|
 |
Peter Bjorn and John
Living Thing
Review By Matt Conner
The Scandinavian wave of creativity washing various indie pop/rock artists upon Stateside shores for the last several years has been one of the greatest musical gifts bestowed upon us. Sweden’s Peter Bjorn and John became critics’ darlings in 2006 — even though they’ve been at this since the late ’90s — with a tune called “Young Folks” and the minor hit Writer’s Block. Now, it’s time for a seasoned go ’round the indie block once again with Living Thing. The quirky playfulness that was found here and there on Writer’s Block is now found in spades on Living Thing, providing an edge the last album was missing.
“Nothing to Worry About” features a laboring Prince groove upon which a slightly distorted children’s choir sings they have “nothing to worry about” while PB&J works its pop magic. It’s instantly familiar and infectious, much like “Young Folks.” “Lay It Down” takes a stark opening line of “Hey, shut the fuck up boy/You’re really starting to piss me off” and repeats it again and again to a minimal, jesting, almost circus-like pop construct. Other songs like the title track, “Just the Past” and “Stay This Way” continue the pop mastery displayed by a band that knows its limits and stays within those confines.
|
