Common goes home, remembers how to ‘Be’

"Howl Howl Gaff Gaff," Shout Out Louds
The Shout Out Louds hail from the land of interlaced bridges, Stockholm, and their American debut album, leading listeners through a twisting array of uniquely fashioned indiepop, could very well be reminiscent of their hometown.

The five Swedes interweave everything from country styles to marching band-drum beats on their distinctly European-flavored album, which is a compilation of their hits in Scandinavia and several new mixes. Relying heavily on infectious drumbeats and the synthesized keyboard-playing of Bebban Stenborg (the sole female band member), the Shout Out Louds produce tracks that are reminiscent of the 1960s in their catchy simplicity while still maintaining an unquestionable modern indie sound.

The band begins the album with "The Comeback," a head-bobbing tune that first introduces listeners to the gritty voice of lead vocalist Adam Olenius: He talks his way through songs in a plaintive croak so choked with emotion that it seems, at times, as if he may not get through the end of the track. While his anti-melodic rasping can become tiresome, it's impossible to resist the catchiness of the music behind him. After the similar-styled "Very Loud," the band hits hard with an unexpected alternative turn on country that surprisingly works against the symphonic synth sounds in "Oh Sweetheart." The band adds another twist on the last track of the 10-song album, throwing in the melodic trills of a flute amid crashing drum beats in "Seagull."

Overall, the album is an impressive work for a group that stumbled into music only four years ago, when bassist Ted Malmros could barely play an instrument. The former graphic design, film and economics students came from varied backgrounds to produce a winningly pieced-together album, and that offbeat quirkiness is sure to gain the same popularity with American indie fans as it did with their Scandinavian counterparts.
— Sheila Flynn

"Army of Me," Various Artists
Inspired to do something in response to last year's South Asian tsunami, Bjork invited musicians to submit their own remixes and cover versions of her popular track, "Army of Me," for a charity album for UNICEF. Over 600 submissions came in. Bjork and the song's co-writer, Graham Massey, chose twenty versions for the album. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, than the various transformations offered up by this slew of eclectic artists must be representative of the sincerest forms of devotion.

One hasn't heard "Army of Me" until you've heard it arranged for accordion, or done over like the soundtrack to a video game, or crooned to a bossa nova beat, or twanged out on a Hawaiian guitar, or ... well, it has to be heard to be believed.

"Creepiest Version" award goes to Dr. Gunni, who does the whole track over a looping electronic bass line and a voice that sounds like Darth Vader's perpetually evil cousin whispering directly into your ear. The German "Bersarinplatz Mix" is by far the funkiest, and nearly worth the album price all by itself.
— Aimee Maude Sims

"Di Korpu Ku Alma," Lura
Following in the footsteps of Cesaria Evora, who put the archipelago nation of Cape Verde's Sao Vicente island on the map, the fresh-faced and honey-voiced Lura brings us the musical style of one of the islands to the south, Santiago, on "Di Korpu Ku Alma(Of Body and Soul)." Santiago would be hard-pressed to find a more worthy musical ambassador.

The CD/DVD package features eleven tracks, many of them originals, plus a nearly hour-long video of a live concert at Paris' Grand Rex where she opened for Evora. Lura's voice has the depth and sultriness of Toni Braxton with a much more refined delivery and broader range of expressions. Her elegant stage presence is matched by her top-notch band _ equally skilled at conveying the Portuguese and West African influences that are the bedrock of the music. Also included on the DVD is a brief profile of the artist, two music videos and a photo slideshow.
— Aimee Maude Sims

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