Peter Bjorn & John - Darker Days

Peter Bjorn and John is a Swedish Indie Pop trio that since the early 2000's have been bringing to the table their own unique blend of airy, Indie Pop.  And with 2002's self-titled debut I really got excited to hear more of these guys after hearing tracks like "I Don't Know What I Want Us to Do".  But holy hell, the rest of this album was just so freakin' tame and bland.  And honestly, their 2004 album "Falling Out" was even less interesting to me.  I feel like deep down these guys had a sound.  But they just weren't capitalizing on it, and in its place were playing bland Indie Rock.  But PB & J turned on in a big way with 2007's "Writer's Block".  And yes, this album is so much more than just "Young Folks".  This album really showed the trip embracing just how sweet and airy their sound was deep down and started to write genuinely quirky and compelling tracks.  It's a breezy album that's fun, but also a complete step up for them.  But with their next release, "Seaside Rock", P B & J went almost completely instrumental on us, for this very hazy, dreamy, Psychedelic Pop album.  And for the most part, this isn't terrible.  It's not the most adventurous sound in the world, and it does get a little repetitive, but it was certainly pleasant.  But if I knew what was coming, I honestly would have wanted them to stay with this sound.  Their 2009 album "Living Thing" was a complete departure of everything interesting about this band.  This album was painfully robotic, not breezy at all.  The songwriting had gone out the window entirely, and I really don't know what P B & J were even thinking anymore. But hey!  I actually thought 2011's "Gimme Some" had some good moments.  Sure, so much of this album is filled with dated on arrival Indie Pop.  But tracks like "Tomorrow Has To Wait" and the strangely aggressive "(Don't Let Them) Cool Off" are honestly some of their better tunes in a while.  But while I thought PB & J were in comeback mode, 2016's "Breakin' Point" through that right out the window.  This was a painfully cheesy, dated and goody Indie Pop album.  There were plenty of catchy hooks and catchier grooves.  But the material here was completely faceless and blew right past me leaving no impression.  Now!  *deep breath*.  I actually have a lot of hope for this album, mostly because these lead-up singles have been pretty great.

This album starts out with “Longer Nights”, and instantly I’m into a lot of this.  I love just how mysterious this is and how ambient it comes off.  I never expected this from Peter Bjorn and John.  But it actually works wonderfully with ushering in this darker sound they’ve been working with.  Now, I wouldn’t say this sound is 100% dark, but there are plenty of very interesting new elements here.  For one, on vocals, Peter sounds so emotional, much more so than I ever remember hearing.  It’s a somber sort of tune, even though for old times sake they do throw in a big catchy chorus.  I really don’t mind this at all honestly.  It’s a sweet Indie Pop tune, but none of this comes off nearly as dated as some of their other stuff.  We get these big pianos in the background, and some of this almost reminds me of the material of Jens Lekman.  Now, “Every Other Night” is much more upbeat, but I have to continue to point out just how different of sounds we’re getting from this trio.  I feel like 5 or 6 years ago this tan would have been dated on arrival.  But this one almost has some Dream Pop and Post Punk elements.  Hell, I almost see fans of maybe Beach Fossils being into this.  It’s a very vast sound, one that’s very breezy at times and just so carefree.  But the catchy hooks remain, and this continues to be such a breath of fresh air for this trio. Now, “Gut Feeling” is actually on the weirder side for these guys.  Like, this is a legitimately strange tune fueled by heavy use of vocal effects.  There are some very dreary instrumentals and one of this album’s catchiest and most immediate choruses.  But Peter, Bjorn & John continue to really sound at their most emotional.  For years, I’ve just had this issue with them bringing in elements of all sort of Indie Pop’s greats.  But here, this just comes off as completely organic.  And the soulful vocals here just come off so well. 

Now, “Living a Dream” continues down the same route as the last few tracks.  But sadly, this one doesn’t make me feel the same way.  Like, the trio just sounds so much more stiff in this environment and they just sound like they’re trying maybe a little too hard.  There are some nice vocal melodies, and I do like the breezy vibes, and those backing keyboards are a nice touch.  But outside of that, this is a little forced for me.  “Velvet Sky” continues with these very instantaneous and breezy sounds.  But something about these tracks is wearing off on me a little bit.  Earlier, it seemed to be coming naturally to the trio, that they were just easing up a big and letting ideas flow.  Now, there are some great elements here, like those some fantastic drums pounding away in the back.  As a matter of fact, when it comes to the instrumental this is actually really great.  But outside of that, this is just so bland.  Ironically it’s the glossier tracks like “Wrapped Around the Axle” that end up making me stick around.  Like, when Peter Bjorn & John are on, they are ON.  They’ve been known to make some catchy choruses, but some of these tracks are really next level. While “Wrapped Around the Axle” isn’t exactly the catchiest one of the bunch, it’s still got plenty of great elements like that woozy beat and intoxicating vocals.  On the other hand, “Dark Ages” has this Dark Western vibe to ti that I didn’t expect at all.  Like, Peter here sounds just so exhausted and worn out, and does this dreary Western vibes so well.  He also continues to sound so emotionally invested.  It’s not like these tracks are reinventing the wheel, we’re just dealing three guys that are great at writing Indie Pop tunes relax a bit and let it come naturally.  That may lead to a dance floor classic or an honest to God Western, a passionate one at that.  And for my money, “Dark Ages” is my track of the album, and easily the most epic track here.  It’s all just so simple too, where was this years ago? 

On the other hand, “Sick And Tired” roll back a little and goes for this sort of Dark funk.  It’s very off-kilter and strange.  But Peter Bjorn & John at the very least reel me in with once again, a very haunting and chilling chorus.  This entire track just has such a nocturnal feel to it.  I just wish I was more into these verses that come off so wishy-washy. These guys really need to stay focused.  And then we have the bizarre “Silicon Valley Blues”, and that title is absolutely true.  This is easily the bluesiest track here, which is something I figured I would be really into.  But outside of Peter’s incredibly passionate vocals, there is nothing here to love.  The very hazy instrumental just isn’t that good, and the gigantic atmosphere which I’ve enjoyed for the most part just seems to be swallowing up everything else here.  This one is just washing all over the place and it’s easily the least focused tune of the bunch.  But “Heaven and Hell” is something I really didn’t expect for a finale. This is a much more stripped down ballad, filled with acoustic guitars and no synths in sight.  And honestly, it’s filled with some of the more sincere, sweet vocals of the bunch.  It ends up being absolutely gorgeous, pretty straightforward, incredibly beautiful and heartfelt. I didn’t think I would enjoy a tune like this from Peter Bjorn & John, but it rounds off this album wonderfully. 

Rating: 7.4/10

Give A Listen To: “One for the Team”, “Every Other Night”, “Heaven and Hell”, “Dark Ages”

Least Favorite Track: “Silicon Valley Blues”

Genre: Indie Pop 

Overall Thoughts:  Peter Bjorn & John with “Darker Days” really don’t reinvent the wheel in any way.  But for the first time since their “Writer’s Block” album, I seriously feel like the trio doesn’t sound completely dated.  The music here is some of their most somber and dreary to date, but it leads to some of the band’s most emotional tracks in years.  And yes, there are a few stinkers here, and more than a few reminders of just how far they’ve fallen.  But this is easily the most decent thing they’ve done in years.