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HOWL HOWL GAFF GAFF
(Capitol)
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Raised on ’60s guitar pop and Amerindie rock, this Swedish quintet began as a modest threesome backed by a dirt-cheap drum machine that played only bossa nova and pop-rock 16th notes. But thanks to a "next big thing" nod from Rolling Stone and a coveted spot at this year’s Coachella Festival (where the band shared a stage with Bright Eyes), Shout Out Louds have achieved indie-pop semi-stardom. Their international full-length debut boasts a few new tracks as well as a number of previously released fan favorites including "Very Loud," the rousing anthem that’s already left scores of sensitive emo kids misty-eyed. Other highlights include the chuckle-worthy chorus of "The Comeback" and keyboardist Bebban Stenborg’s understated duet vocals on "A Track and a Train." Unfortunately, the latter half of Howl Howl Gaff Gaff sounds a lot like a band ransacking its source material. "Hurry Up Let’s Go" and the near-Strokes knockoff "Shut Your Eyes" are obvious shout-outs to the indie rock that inspired them.
