After becoming known almost exclusively for one hit song, most bands react by doing everything in their power to extricate themselves of the ‘one trick pony’ label. They usually make dramatic changes as a demonstration of their artistic legitimacy, and Peter Bjorn and John are no exception. After gracing iPods with the most memorable whistle-driven song this side of Juelz Santana, the Swedish trio is out to prove its musical mettle before the public assumes they’ve fallen off the face of the planet. For Living Thing, they ditch the comfortable confines of the airy, featherweight pop they perfected on Writer’s Block for more sonically adventurous territory and prove in the process that their prior success was not just a fluke. Many tracks begin sparsely with only simple vocal melodies and drumbeats before gurgling analog synths and quirky guitar and bass accents creep their way into the arrangements. ‘Lay It Down,’ with its confrontational ’shut the fuck up’ lyrics, has a similar effect to hearing Justin Timberlake drop the f-bomb for the first time: it’s the sound of people sacrificing their reputation as ‘Young Folks’ in a bid to grow up artistically.
Leave A Comment!