Since 2011, Dublin quartet Bouts have shown a considerable amount of beautifully jangly, and sometimes deliciously distorted, guitar pop promise through a prolific clutch of EPs and singles. Their debut album nicely delivers on this potential.
Barry Bracken (vocals, guitar), Colin Boylan (guitar, vocals), Niall Jackson (bass, vocals) and Daniel Flynn (drums, percussion) create a catchy racket, fusing the skewered pop dynamics of Dinosaur Jr and Pavement with their own brand of dreamy guitar work-outs, best exemplified by the brilliant closing salvo ‘Moonraker’. And there’s more: ‘3.0’ features a particularly strong and distinctive vocal performance from Bracken.
‘Cutaways’ is the kind of cut Stephen Malkmus would be proud of, and the majority of Nothing Good Gets Away gives bang for buck. This is a fine debut from the self-described “modern pop-grunge noiseniks,” who add a contemporary twist to the early ‘90s alt. rock brigade they’re so obviously in thrall to. The packaging is beautiful to boot. Plus you get an exclusive 12-page ‘zine all for a veritable snip at only €8, which wouldn’t buy you two drinks in this day and age. Hats off to the Bouts boyos.

Key Track: 'Cutaways'