Girl About Town

The Shout Out Louds - Optica (Merge) 2013

See The Shout Out Louds live in Philadelphia this week:
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 @ Union Transfer

The Shout Out Louds with Haerts
Tickets: http://www.utphilly.com/event/189043-shout-out-louds-philadelphia

Swedish group The Shout Out Louds have always pushed the envelope where their music was concerned.  All the way from the early guitar crunch of 2003's Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (rereleased with a different tracklisting in '05), to the gentle synth shimmer of 2007's Our Ill Wills, and the nearly three year break that brought us the lovely songs from 2010's "Work" LP and one of its most memorable tracks, "Fall Hard"; the band has lifted up their ideas to match their swift progression from album to album surprising even their most ardent fans with the full breadth of their abilities over the years.  

The group's brand new album Optica (released on Merge this year), takes their songs in another new direction altogether with a melancholy that harkens back to the softness and danceability of "Our Ill Wills," but with the strong songwriting and artillary of their album "Work" behind them.  As with the band's previous albums, Optica has enough material here to keep the casual listener or fan easily excited and happy, but its complexities definitely make it a darker album (moreso) over previous works.

There are quite a few standout tracks on Optica to consider; whether it's sang loudly in the upbeat sunshine refrains of "Walking In Your Footsteps", or compared to the more quietly intense (and we swear we can hear lead singer Adam Olenius channeling Matt Berninger(s) (The National) but maybe we've been listening to too much of both) vocals on "Blue Ice" and its more dancier and brilliant counterpart in "14th of July".  

If you were worried about missing the vocals of Bebban Stenborg, have no fear; she has another of the album's greatest tracks in "Hermila" which also has a fantastic bass line, is featured on the beginnings and pre-chorus of the sure summer-felt track in "Chasing The Sinking Sun", as well as standing out in the lovely backing harmonies on the track "Illusions" to highlight just a few of her stronger moments.  

"When my heart stops / I'm letting you go / There'll be another one / To follow you home...."
(Hermila, Optica, The Shout Out Louds)

Out of all the tracks on the new album; "Blue Ice", "14th of July", "Hermila", the driving piano/synth of "Glasgow", "Where You Come In", the quiet in "Burn", and the album closer "Destroy" boast the band's most distinctive writing that we've heard yet.  They really do deserve congratulations on Optica; it's by far and wide one of their most complex and interesting albums to date and should fit proudly and easily among The Shout Out Louds' already burgeoning discography.

The Shout Out Louds - band site / merge / facebook

Veronica Falls: Waiting For Something to Happen (Slumberland)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2013 (Tonight!)
Veronica Falls w/ Cold Showers and Juan Waters
@ Johnny Brenda's (1201 N. Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia PA)
21+ $13 Doors 8 p.m. - Show 9 p.m.
www.veronicafalls.com
www.johnnybrendas.com

DON'T MISS IT: Veronica Falls is slated to headline Johnny Brenda's tonight with Cold Showers, and Juan Waters!  

"Simply superb second album from London's finest export. At once more immediate and deeper than their excellent debut album, Veronica Falls have created a pop album full of rich melodies, shimmering guitars and perfectly harmonized vocals, all wrapped around a baker's dozen of the best pop tunes you're likely to hear this year, or next. A complete triumph." (Slumberland Records)

What more can we say?  The band is definitely coming into their own, and showing that they have a lot more to create for fans of their lush sound.  When we first heard the London (UK) band's new album "Waiting For Something To Happen", we thought the whole group sounded calmer, and just really....confident, in all of the songs here.  

Highlights of the album include the simplistic lyrics of "Tell Me", the perfect pop and harmonies of "My Heart Beats" (both of which will stick in your head long after their opening notes) the dark lyrics of "If You Still Want Me" and "Buried Alive" (the latter, truthfully kind of freaking us out), and there's something undeniably sweet and young in the tracks "Teenage" and "Shooting Star".  If you take a listen, there is a lot to still love and fall in love with (again) on Veronica Falls' latest album.  Our advice is to not wait; go see them play tonight, "You could lead the way..." (Shooting Star, VF)

Veronica Falls, Waiting For Something To Happen
Slumberland Records, 2013

01. Tell Me
02. Teenage
03. Broken Toy
04. Shooting Star
05. Waiting For Something To Happen
06. If You Still Want Me
07. My Heart Beats
08. Everybody's Changing
09. Buried Alive
10. Falling Out
11. So Tired
12. Daniel
13. Last Conversation 

