It’s been three years since Swede indie-poppers Shout Out Louds released their last record. But the quintet returns Feb. 23 with their third album, Work (via Merge), and their combination of Death Cab melancholy, Peter Bjorn and John pop, and the Cure new wave is intact, but stripped down for full effect.
“Can’t Explain,” the B-side from the album’s second single, “Fall Hard,” focuses the band’s indie-pop song craft, reeling in the glossy production to the let frontman Adam Olenius’ plaintive vocal take the lead. “Love is pulling me back again / I’ll never understand,” he sings over steady drums and a chipper xylophone melody. Listen to the track below.
Shout Out Louds’ refined sound is partially indebted to indie producer extraordinaire Phil Ek (the Shins, Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes), who worked with the band on their new album at Seattle’s Bear Creek studio.
Listen to “Can’t Explain” below, then tell us what you think in the comment section. Shout Out Louds will tour the U.S. this spring. See their full itinerary below.
LISTEN: Shout Out Louds, “Can’t Explain”
Tour Dates:
3/1, Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
5/2, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
5/3, Philadelphia, PA (First Unitarian Church)
5/5, New York, NY (Webster Hall)
5/6, Boston, MA (Paradise)
5/7, Montreal, QUE (Cabaret Music Hall)
5/8, Toronto, ON (Mod Club)
5/10, Chicago, IL (Lincoln Hall)
5/11, Minneapolis, MN (Varsity Theater)
5/14, Vancouver, BC (Commodore Ballroom)
5/15, Seattle, WA (Neumos)
5/16, Portland, OR (Doug Fir)
5/18, San Francisco, CA (Great American Music Hall)
5/20, San Diego, CA (House of Blues)
5/21, Los Angeles, CA (El Rey)
