaff and fell in love with their glorious pop along with the wondefully quirky addition of the xylophone. Their new record is a bit more grown up, like kid who's gone out seen some things. But it still feels young and fresh. This is the music of my teenage years, whistful, romantic, hopeless one minute and hopeful the next.
One of my particular favorites is 'Meat is Murder.' It really sounds like it's just Adam and his guitar. There's a nakedness,a trepidation about how he tells you some of the things he's been going through and the way that he's continually making sure he isn't saying too much. It feels very real.
So, this is an album I would encourage you to buy. It is a wonderful addition to any collection.
I haven't said too much have I?

If you don't like the fact that most pop music is recycled, you will not like this album (see various 1 and 2-star reviews here). If you like musicians who can take music that you/they love, tweak it a little and make it sound fresh, you will like this album. I love the Cure and when I first heard the opening cut on this album (Tonight I Have to Leave It), a big grin spread across my face. Sure it sounds like In Between Days, but so what? They have taken a 22-year-old song, changed the words and a few notes, and presto! A great "new" song. Anyway, there is plenty of nice stuff here that doesn't sound Curish. In fact as 2007 winds down, I can't think of any album that came out this year that I like better. You can lump this band with The Killers, Interpol, etc., who have all taken great music from bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, and, yes, The Cure, revamped it and made some great new music.

I have not stopped listening to this CD since I purchased it---every song is
great. If you like pop---you'll love this set of tunes!

Ordered this diddy up the day of release from Amazon. Obviously heavily influenced by The Cure. Pick this up today. A garage band with unlimited potential. Did I mention to pick this up ASAP?

Any fan of The Cure and/or The Shins will devour this glorious pop album like a chocolate chip cookie! I've had it three days now and I foresee it being on continuous play for the next month or two. It's catchy without being redundant, it has hooks without over using them, it's positive without being cheesy. And they happen to be on one of my all-time favorite record labels, Merge. What a great fit for them. Sweden is churning out some incrdible bands these days and the Shout Out Louds are on the top of the pack. Bravo guy's.... and girls!!!!