PB+J exchange catchy whistling, for fuzz and reverb on new their new album “Living Thing” (out Tuesday, 3/31)
You know that damn whistling tune was stuck in your head for the better part of the last two years. Peter Bjorn and John exploded onto the US, and world wide music scene when “Young Folks” dropped in 2007. Sweden hadn’t been so catchy since Abba, and even though PB+J had been together since 1999, suddenly the trio had more myspace friends than Tila Tequila.
With a big crowd to please: loads of pop fans and hipsters who where were craving more, the band came back to the studio in 2008, recoding in Stockholm, NYC, and Los Angeles in between tour dates (They also snuck in a mostly instrumental album Seaside Rock in there somewhere).
Lars Mårtén produced and mixed the album, and the sound is definitively evolved from the Writers Block album that shot them to super-stardom. Don’t expect catchy whistling melodies and hand claps ala “Young Folks” (sorry popsters). The album seems to find varied influences: from the dark echoey caverns of Joy Division, to the staccato guitar sound heavy on the reverb, straight out of the Modest Mouse playbook. On the title track ”Living Thing” seems to be an homage to Paul Simon’s “Graceland” (complete with booing base line). And the first single “Nothing To Worry About” features a children’s choir (Floyd-ish) singing the chorus alongside Morén’s fuzzy vocals.
One thing that’s consistent from previews PB+J recordings is the solid drums & bass that still make you tap your foot, and nod your head. Peter Morén’s vocals still make me grin, and I still find myself humming along on several tracks.
Summary: If you’re looking for “Young Folks” part-deaux, you may be disappointed. But overall PB+J put together a solid LP with Living Thing, breaking out of the pop-box with an evolved sound, but still capturing the toe-tapping fun that made us love them in the first place.
Peter Bjorn and John “Lay It Down” Video
Peter Bjorn + John on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn
One Trackback
[...] PS - I’ve been writing more for rockworms lately. First I reviewed Peter Bjorn & John’s new album (Living Thing), then I made fun of Bow Wow’s new album cover. Good times. Maybe we’ll crack the $10 [...]