This has long been one of Shout Out Louds’ main tactics, to sing sad words in a happy voice. Optica, though, adds a more conversational aspect.
The worst you can say about Optica is that it’s sometimes pleasantly bland—but even when it doesn’t rattle or intrigue, it still sounds wonderful.
Treasure this celebration of indie pop at its absolute finest.
While 2010′s Work felt a bit too much like its moniker, Optica finds Shout Out Louds at their own synthy, post-work happy hour.
In the end, it’s all a little too demure to really shout out loud about.
Optica's detail-oriented sonics can't quite make up for some of its big picture deficiencies, imprecise emotions and melodies that feel rounded off at the edges to discourage friction.
Optica is a sad-romantic band abandoning the one thing that lay in their definition, and for better or ill, it puts their name in bright lights.
#34 | / | Under the Radar |
#88 | / | Amazon |