The Wake

It is no question that Peter, Bjorn, and John is one of the most refreshing bands to come along in some time. Just as the fire is dying down from their last mainstream effort Writer’s Block, the Swedish pop trio has returned with Living Thing.

Released on March 31, Living Thing treads on similar ground as Architecture In Helsinki’s Places Like
This, while still maintaining enough originality to stand all on its own. The music is eccentric and rhythm-centered, with less of the straightforward structure usually common in their songs. Die-hard fans don’t fret; this album still holds all the ingredients of the distinctly recognizable Peter, Bjorn, and John sound: sparse arrangement and introspective themes, with songs containing great depth and refined tonality.

“Nothing To Worry About,” the album’s first single, is a modest effort, but lacks the ability to conjure up the same sort of notoriety the band achieved with “Young Folks.”

Other tracks of note include, “Just The Past,” “Lay It Down,” and the superior track, “It Don’t Move Me,” which stands far ahead of the rest.

Despite its occasional stumbles, Living Thing is a move in the right direction. The group is maturing, honing its style. Peter’s vocals have become the center of attention for this album, helping refine the overall cohesiveness of the music. Guitars, once the cornerstone of the band’s songs, make only short appearances to support the more prominent vocals. The stripped-down production will likely help separate them from other artists, who consistently build upon the complexity of their music rather than simplify it.

In time Living Thing will likely prove to be the stepping-stone for bigger and better things. Though this album doesn’t feel quite as developed as Writer’s Block, and at times can get tedious, the group deserves credit for pushing their own boundaries. The biggest hurdle facing them won’t be quality of the material, but whether or not they can sell it.