The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Out & About

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PETER BJORN AND JOHN
Living Thing


BIO:

Peter Bjorn and John is an indie pop/rock trio who formed in Stockholm in 1999. The band has helped further Sweden's reputation for producing groups with impressive pop savvy (ABBA, Ace of Base, etc.).

Even if you've never heard of Peter Bjorn and John, chances are you've heard its infectious whistle-along single "Young Folks," which took the music world by storm in 2006 - heard in movies, advertisements and every restaurant and mall in the country.

In 2008, Peter Bjorn and John released the mostly instrumental "Seaside Rock."


REVIEW:

On "Living Thing," Peter Bjorn and John take a decidedly minimalist approach to their indie-pop, resulting in a listen that is at once compelling and frustrating.

Many songs exude a surprising depth of atmosphere - sometimes even darkness - and every track is succinctly structured and phrased, consisting of no more than vocals, a lone (usually processed) guitar or synth and a skeletal rhythm section.

But the album's minimalism, though remarkably tasteful and restrained, creates moments that sound undercooked - or just uninteresting.

Nothing here quite matches the contagiously catchy hook of "Young Folks," but there are definite pop gems scattered throughout that brim with hit potential.

"Nothing to Worry About" is a vague cousin of "Hollaback Girl." Although the novelty wears off with the quickness of a sugar high, it contains a maddeningly catchy chorus courtesy of bassist Bjorn Yttling.

With dynamic, cascading guitar and bass set to a propulsive tribal beat, "Living Thing" is a bizarro-pop gem, and the slick underworld-dance groove of "It Don't Move Me" works against its title in the best way.

Considering it's one of the most radio-ready tunes on the album, "Lay It Down" is a garish curveball of sorts with its "shut-the-fuck-up-boy" refrain.

Other songs fail to coalesce into much of anything that's truly memorable (i.e. the simplistic "I'm Losing My Mind" or repetitive opener "The Feeling").

But PB&J is best when it spaces out its minimal style. Take the pivotal "Just the Past," with its expansive, galloping momentum that segues into a harrowing industrial breakdown that nods at Nine Inch Nails territory and a curiously melancholy "la-la" refrain.

Another highlight is the clear-eyed, soul-tinged "Stay This Way," whose vocals bear uncanny resemblance to My Morning Jacket.


VERDICT:

"Living Thing" is uneven but enjoyable, challenging the listener with its unobtrusive arrangements. But upon closer examination, surprising depth and emotion stir beneath the surface.

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