To read more about the band, we've included a link to a past interview that we did with them for their debut:

http://www.phillygirlabouttown.com/girl_about_town/2012/02/spill-interview-with-veronica-falls-drummer-and-founding-member-patrick-doyle.html

Upcoming Dates, March 2013:

7 – Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia, PA (Tickets) *
8 – Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY (Tickets) *
9 – Great Scott, Boston, MA  (Tickets) *
10 – Divan Orange, Montreal (Tickets) *
12 – The Garrison, Toronto, ON  (Tickets) *
13 – Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, OH (Tickets) *
14 – Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL (Tickets) *
15 – High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI  (Tickets) *
16 – 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN *
18 – Hi-Dive, Denver, CO (Tickets)
21 – Tractor, Seattle, WA (Tickets) #
22 – Media Club, Vancouver, BC (Tickets) (w/Brilliant Colors)
23 – Doug Fir, Portland, OR  (Tickets) #
26 – Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA (Tickets) #
29 – The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA  (Tickets) #
30 – Casbah, San Diego, CA (Tickets) #

* w/ Cold Showers
# w/ Brilliant Colors and Golden Grrrls

Veronica Falls - band site / slumberland

La Luz - Damp Face EP (Burger Records)

La Luz's "Damp Face" EP is a sure-footed slice of surf and reverb-drenched emotional swell.  The band, which includes Curious Mystery (K Records) alum Shana Cleveland on guitar, and Marian Li Pino on drums rounds itself out with Abbey Blackwell on bass, and Katie Jacobson on keys. The Seattle group's sound pays beyond-homage to the surf-instrumental Gods and Godesses of a golden-era (Dick Dale, The Ventures, The Tornadoes, Ritchie Valens -even).

Drawing their vocal tone and backing from the 60s girl-pop and garage groups that inspire them; Cleveland's throaty vocal style and the collaborative backing vocals hang on the edge of a kind of dark sadness creating songs awash in a haunted, and dreamy state.  Their songs and Cleveland's lyrics capture the darker sides of life, even when they are swinging to the upbeat.  We're just in love with how nuanced each song is, there is always a point where you will catch a different instrumental or vocal part on each new listen.  You can give their entire EP a spin over at Bandcamp, but we highly recommend picking up the limited cassette release on Burger Records so you can call this EP your very own. 

La Luz, Damp Face EP
Burger Records 2013
*Only 250 Cassettes Available!* 

1. Call Me In The Day 
2. Damp Face 
3. Sure As Spring  
4. Clear Night Skey 
5. Easy Baby

La Luz - band site / burger records

WIN IT: Ruby Sparks Contest Giveaway - Soundtrack (MUSIC) and MOVIE Passes!

Ruby Sparks, the brand new film brought to you by the directors of “Little Miss Sunshine” stars Paul Dano (Being Flynn, There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) and Zoe Kazan (The Savages, Revolutionary Road, It's Complicated), as well as screen veterans Annette Benning, Elliott Gould, Antonio Banderas, and Steve Coogan among others. The film officially opens on August 3rd, 2012 at The Ritz East Theatre, here in Philadelphia.

The story evolves around Dano’s character Calvin, a novelist, who inadvertently creates the character Ruby Sparks (played by Kazan) through his imagination and, of course, the typed words of his latest creation.

"In RUBY SPARKS, Calvin (Paul Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing -- as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him.  When Calvin finds Ruby (Zoe Kazan), in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person."

Watch the preview here: 
www.youtube.com/user/foxsearchlight?v=xb3_AE-UinY 

We have definitely seen movies of similar ilk (creation of a companion or character) in recent and past years: Making Mr. Right, Sim0ne, The Stepford Wives, Vanilla Sky (almost), and Stranger Than Fiction, Ted (of course) as well as probably one of the most notable creations in teen Brat Pack history, in “Weird Science.”  Comedies and dramas such as these can’t help but bear a little bit left of the line when it comes to the sex question, but between the comedy and sexual 'funny,' doesn't it always boil down to the question and relationship of what it means to be loved and more importantly what it means to be human?  This is the road where Ruby Sparks' characters will converge.  Through previous advance screeners and word-of-mouth, Ruby Sparks has begun to garner great attention, and there will be another advance sneak preview on Monday, July 31st at 7:30 p.m. at The Ritz East Theatre in Philadelphia, and now, here's the chance where YOU too can win:

We have a limited amount of movie pairs to give away for a few lucky couples, as well as three soundtracks. Chime in with your comments (below) to tell us which movie (listed above, or Ruby Sparks, even) has been your favorite to watch!  We'll notify the winners of the soundtracks on Monday, and of course--see YOU at the film! 

