Swedish indie pop hopefuls Shout Out Louds were formed in Stockholm by childhood friends Adam (vocals), Ted (bass), and Carl (guitars) in 2001. Soon after they were joined by Eric (drums) and Bebban (vocals, keys) and began writing songs. The first three they wrote formed the basis of their first demo tape. The songs caught the ear of Filip Wilén, the owner of Sweden's Bud Fox Recordings, and he quickly signed them. The group spent 2002 writing more songs and in December recorded four of them for a debut EP, 2003's 100°. The group's high-energy, ultra-melodic sound was in place from the very beginning. The band toured around Sweden and Scandinavia following its release and followed up the EP with two singles, "Hurry Up Let's Go" and "Shut Your Eyes." In October of 2003 the group released its first album, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, to great acclaim in Sweden. They band spent 2004 touring, releasing singles ("Please Please Please," "Very Loud/Wish I Was Dead," and the Oh, Sweetheart EP) and getting signed to Capitol in the U.S. The American version of Howl Howl Gaff Gaff was released in May of 2005. The album is made up of songs from the Swedish release plus some of the early singles and EP tracks. A tour of the U.S. with indie darlings the Dears and airplay on The OC helped boost the band's profile.

More evidence that there is actually a garage rock factory in Sweden--the U.S. debut from this perfectly formed, retro-rock quintet bustles with handclaps, keyboard-driven pop melodies and a potent new-wave punch. There's a drop-dead gorgeous blonde like the Ravonettes and a shaggy-haired front man like the Hives (plus someone that inexplicably looks like Moby) but Shout Out Louds otherwise offer up their own variation of the genre using crisp go-go rhythms on "Hurry Up Let's Go" and a woozy southern drawl on the bittersweet "Please Please Please." Fans of the Wannadies will certainly not want to look the other way. --Aidin Vaziri


On second disc "Our Ill Wills," the Swedish crew proves it's lost none of the raw indie spirit that made 2005's "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" sparkle. The record plays like a frenzied coda to '60s jangle-pop and '70s smile-rock, with string-popping guitars, glissy strings, and wounded vocals. -music.download.com

Ratatat-remixed and Artist of the Day-showcased Swedes the Shout Out Louds will release Our Ill Wills, the band's sophomore effort, Sept. 11 on Merge. As the follow up to the Shout Out Louds' debut full-length, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, the new release will be the band's first for Merge, the blossoming indie-home of bands such as the Arcade Fire, Rosebuds, and Spoon; the band parted ways with Capitol earlier this year. Fellow countryman/Peter Björn & John bass plucker Björn Yttling lent his knob-twisting skills to Our Ill Wills, whose first single, "Tonight I Have to Leave It" is currently out in Sweden. The single's U.S. release date has yet-to-be announced. -spin.com

www.shoutoutlouds.com