Work
by Shout Out Louds
February 23, 2010
Merge Records
Amazon: Work
I'll be honest with you--every once in a while I do enjoy listening to a bad album just so I can write a completely negative review. However, this wasn't the case for Work, Shout Out Louds third full-length album. I've been enjoying everything they've had to offer since Howl Howl Gaff Gaff in 2005 (among my favorites of the decade) and did not see this startling change coming at all. Just to forewarn all die-hard SOL fans, this is going to get ugly and feelings will get hurt. If you can't bear to read the rest of this, I understand.
I guess my high hopes for this album came when I'd read on Merge's website that the band would be "strip[ping] away the bells and whistles of previous efforts" on the new album, and that their new sound was "distinct," "angsty," and "energetic." Well, for starters, they did do quite a bit of stripping down--way too much, in fact. What we're left with is forty minutes of dried out pop garbage that lacks any sort of character, a quality that made their previous releases something to shout out loud about. As for the "distinct" sound, I guess you could call it that, but distinct isn't always good. And then there's the angstiness and energy. Did I miss something? Did my copy not include these mysterious energetic, angst-filled tracks? After just seconds of research, I've found the answer to these questions: no.
I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but 2010 isn't looking so great four months in. After hearing the new material from Rogue Wave and now MGMT's "Flash Delirium," my outlook on the year is somewhat bleak. Work is, so far, the only album I've invested in that has let me down. I guess I could have guessed by the drab cover art that the album would be equally as colorful, but then I thought to myself no, this is the Shout Out Louds we're talking about. I mean, their music is always sad, but this is the first time that it hasn't been fun at the same time. Congratulations, band. You are currently the top candidate for the 2010 Swoon* award.
*I had high hopes for the Silversun Pickups's sophomore album
Track Listing:
1. "1999" (* * *)
2. "Fall Hard" (*)
3. "Play The Game" (* *)
4. "Walls" (* * *)
5. "Candle Burned Out" (*)
6. "Throwing Stones" (* *)
7. "Four By Four" (* *)
8. "Paper Moon" (* *)
9. "Show Me Something New" (* * *)
10. "Too Late, Too Slow" (* * *)
Grade: D
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