To receive your Ruby Sparks guest passes, simply go to www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter in the following code: GABQEMP (Limited to first-come, first-serve).

It is notable to remark on The Ruby Sparks soundtrack which introduces several original scores by exciting new composer and DeVotchKa member Nick Urata (whose credits also include I Love You Phillip Morris, and Crazy, Stupid, Love.), as well as two classic French tunes; Plastic Bertrand's "Ça Plane Pour Moi" and Sylvie Vartan's Yé-yé classic "Quand Tu Es La"; both of which fit wonderfully into the mix. Holden's sugary-sweet vocals on "Un Fraction de Seconde" (also French) sweep in and out of the room like a playful child, while the reggae of "Psychedelic Train" by Derrick Harriott, and The Lions' "Roll It Round" give the soundtrack some welcome wide leg-room, each having plenty of fun complementing the rest of the tracks with a little bit of rythmic chill-out-and-relax -time. It's a perfect pleasure to hear Urata's beautiful and very fitting symphonic scores, which give the listener a sense of what each moment for the scenes themselves must emote without even having seen the film--especially with the question of (or knowing) what the music could possibly mean for a scene. For fans of any of the whimsical and light soundtrack selections curated by the ever-talented Wes Anderson, you should have no trouble whatsoever diving into this thoroughly enjoyable, light and summer-classic-storied score.

"Ruby Sparks" soundtrack listing:

1. Creation - Nick Urata
2. Writer's Block - Nick Urata
3. Inspiration! - Nick Urata
4. Ruby Sparks - Nick Urata
5. I Was Waiting For You - Nick Urata
6. I'll Go With You - Nick Urata
7. She's Real - Nick Urata
8. Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Betrand
9. Une Fraction De Seconde - Holden
10. He Loved You - Nick Urata
11. Quand Tu Es La - Sylvie Vartan
12. Psychedelic Train - Derrick Harriott
13. Roll It Round - The Lions
14. Miserable - Nick Urata
15. Inseparable - Nick Urata
16. You're A Genius - Nick Urata
17. The Past Released Her - Nick Urata
18. She Came To Me - Nick Urata
19. Can We Start Over - Nick Urata
20. Ruby Was Just Ruby - Nick Urata

Ruby Sparks - the movie / make ruby real / nick urata

True by Violens (Slumberland Records)

Violens' music is quite beautiful, and romantic, with layer upon layer of vocal harmony and melody. There is so much idea here, that it makes it all the more surprising to hear the album end. These compositions seem to have an almost 'evil' grandeur in mind, their music; a largesse, something you might expect to hear in the background of a moody Sofia Coppola scene, or in the framing of a scene significant in characterising teenage longing, or a heart swelling. The music is delicate, and the songs are indelible; as a memory would be, which is why you expect the songs to keep coming long after the album's soft finish. You forget that it is not your dream, but theirs. 

This Brooklyn-based trio have been making music since 2007. Having previously released a debut, named "Amoral", the band have had much time to develop on all of their ideas to come into the space they are in now. With that in mind, this is an album that requires some room to breath. It is a loud, and soft listener, with tracks like "Every Melting Degree" and "Lavender Forces" that practically bang away at your senses with vocals, guitars and drums crashing like waves over eachother at every turn. Unescapable and ferocious as this sounds, in the same way as a dream, the wave of sound and image can turn quickly: and so do the songs on "True". One of our softer favorites is actually album closer, "So Hard To See", with its pitched and layered vocals that lay lightly on top of the synth and splashy pop rhythm that is the soul of the song itself. The songs come and go as they please, making this latest LP, a truly interesting album. 

Violens newest album "True" (Slumberland Records) was officially released this week and coincided with the band's completion of their East Coast tour dates, and a finale in NYC. They will be hitting the West Coast at the end of May/beginning of June, as well as specific dates in Canada and beyond.

"True" by Violens - Track Listing:
01/ Totally True
02/ Der Microarc
03/ When To Let Go
04/ Sariza Spring
05/ Every Melting Degree
06/ Lavender Forces
07/ Unfolding Black Wings
08/ All Night Low
09/ Watch The Streams
10/ Lucent Caries
11/ Through The Window
12/ So Hard To See 

Violens - band site / slumberland records